17 



outer, and the inner quarter more curved than the outer. The outer 

 quarter is often flattened and drawn in at the bottom. The weight falls 

 largely into the outer half of the hoof. In motion the hoof breaks over 

 the outer toe, is carried forward and outward at some distance from the 

 supporting leg, thence forward and inward to the ground, which it 

 generally meets with the outer toe. The foot thus moves in a circle 

 whose convexity is outward, a manner of flight called "paddling." A 

 base-narrow horse whose toes point straight ahead frequently "inter- 

 feres," while a toe-narrow (pigeon-toed) animal seldom does. 



Regular hoof. — A regular hoof (fig. 5£), viewed from one side, has 

 a straight foot-axis inclined to the horizon at an angle of 45° to 50°. 

 The weight falls near the center of the foot and there is moderate 

 expansion of the quarters. 



Acute-angled hoof. — An acute-angled hoof (fig. 5a) has a straight 

 foot-axis inclined at an angle less than 45° to the horizon. The 

 weight falls more largely in the back half of the hoof and there is 

 greater length of hoof in contact with the ground and greater expan- 

 sion of the heels than in the regular hoof. 



Upright, or sttfmpy, hoof. — In the upright, or stumpy, hoof (fig. 5c) 

 the foot-axis is straight and more than 55° steep. The hoof is rela- 

 tively short from toe to heel, the weight falls farther forward, and 

 there is less expansion of the heels than in the regular hoof. 



Wide and narrow hoofs. — Finally, there are wide hoofs and narrow 

 hoofs, dependent solely upon race and breeding. The wide hoof is 

 almost circular on the ground surface, the sole but little concave, 

 the frog large, and the quality of the horn coarse. The narrow hoof 

 has a strongly "cupped" sole, a small frog, nearly perpendicular side 

 walls, and fine-grained, tough horn. 



Hind hoofs.— Hind hoofs are influenced in shape b}^ different direc- 

 tions of their pasterns much as front feet are. A hind hoof is not 

 round at the toe as a front hoof is, but is more pointed. Its greatest 

 width is two-thirds of the way back from toe to heel, the sole is more 

 concave, the heels relatively wider, and the toe about 10° steeper than 



in front hoofs. 



THE SHOE. 



PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION. 



The object of the examination is to ascertain the direction and posi- 

 tion of the limbs, the shape, character, and quality of the hoofs, the 

 form, length, position, and wear of the shoe, the number, distribu- 

 tion, and direction of the nails, the manner in which the hoof leaves 

 the ground, its line of flight, the manner in which it is set to the 

 ground, and all other peculiarities, that at the next and subsequent 

 shoeings proper allowances may be made and observed faults corrected. 

 The animal must therefore be observed both at rest and in motion. 

 6777— No. 179—03 2 



