82 HORSE-SHOES AND HORSE-SHOEING. 



Vossius shows from Falladius ' that mules were usually 

 shod with spartum, for by ' animalia,' the word Palladius 

 uses, Vossius thinks mules and asses were intended. 



Pegge ^ asserts that there is no clear, express, or posi- 

 tive proof that the Greeks shod their horses ve?y anciently , 

 or even customarily, in later times. ' I think it not im- 

 probable they might begin to do it occasionally, and in 

 some certain places, a little before the age of Mithridates; 

 a conjecture grounded upon the practice of the Romans, 

 with whom shoeing prevailed so soon after.' By shoeing, 

 this antiquarian perhaps meant the use of the solea — not 

 the modern shoe. He adds : ' But why, it may be asked, 

 should mules and asses be more commonly shod than 

 horses ? I answer, these animals were much used in 

 ancient times, more so than horses, for riding in Judaea, 

 and for draught almost everywhere ; besides, they are 

 usually more tractable and patient, asses especially, and 

 shoeing, consequently, was much more easily performed 

 upon them.' 



This is scarcely correct. The use of the horse for 

 draught and riding purposes was very limited, principally 

 because shoeing, as now practised, was, if written testimony 

 be accepted, unknown to the Romans. Mules and asses 

 were probably preferred, because their hoofs are far more 

 strong and durable than those of horses. These animals 

 are also much less tractable, and, as a rule, are more diffi- 

 cult to shoe, from their obstinate and often vicious tem- 

 pers. 



Colonel Smith says : ' With regard to horse-shoeing, 

 Bishop Lowth and Bracy Clark were mistaken in believ- 



' Lib. 1., cap. 24. " Archc-eologia, 1776. 



