4^6 HORSE-SHOES AND HORSE-SHOEING. 



days with wet bran only, without giving him any oats, 

 keeping him well littered. The reason why you are to 

 draw the heel-nails is, because the feet swell, and if they 

 were not thus eased, the shoes would press and straiten 

 them too much. It is also good to stop them with cow- 

 dung, but do not take off the shoes, nor pare the feet, 

 because the humours are drawn down by it.' 



There are also frequent allusions to foundering (in- 

 flammation of the feet), the changes in the hoofs induced 

 by this disease ; as well as to the occurrence of treads, over- 

 reaches, coronary abscesses, &c. With regard to the 

 practice of shoeing at this time, there are the following 

 directions and explanations : ' There are two methods of 

 shoeing. The first is, to shoe for the advantage of the foot, 

 and, according to its nature and shape, to fit such shoes 

 to it as may make it better than it is ; and if it be good, 

 may preserve and keep it from becoming bad. The 

 second method is, that which disguiseth the foot, and 

 maketh it appear good when really it is not ; which 

 method, although in time it wholly ruins the foot, yet 

 horse-coursers, who have no other design but to sell and 

 put off their horses, do not much trouble themselves 

 about it ; for provided their horses' feet but appear good, 

 and they get them sold, it is all they desire. I shall treat 

 of the first only, wherein are four rules to be observed in 

 shoeing all sorts of feet whatsoever. The first is. Toe 

 before, and quarter behind, or as we commonly say, before 

 behind, behind before. By toe before is meant, that you 

 may give the nails a good hold upon the toes of the fore- 

 feet, because there the horn is very thick, which it is not 

 in the quarters of the fore-feet, for there the horn is thin. 



