338 DEFORMITIES AND DISEASES OF THE HOOF. 



flexor tendons. The hoof is then too low at the heels to allow' 

 of regular distribution of weight and must be raised. In pro- 

 portion as the disease of the limb, which causes uprightness, 

 disappears, a better form can be given to the hoof by appropriate 

 paring. To attempt to convert an upright into a normal hoof 

 at one operation is only allowable in view of performing 

 tenotomy. 



In shoeing ordinary working horses with upright feet it is 

 generally necessary to strengthen the toe. This is best effected 

 by letting in a piece of steel at that point, by drawing up a 

 strong toe-clip and by ' rolling ' or rounding off the toe. The 

 shoe must be broad in the web, and take a good hold of the 

 toe of the hoof. The calkins should be so high as just to touch 

 the ground when the horse is standing level on all four feet. 

 In shoeing horses with spavin, ring bone, and shortened tendons 

 a similar shoe, but with wedge heels instead of calkins, is 

 useful. 



STAMPED CAET HIXD SHOE, WITH TOE- 

 PIECE (Fig. 328). 



Made from 1^ x -g- inch iron. 



In cases of commencing contraction of the flexor tendons 

 of the hind limb this shoe will often be found useful. The 

 calkins give the animal an assured foothold, while the toe-piece 

 prevents ' knuckling ' at the fetlock, limits wear of the toe of 

 shoe, and maintains a steady though limited pull on the con- 

 tracted structures. At each shoeing the calkins may be 

 slightly lowered, so as to keep pace with the improvement in 

 position of the limb. 



Many horses, which would otherwise rapidly become useless, 

 can be rendered workable, if not actually cured, by the applica- 

 tion of this shoe. 



The toe-piece, which is about 1^ inches long, is made inde- 

 pendently of the shoe, and is ' shut ' or welded on to the foot 

 surface. 



