THE HORSE. 49 



however small, will still perform their office of fulcra 

 or supports to the tendon. The shoe-heels, never 

 extending beyond the heel itself, generally narrower 

 than at the toe, must be made wider for weak heels, 

 and for low heels thicker, but never to the excess 

 of giving the horse an uneven tread, and throwing 

 him upon his toes. The custom of common smiths to 

 be constantly cutting away the bars which separate 

 heel and frog, with the view, in their judgment, of 

 " opening the heels," and which must obviously have 

 the contrary effect, though so long and often decried, 

 has not even yet been abandoned. Shoeing and 

 constant labour will sufficiently repel any luxuriance 

 . in most hoofs. The hinder hoofs are ever thicker 

 and stronger than their pioneers the fore ones. 



The general or true principles of shoeing being ever 

 kept in view and adhered to, so far as that shall be 

 possible, legitimate exceptions must come equally into 

 consideration. Such is nature's decree in all things. 

 But these last (the exceptions) should never continue 

 beyond the necessity of the case. Many horses have 

 naturally imperfect, or bad feet : many are lame from 

 labour, and many from the farrier. In this art, as in all 

 others, there is great variety of skill, some operatives 

 having an eminent superiority ; while others, void of 

 all intelligence or the desire of acquiring any, shoe 

 all hoofs, however diversified by nature or accident, 

 on nearly the same common standard ; necessarily the 

 best, since that to which they have been always ac- 

 customed. This plan may be passable for a time, with 

 strong feet, and until it has ruined them. It is true, 

 we occasionally see horses' hoofs of a nature so luxu- 



D 



