166 HORSES AND ROADS. 



advantages as being lighter in hand — no trifling 

 one — and all his gaits would become more elastic 

 and airy, rendering him much easier to sit and ride, 

 and give his rider a more graceful seat, while at the 

 same time she would experience less fatigue, and be 

 in greater safety. 



Should these lines attract the notice of any fair 

 reader, it is to be hoped that she may give their 

 substance due consideration. Let her reflect that 

 the present prevailing mode of shoeing is an un- 

 scientific and old-fashioned affair, and that it is now 

 high time there should be a change of fashion, for 

 ladies, at least. Let her consider that the hoof grows 

 from above downwards ; and thus, when the bottom 

 part gets fair play, diseases and defects of the 

 hoof will gradually disappear to a great extent, if 

 not entirely. Any lady may improve her present 

 favourite, both in comfort to him and in safety as well 

 as comfort to herself, by having him shod all round 

 with tips. The Charlier is much the best system, 

 but where it cannot easily be put in practice, the 

 common tip, made as narrow and thin as the Charlier, 

 will be found very effective, and a very great im- 

 provement on the broad, heavy, ' full ' shoe now in 

 almost universal use. 



Charlier did not invent the narrow, thin shoe or 

 tip ; he only made better use of such a piece of iron 

 by imbedding it in the crust, on a level with the 

 outer edge of the sole — and this was certainly an 

 improvement. Mayhew says: — * All idea of the 

 breadth of shoe affording the slightest protection 



