6/4 HORSE-SHOES AND HORSE-SHOEING. 



round a little more the edge of the small fragment of horn 

 that may project on each side of the clip, and thus prevent 

 its liability to split. The angle of the face of the hoof 

 should never be interrupted after the shoe is nailed on, 

 but should be the same from top to toe, as in the natural 

 foot. This is a matter of vital importance. Too much 

 stress cannot be laid upon the conservation of the horn 

 of the foot; and no amount of rasping can give the hoof 

 the beautiful polish it has in its natural state. 



To diminish the weight, and permit one portion of 

 the posterior part of the foot to come in direct contact 

 with the ground along with the frog, a three-quarter shoe 

 is often applied — the portion of iron extending from the 

 inside quarter to the point of the heel being cut off, and 

 the shoe at this part thinned a little. The horn left impro- 

 tected is never interfered with. This is an excellent shoe 

 for saddle and carriage horses, which may be employed 

 on the worst roads while wearing it. For feet that have 

 suffered very much from the effects of rasping and paring, 

 and which are liable to have bruised heels (or corns), its 

 use is attended with the greatest benefit. 



The same may be said of tips or half-shoes. An un- 

 reasonable prejudice appears to exist against the use of 

 these short light plates ; but if they are properly used, 

 there can be no doubt whatever that they are entitled 

 to a far larger share of attention than they have yet re- 

 ceived. Their very limited employment hitherto may 

 have arisen from the imperfect manner in which they 

 have been applied. They protect those parts of the crust 

 most liable to damage by attrition — extending around 

 the toe and reaching no farther than the quarters ; while 



