SPECIAL FORE SHOES FOR HACKS. 219 



FULLEEED SEATED EOKE SHOE WITH THICK 



HEELS (Fig. 211). 



Made of ^ X ^ inch iron. 



This shoe is used chiefly for horses suffering from strain 

 ■of tendons, ligaments, etc., the tension on which it relieves, 

 iillowing the animals to work with less pain. In larger 

 sizes it is also very useful for cart horses with strain of 

 the sub-carpal ligament. Occasionally such a shoe is applied 

 to the lower of two carriage horses which work together, so as 

 to bring it more on a level with its fellow ; but this is scarcely 

 a legitimate use of the shoe, though sometimes resorted to by 

 dealers. The disadvantaoes of the shoe are that it lifts the heels 

 from the ground and thus prevents frog pressure, a condition 

 soon followed by atrophy of the frog, thrush, etc. ; that it is 

 -apt to press unduly on the heels, and, especially in weak feet, 

 to cause corns, and that, by throwing increased weight on the 

 toe, it favours the production of sand-crack, or aggravates it if 

 -existent. 



As a rule, thick heels are contra-indicated in front shoes, 

 particularly in shoeing horses with flat or dropped soles. The 

 farrier is often asked to thicken the heels of shoes for horses 

 which wear at that point, but the request should not be com- 

 plied with. 



In making this shoe, the toe is first thinned and the heels 

 afterwards thickened (' upset ') by a few blows delivered in the 

 direction of the web of the shoe, whilst the latter is held in the 

 vice. It is difficult to ' upset ' the heels on the anvil itself. 



