268 THE PRACTICE OF SHOEING. 



be made, though only sufficient should be cut away to enable 

 the clip to lie close. 



The shoe fits, (1) when its outer border corresponds with 

 that of the bearinsj surface of the wall throuc^hout the toe and 

 quarters, from which points it becomes rather wider as it runs 

 backward, so that at the heels it projects on either side from 

 ^ to ^ inch ; (2) when the nail holes correspond to the 

 white line ; and (3) when it lies in absolute contact with 

 wall, white line, and a narrow zone of the sole as wide as a 

 straw. 



The width of the shoe can be judged best by grasping the 

 fetlock with the left hand, allowing the hoof to fall slightly, 

 and viewing the parts from above and behind. 



With the exception of the narrow zone indicated, a space of 

 -|- inch should exist between the shoe and sole, due partly to 

 the spring of the sole, partly to the seating of the shoe. A 

 narrow space should also separate the extremities of the heels 

 from the fro^. 



A good general rule is to fit the shoe to the hoof, but in 

 such a way as to produce the best possible form of hoof. 

 Faults in the shoe should never be compensated by altering 

 the hoof. In dealing with hoofs already deformed we should 

 seek gradually to give the shoe such a form as the hoof had 

 when healthy, a principle derived from the experience that the 

 hoof after a time takes the form of the shoe. 



As soon as the shoe is cool, the nail holes are again punched 

 from the ground surface and the outer border of the shoe is 

 rasped round. This rasping gives a smart appearance, and 

 removes any sharp points or roughness. To prevent cutting, 

 the edges of the inner side of the shoe should receive special 

 attention. In filing up the shoe only one part should be 

 grasped in the jaws of the vice at once, or otherwise the entire 

 shoe may be bent. 



(b) Shoes for irregular Conformations. — In cases where the 

 foot or limb is abnormal, it, is no longer sufficient to fit the 

 shoe to the hoof, but an attempt to improve the position of the 

 limb must be made, in order to secure proper distribution of 

 weight and to ensure better support ; the more defective the 

 formation the more necessary does this become. 



As already mentioned, the hoof of a turned-in foot ditlers in 



