WEAK HEELS. 



357 



when occurring in flat hoofs render the animal useless for 

 rapid work on stone-paved streets. 



The best application is a bar shoe and leather sole, the frog 

 resting on the bar, but the heels being kept clear of the shoe. 

 The nail holes should be confined to the anterior two-thirds of 

 the shoe. Pads, etc., are of little service. 



{C) Local Contraction, or Contraction at the Coronary 

 Margin. — Instead of the wall of the heel running in a straight 

 line from the coronet to the bearing margin, it pursues a 

 curved course (fig. .S42, a\ This contraction affects either one 



Fig. 341.— Left fure-fout with weak heels. 

 The dotted lines indicate the portion 

 to be removed. 



Fig. 3'42.— Foot with local contraction. 

 a, the contracted spot. 



or both heels ; the hoof appears as if drawn in by the applica- 

 tion of a cord, and its outline has been compared to an hour- 

 glass. Occasionally, instead of this wide curve, it presents 

 local deformities, but the latter are most common in flat hoofs. 



The horse goes in a shuffling style, or is positively lame, 

 especially at a trot. Pressing on the hoof with pincers pro- 

 duces pain, as do light blows over the contracted portion of 

 the wall. 



Broad, flat feet are especially disposed to this form of 

 contraction, though it is also found in hoofs of normal character 

 and in those with turned-out or turned-in toes. In upright 

 hoofs, however, it never appears to such an extent as to produce 



