THE HORSE 141 



runs his rasp over the crust, and in so doing 

 destroys the strongest fibres, leading eventually to 

 disease, inflammation, and other evils. A good 

 blacksmith will make his shoe to fit the horse, 

 and no worlanan should be tolerated who cannot 

 do this. 



In consequence of the protection afforded by 

 the shoes, the crust will requke to be pared down 

 each month by removing with a knife the ground 

 surface. The heels should be kept sufficiently low 

 to allow of the frog touching the ground, as the 

 frog is used by the horse in a state of nature to 

 get a grip with, and obviate concussion and slip- 

 ping. Nothing is worse than to see a horse raised 

 up on his shoes, with a cavity between his frog 

 and the ground. 



The bars are provided by nature as a preventa- 

 tive (by acting as a stay) against contraction, and 

 if left alone they answer their purpose very well. 

 Blacksmiths are very fond, however, of cutting 

 them out, with the result that horses so treated 

 will suffer from contracted feet and corns. Most 

 of the cases of bad corns and quittor can be traced 

 to this cause, and the only way to effect a cure is 

 to shoe the horse with tips, so as to cause again, 

 by use and pressure, the development of the bars, 



