84 THE HORSE EDXTATOR. 



SHOEIXG. 



^F we examine the liorse's feet in their natural 

 (Jfc) state, they ^ill be found to be ahnost round 

 and Yerj elastic at the heel, the frog broad, 

 plump and of a soft yielding n ature of the com- 

 missui-es open and T\'ell defined, the sole concave, 

 the outside crust fi'om the heel to the toe in- 

 creased from a slight bevel to an angle of fort}^- 

 five degrees ; consequently, as the foot gTows i*^ 

 becomes wider and longer in proportion to the 

 amount of horn secreted, and narrower and 

 shorter in proportion to the ground surface. If 

 a shoe were fitted nicely and accurately to the 

 foot after being dressed down well, it would be 



