234 



THE PKACTICE OF SHOEING. 



important part in training trotters. Their use depends on the 

 experience that many animals, even with good action, go better 

 in front with a moderately weighty shoe. American trainers 

 consider that the toe-weight prevents the animal wasting its 



Fig. 231. — Weights seen from front and side, a, iron carrier fastened l>y means of 

 screw a' to the lower border of wall ; b, weight; c, binding screw. 



strength in upward action, thus driving the toe deeply into 

 the ground, and leads to the limb being further advanced. 

 The improvement is stated to be from two to five seconds per 

 English mile. Such weights are, however, still more useful 



Fig. 232. — American toe-weighted shoe. 



Fig. 233.— American qnarter-weighted shoe. 



for horses with defective action ; animals, for example,, which 

 go too close behind usually improve in a surprisingly short 

 time when provided with weights on the outer surface of the 

 hoof. 



