THE HORSE'S FOOT, &c. 



In describing the various parts which compose the horse^s 

 foot, it shall be my endeavor to avoid, as much as possible, 

 all minute anatomical details and scientific technical terms, 

 and to confine myself to a plain description of those parts 

 only, a general knowledge of which is essential to the full 

 understanding of what is right, and what wrong, in the for- 

 mation and application of the horse's shoe. 



The hoof is divided into horny crust or wall, sole, and 

 frog. 



The horny crust is secreted by the numerous blood-vessels 

 of that soft protruding band which encircles the upper edge 

 of the hoof, immediately beneath the termination of the hair ; 

 and is divided into toe, quarters, heels, and bars.* Its texture 

 is insensible, but elastic throughout its whole extent ; and, 

 yielding to the weight of the horse, allows the horny sole to 

 descend, whereby much inconvenient concussion to the in- 

 ternal parts of the foot is avoided. But if a large portion 

 of the circumference of the foot be fettered by iron and nails, 

 it is obvious that that portion, at least, cannot expand as be- 

 fore ; and the beautiful and efficient apparatus for effecting 

 this necessary elasticity, being no longer allowed to act by 

 reason of these restraints, becomes altered in structure : and 

 the continued operation of the same causes, in the end, cir- 

 cumscribes the elasticity to those parts alone where no nails 

 have been driven, — giving rise to a train of consequences 

 destructive to the soundness of the foot, and fatal to the use- 

 fulness of the horse. 



The toe of the fore foot is the thickest and strongest por- 

 tion of the hoof, and is in consequence less expansive than 

 any other part, and therefore better calculated to resist the 



• Page 47, figs. 1 and 2. 



