THE HORSE. 75 



with a place proper for such purpose, unless Mr. 

 Cherry's ingenious portable forge may prove a suffi- 

 cient substitute, which is probable. 



Of the mechanical operation of the ancient screw 

 shoe, a priori, I should entertain a mean opinion, as 

 a force put upon nature, thence not likely to succeed : 

 and though in Snape's time I heard of the practice, 

 no instances of its success ever surprized me. Na- 

 ture, having fitted the horse with narrow heels, will 

 not allow of a refit ; and, granting the contraction to 

 have arisen from labour or bad shoeing, I should 

 suppose the attempt at artificial expansion would 

 rather be productive of additional inflammation and 

 mischief. Nor have I hitherto been fortunate enough 

 to witness the success of stable remedies in the case, 

 which, if apparent, I suppose would be temporary. 

 My remedy is, the cool earth and sufficient length of 

 time at grass. 



On the moveable toe, I am entirely obliged to 

 Mr. Goodwin, having never experienced its use, and 

 I refer my farrying readers to Mr. Goodwin's book. 

 We used indeed to steel the toes of hard wearing; 

 horses. The use of the moveable toe is to prevent 

 the too often shoeing of hard worked horses, which 

 wear much at the toe, and which need only the 

 renewal of that part. It is a great point gained 

 when, by this mean, a shoe may remain upon the 

 horse's foot its due time of three weeks or a month 

 (the outgrowing of the horn, or the pressing of the 

 shoe upon the sole, not requiring a removal), more 

 especially with weak and thin hoofs, that are torn 

 to pieces and ruined by frequent shoeing, which 



