46o HORSE-SHOES AND HORSE-SHOEING. 



devil calls them ' unprofitable devices,' and recom- 

 mends that the shoes with sponges (from the French 

 Sponge, the heel portion of the shoe thickened) only be 

 used ; if it is necessary to teach a horse to lift his feet, he 

 should be shod heavily while at the school, and afterwards 

 with light shoes. 



' In Germany and " higbe Almany," the " smythes " 

 do make the shoes with a swelling welt round about the 

 shoe, which being as high as the heads of the nails, or 

 higher, saves the nails from wear.' These shoes Blunde- 

 vil praises for lasting, having used them in these coun- 

 tries on very stony ground, and he mentions that Fiaschi 

 also lauds them ; though he advises that the ivealt be in- 

 dented, having sharp pointed teeth like a saw, and that the 

 sponges behind be as thick as the welt ; and that the welt 

 be of a tough hard temper, for fear of wearing too fast. 

 ' With these kind of shoes they use in Italy to shoe such 

 Barbary horses, jennets, and Turks, as are appointed to 

 run for the best game at some public triumph, or any 

 other private wager. 



' Some that use to pass the mountains where smiths 

 are not readily to be found, to shoe a horse if need be, do 

 carry about with them certain shoes made with vyces, 

 wherewith they make the shoe fast to the horse's foot 

 without help of hammer or nails. Notwithstanding, such 

 shoes are more for the show than for any good use or 

 commodity. For though it save the horse's foot from 

 stones, yet it so pincheth his hoof, as he goeth with pain, 

 and perhaps doth his hoof more hurt than the stones 

 would do.' 



He advises the jointed shoe to be applied in such 



