AND HOW TO KEEP IT SOUND. 8S 



upon the foot surface of the shoe, the part so deprived of 

 support, being elastic, will be unable to resist the pressure 

 from above, or the outward thrust of the parts within, and 

 yielding to this twofold force, will drag upon the elastic 

 union between the hoof and the internal parts of the foot at 

 that particular place, and cause great uneasiness ; and this 

 is by no means an unfrequent source of stumbling and broken 

 knees. 



Although I do not mean to assert that shoeing at the forge 

 will of itself ensure good fitting, I do assert that it is attended 

 with this great advantage — that, if the smith be inclined to 

 do it well, it supplies him with the means of indulging his 

 inclination ; whereas in the stable, no quantity of zeal will 

 enable him to do more than make the best of a bad matter. 



The only reason I have ever heard in defence of this 

 practice, is the alleged liability of horses to take cold from 

 exposure to the drafts in a smith's forge. I can only say in 

 answer, that it has never happened to my own ; and I believe 

 that a little care, and some extra clothing would ensure the 

 same exemption for others. 



Although it is no part of my plan to enter upon the sub- 

 ject of shoeing hunters, or plating race-horses, I may sUH 

 perhaps be excused for offering a few general observations 

 upon both, before I take leave of the subject of shoeing al- 

 together. 



In reference to the hunter, I would advise, as soon as th^ 

 hunting season is over, and the altered nature of his work 

 will admit of it, that his feet be relieved, as much as possible 

 by the substitution of longer shoes, with broader web, and 

 fewer fastenings, particularly on the inside ; and that he 

 continue to be so shod, until the return of the hunting season 

 calls again for the hunting shoe. It is too much the custom 

 to consider, that because a horse happens to be a hunter, 

 he must therefore be shod all the year round in short shoes 

 so firmly fastened to his feet that the foot itself would be as 

 likely to be pulled off as the shoe. 



A far greater difference is made between the shoe of a 

 hunter and the shoe of a hack than there need be, both in 

 form and fastenings ; and many a valuable horse has been 

 disabled for a whole season, if not ruined for life, because a 

 shoe could not come off, and save the foot and leg from a 

 fearful strain. When the wrencn is verv violent the shoe 

 had better yield. 



With regard to race-horses, I am confident that a greater 



