6jo HORSE-SHOES AND HORSE-SHOEING. 



some fractions of an inch determines considerable oscilla- 

 tions of the weight. 



A just relation may be said to exist between the height 

 of the toe and that of the heels, when the latter is about 

 two-thirds that of the former. This is the natural 

 form ; though, through improper shoeing, and perhaps 

 defective organization, it may vary. To lower the heels 

 more than the toe, is to lengthen the foot ; and to shorten 

 the toe, and leave the heels untouched, is to raise the 

 latter. 



The amount of horn to be removed from the crust, 

 as well as the manner of removing it, is another import- 

 ant consideration. As before mentioned, the heels usually 

 wear themselves tolerably low against the extremities of the 

 branches of the shoe ; but where the latter has been firmly 

 fixed to the crust, this up-and-down friction does not take 

 place, and the posterior parts of the foot are proportionally 

 long. As a general rule, however, the heels require little 

 or no alteration, and the toe needs shortening. With 

 the hoofs of saddle or carriage horses, this shortening is 

 best and most safely accomplished with the rasp. Heavy 

 draught-horses, whose hoofs may have grown excessively 

 long, and which have more horn to spare, are oftener trim- 

 med with the toe-knife. 



If the horse is to be shod with a shoe reaching to the 

 points of the heels, the horn of the wall at this region, if 

 necessary, is to be removed to the degree prescribed 

 above. Under all circumstances, every fragment of loose 

 horn incapable of supporting the shoe, ought to be taken 

 away, so as to reach sound material. This may be done 

 by passing the rasp evenly along the ground-surface of the 



