PREPARATION OF HOOF FOR SHOEING. 



207 



a spot somewhat behind the point of the frog, backwards and 

 outwards. In shod hoofs, however, they tend to deviate from 

 this course, to converge again at the bulbs, and thus to 

 encroach on the space normally occupied by the frog. Removal 

 of the angle of the bars {i.e., the point at which they join the 

 wall) should never be allowed. 



The frog is left sufficiently strong to project below the 

 bearing surface of the heel, a distance equal to the thickness of 

 an ordinary shoe. If weakened, it atrophies, and the hoof 

 contracts. It should, therefore, only be pared when diseased ; 

 in other cases loose parts alone are to be removed. It need 

 scarcely be pointed out that, if 

 strong, the frog will soon wear to "^^^v 

 proper proportions. 



The sharp edge of the bearing 

 margin of the wall should be rounded 

 as shown in fig. 198, but in normal 

 hoofs the general surface must only 

 be rasped if curved or deformed, as 

 sometimes happens on the inner 

 aspect. Eounding the edge prevents 

 splitting and facilitates fitting the 

 shoe. 



The foregoing remarks on trim- 

 ming the wall apply, of course, only to the hoofs of normal 

 limbs ; other cases require special attention. AVhen the toes 

 are turned out, the outer wall, if viewed from the front, is 

 longer than the inner and to an extent corresponding with 

 the extent of the defect. When the toes, on the contrary, are 

 turned in, the inner wall is longer than the outer. Before pro- 

 ceeding to trim the hoof, therefore, the position of the feet and 

 the direction of the foot axis should be noted. 



Goyau gives the following directions (which have been 

 summarised) for the preparation of the hoof. Imitate the 

 eftects of natural wear. Natural wear produces a flat foot of a 

 form best suited to the conformation of the limb it terminates. 

 It shortens and rounds the toe, lowering it to a gi'eater extent 

 than the heels ; removes horn only from the anterior part of 

 the sole, leaving the connection between walls and sole of full 

 strength ; rounds off the outer edge of the wall more than the 



Fig. 19S.— Vertical section through 

 wall at toe. a-c, absolute; a-b, 

 apparent thickness. The curve, 

 c-b, indicates the necessary rounil- 

 ins of the toe. 



