ADVANTAGES OF THE SEATED SHOE. 513 



cannot be satisfied unless the frog be finely shaped, the 

 sole pared, the bars cut out, in order to make the heels 

 appear wide. This practice gives them a show of wide- 

 ness for the time; yet that, together with the concave 

 form of the shoe, forwards the contraction of the heels, 

 which, when confirmed, renders the animal lame for life. 

 In this flat form of shoe its thickest part is upon the out- 

 side of the rim, where it is most exposed to be worn ; and 

 being made gradually thinner towards its inner edge, it is 

 therefore much lighter than the common concave shoe, 

 yet it will last equally as long, and with more advantage to 

 the hoof; and as the frog and heel is allowed to rest upon 

 the ground, the foot enjoys the same points of sup])ort as 

 in its natural state. It must therefore be much easier 

 for the horse in his way of going, and be a means of 

 making him surer-footed. It is likewise evident that 

 from this shoe the hoof cannot acquire any bad form, 

 when at the same time it receives every advantage that 

 possibly could be expected from shoeing. In this respect 

 it may very properly be said that we make the shoe to 

 the foot, and not the foot to the shoe, as is but too much 

 the case in the concave shoes, where the foot very much 

 resembles that of a cat's fixed in a walnut-shell.' ' I would 

 observe, upon the whole, that the less substance we take 

 away from the natural defence of the foot, except on 

 particular occasions which may require it, the less artificial 

 defence will be necessary : the flatter we make the shoe 

 we give the horse the more points of support, and imitate 

 the natural tread of the foot ; therefore the nearer we fol- 

 low these simple rules, the nearer we approach to perfec- 

 tion in this art.' 



33 



