662 HORSE-SHOES AND HORSE-SHOEING. 



which are so seldom applied. To give the greatest amount 

 of strength and foothold to the shoes of the heavy 

 draught-horse, with the least amount of weight, should 

 always be kept in view in fabricating them. But with 

 this animal the preservation of the crust is the principal 

 object ; and to effect this, the sole and frog ought, if 

 possible, to be preserved intact. 



The form of the shoe should, in outline, resemble the 

 shape of the ground surface of the hoof. It has been 

 decided that its upper or sole surface must be fiat from the 

 outer to the inner margin. For horses other than those 

 of heavy draught, its width will of course vary ; but it 

 must be an advantage to have it as narrow as is com- 

 patible, in relation to its thickness, with the amount of 

 wear required from it. After what we have said, it will 

 perhaps be well to remember that it is better to have a 

 thin wide shoe than a narrow thick one — so far as the 

 foot surface is concerned. 



The ground face of the shoe is the next point for 

 consideration. This should always, if possible, be parallel 

 with its plantar face ; that is, the shoe ought to be plane 

 on both surfaces, and of the same thickness on its outer 

 margin at least, both for hind and fore feet. This insures 

 the foot and limb being kept in a natural position. What 

 are termed calkins, on one or both heels, are very objec- 

 tionable, for the simple reason that they raise the posterior 

 part of the foot higher than the anterior, and disturb the 

 aplomb of the limb ; and unless the hoof meets the ground 

 in its natural direction, some part of the leg will be certain 

 to experience the evil effects. On the fore foot, calkins 

 are far more objectionable than on the hind one, and 



