218 THE PRACTICE OF SHOEING. 



leading, in weak heels, to the production of bruises, corns, etc. 

 Where the heels are low and spreading, the heels of the shoe 

 may be fitted rather fuller than usual and somewhat prolonged. 

 The hind shoe should be of equal height inside and out, the 

 inner branch fashioned almost straight from the inner edge of 

 the toe to the posterior third of the foot and made rather 

 narrower than the outer, or a feather-edged shoe may be 

 applied. This has the advantage of preventing injury to the 

 coronet of the opposite leg either in work or in the stable. 



The clip should be at the centre of the toe, which should be 

 well rounded in front. The heels may project ^- to -|- inch. 

 In general, the shoes of the hack resemble those of the hunter, 

 next described, though, as the pace of the hack is slower and 

 the efforts he makes less violent than those of the hunter, the 

 excessive precautions taken in the case of the latter are un- 

 necessary. 



SPECIAL SHOES FOR HACKS 



FULLERED FOEE SHOE (Fig. 210). 



Made from ^ inch x ^ iron. 



This shoe is suitable for animals with small, upright, ' boxy ' 

 feet, or for small hunters, cobs, and ponies. It should not 

 be used where the feet are flat or weak. The shoe is made 

 * wrong way on,' and thus wider at ground than at foot 

 surface, and therefore gives show cobs, etc., the appearance of 

 having large well-developed feet, even when this is not the case. 

 The inside edge is filed out, and as the ' cover ' is narrow, the 

 shoe gives the foot an appearance of extra width. Filing out 

 the inner edge also lessens the chance of the horse ' forging,' the 

 noise of which is often very distinctly heard when the animal 

 is trotted on grass. The shoe shown, being intended for a 

 defective foot, has eight nail holes, but might be made with six ; 

 and if required, the last quarter nail on the outside might be 

 placed further back. To give extra durability, the shoe may 

 be made of steel. 



