198 THE PEACTICE OF SHOEING. 



loop which is passed round the animal's neck. The free end is 

 passed from without around the fetlock, carried forward, passed 

 through the fixed loop and drawn tight, thus lifting the hind- 

 foot. It is useful in dealing with heavy animals, but must be 

 employed with care, as violent struggling is apt to be followed 

 by heavy falls and serious injury. In dealing with a trouble- 

 some animal, it is often sufficient to place him against the wall 

 in charge of the groom, who is instructed to hold his head high, 

 and occupy his attention by patting and speaking to him or by 

 gently playing with the bit. 



Some animals, which resist being tied up or even held, will 

 stand quietly if left completely at liberty with the reins passed 

 over the neck. 



Others, which are troublesome in a watering bridle, at once 

 become quiet when the eyes are covered. 



Certain horses can only be shod when along with a stable 

 companion. Sensitive animals are often so irritated in summer 

 by the attacks of flies that they can only be shod early in the 

 morninoj or late in the evenino'. 



Finally, some horses, which are quite intractable at the 

 farrier's, can be shod without difficulty in the stable. 



Travises or stocks are usually unnecessary, save for shoeing 

 very heavy horses. 



In Germany an assistant holds the foot while the shoe is 

 fitted to the foot, but this is unnecessary if, as in England, 

 animals are accustomed from an early age to the feet being 

 lifted. The farrier lays his tools close to the animal's feet. 

 In taking off, say, the left fore -shoe, he grasps the hoof at the 

 toe with the right hand, allows it to descend slightl}^ passes 

 his left leg around the limb, grips the horse's foot between his 

 knees and places his feet a little apart to give him a firm 

 foothold. In this position the shoe is taken off, the hoof pre- 

 pared and the shoe nailed on. Once the clenches are turned 

 down he carries the foot forwards, places it on his thigh, nips 

 off' the points of the nails, turns over the clenches and finishes 

 the work. The hind-foot is not grasped between the knees, 

 but laid on the thigh, the cannon bone resting more or less on 

 the farrier's hip. The work is finished in a similar way to 

 that of the fore-foot, the hoof being brought forward and 

 placed on the farrier's knee. When, however, the horse is 



