REMEDIES FOR KOItCIXG. 283 



The causes are either faulty conformation or defective and 

 careless shoeing ; some animals only forge when tired or when 

 ])adly driven. Horses which ' stand over/ i.e., whose fore- 

 limbs incline backwards, and whose hind-limbs are placed 

 too far under the body, or, in other words, animals with 

 comparatively short bodies and long limbs, are specially pre- 

 disposed. Bad shoeing is often the cause, the fore shoe being 

 unduly long and the toe of the hind shoe too prominent, but 

 in most cases forgino; is caused bv the toe of the fore 

 shoe being too long and the heels too low. Such a shoe 

 impedes tlie movement of the fore-limb, the long toe delaying 

 the lifting of tlie foot from the sjround. The fore-foot, there- 

 fore, remains under the horse too long, and is overtaken by 

 the hind-foot. 



The remedy is to avoid making the shoe longer or wider 

 than the hoof. The heels of Hat shoes should also be bevelled 

 off obliquely from behind forwards, as should calkins, if used. 

 When the horse strikes the lower surface of the fore shoe at 

 the toe, the fault can often be prevented by rounding off or 

 seating ont the ground surface. 



In horses that forge, the front shoe should be formed so as 

 to represent merely a prolongation of the hoof. 



The hind slioe should be shortened at the toe, and llie 

 lower anterior wall well rounded off. Quarter-clips are 

 preferable to a toe-clip, and unless the horse ' goes on his 

 toe,' the shoe must be fitted so that three-quarters of the 

 thickness of the toe wall projects in front of the shoe. The 

 nails must be well driven home, and should project as little 

 as possible. The sound of forging can sometimes be pre- 

 vented by inserting a fragment of leather or thick rubber 

 between the shoe and hoof at the toe, so that \ inch projects. 

 This comes in contact with the front shoe, and prevents the 

 objectionable noise. 



Charlier shoes in front are often a complete cure. 



