RULES TO BE OBSERVED. 647 



very thin either over the whole surface, or in one of its 

 branches. When the shoe lasts for a long period — six 

 weeks or two months — Vv^ithout being removed, the hoof 

 usually becomes unnaturally long, widens at its under sur- 

 face, and the iron being carried forward with the growth 

 becomes buried within the crust. The horse moves 

 awkwardly, stumbles, goes on his heels, and an undue 

 strain is thrown on the flexor tendons and the posterior 

 regions of the limb. 



The period during which a shoe ought to wear, or be 

 allowed to remain on the foot, depends upon circum- 

 stances. Unless in very exceptional circumstances, it 

 should not be suffered to remain longer than four or five 

 weeks, and neither should a horse be shod more fre- 

 quently than once in three weeks or a month. It must be 

 always remembered, that an excess of growth is far less 

 injurious than too frequent shoeing. 



It is easy to distinguish when the shoe is worn out ; 

 though some people, whenever the outer margin of the 

 iron at the toe is worn away — and though the horse may 

 not have been shod the full period — become alarmed, 

 and have the animal re-shod. 



So long as the shoe remains firmly attached, this 

 wear is of little importance. If the horse has not been 

 shod a month, I allow him to go until the plate nearly or 

 quite breaks through at the point of wear, as he only re- 

 moves that horn from the front of the hoof which must 

 be taken away by the rasp in the operation of shoeing. 

 This enables me to order lighter shoes to be worn. 



Some horses have naturally long feet, and when they 

 rest on the ground they appear to require ' shortening.' If 



