THE HORSE 143 



condition, and will grow much stronger than it 

 will with ordinary shoes. Ko fear need be en- 

 tertained that the frog or crust will wear out. 



On the return of the horse from the smithy, 

 observe (1) that there is no mark of rasp on the 

 hoofs, and that they are not blacked or oiled to 

 hide the signs of rasping ; (2) that the sole has not 

 been Spared out; (3j that the frog has not been 

 pared out unless it is unhealthy and ragged ; (4) 

 that the clinches have not been rasped after being 

 turned down ; (5) that the shoe does not project 

 beyond the wall of the hoof ; (6) that the bars 

 have not been cut. Some blacksmiths make it a 

 practice to run a little tar into the cleft of the 

 frog: this plan is a good one where there is a 

 tendency to thrush, and under any cu'cumstances 

 can do no harm. 



