220 



THE PKACTICE OF SHOEING. 



2. HUNTERS. 



The ground surface of hunting shoes must be formed with 

 due regard to the prevention of slipping and the minimising of 

 suction in deep ground. ' This is obtained by dishing out the 

 ground surface, the dished portion terminating just in front of 

 the heel at a sharp angle. The greatest care should be taken 

 to prevent overreaching, and all hunting shoes should be of 

 particularly good construction, neitlier too broad nor too heavy. 



The concave shoe herewith illustrated is a very favourite 

 hunting shoe. It possesses the advantage of being light, giving 

 a good foothold, and, owing to the slope of the heels, which 

 may if necessary be slightly embedded in the horn of the wall, 

 it presents no projections on which the horse might tread or 



Fig. 212.— Fullered front shoe for hunter. 



which might be cauglit in heavy ground or when 'landing' 

 over a fence. The concave shape causes the shoe to enter the 

 surface of the oTound at each stride and is said to facilitate its 

 withdrawal. 



For animals with strong walled feet and thick, well-arched 

 soles this shoe is probably the most suitable. When, in addi- 

 tion, the sole is thin and flat more cover is indispensable, and 

 the shoe shown in tig. 212 is to be preferred. A certain 

 breadth is indispensable to prevent the shoe ' spreading ' when 

 half worn through and so cutting the opposite fetlock or 



