540 HORSE-SHOES AND HORSE-SHOEING. 



shall lie just within and above its ground surface, so that 

 in the descent of the sole the frog shall come sufficiently 

 on the ground to enable it to act as a wedge, and to ex- 

 pand the quarters, while it is defended from the wear and 

 injury it would receive if it came to the ground with the 

 iirst and full shock of the weight.' 



With respect to paring the hoof, Youatt commits the 

 most dangerous blunders to be found in his work. Admit- 

 ting that no specific rules could be laid down, he adds : 

 ' This, however, we can say with confidence, that more in- 

 jury has been done by the neglect of paring than by carry- 

 ing it to too great an extent. The act of paring is a work of 

 much more labour than the proprietor of the horse often 

 imagines ; the smith, except he be overlooked, will give 

 himself as little trouble about it as he can ; and that 

 which, in the unshod foot, would be worn away by con- 

 tact with the ground, is suffered to accumulate month 

 after month, until the elasticity of the sole is destroyed, and 

 it can no longer descend, and the functions of the foot are 

 impeded, and foundation is laid for corn, and contraction, 

 and navicular disease, and inflammation. 



' That portion of horn should be left on the sole, 

 which will defend the internal parts from being bruised, 

 and yet suffer the external sole to descend. How is 

 this to be measured ? The strong pressure of the thumb 

 of the smith will be the best guide. The buttress, that 

 most destructive of all instruments, being banished from 

 the respectable forge, the smith sets to work with his 

 drawing-knife, and he removes the growth of horn, //;//// 

 the sole icill yield, all hough, in the slightest possible degree, 

 to the vcnj strong pressure of his thumh. The jwoper thick- 



