LATERAL DISTORTION AND CURVATURE OF HOOF. 



363 



•and a special shoe becomes necessary. The heel is thick on 

 the same side as the contracted wall, and the shoe gradually 

 becomes thinner from this point to its termination (fig. 344). 

 In severe cases the shoe need only extend as far as the centre 

 •of the quarter (three-quarter shoe). 



6. The Curved Hoof. 



The form of this hoof is well seen in fig. 345. One side is 

 bent outwards, the other inwards, so that when viewed from in 

 front they respectively appear convex and concave. Exagger- 

 .ated cases of this distortion are uncommon. 



Fig. 345.— Right fore-foot showing lateral curvature. 



The causes are unequal distribution of weight and unequal 

 wear ; in unshod horses and foals neglect of the hoof is a fertile 

 'Cause. The curvature is often accompanied by contraction. In 

 older (shod) horses the same condition may be produced by 

 injudicious trimming of the hoof and by shoes badly made or 

 fitted. If, for instance, one or other quarter is left too high 

 for several shoeings, the corresponding side of the wall (fig. 

 346, a) becomes convex, whilst its fellow tends to become con- 

 •cave (b). Such distortion is favoured, for instance, by the outer 

 half of the shoe being fitted too narrow in comparison with the 

 ■circumference of the hoof and the opposite portion too wide. 

 The bowing of the hoof always sets in from above. 



Prognosis. — As a rule in curved hoofs the column formed 



