85 THE HOESE EDUCATOR. 



found too narrow and sliort for tlie same foot 

 after a lapse of a few weeks. If an nnyielding 

 shoe of iron is nailed firmly to this naturally 

 enlarging and elastic hoof, it prevents its natural 

 freedom of expansion almost wholly, and does 

 not allow the foot to grow wider at the quarters 

 as it grows down, in proportion of the amount of 

 horn grown as before shod ; consequently th® 

 foot is changed by the continued restraint of the 

 shoe, from a nea^rly round, healthy foot to a 

 contracted and unhealthy condition, as generally 

 S( en in horses shod for a few years. 



The principles which should govern in shoeing 

 are few and simple, and it is surprising con- 

 sidering the serious results involved, that it 

 should be done with so little consideration. The 

 object of the sheer should be in trimming and 

 preparing the hoof for the shoe to keep the foot 

 natural, and this involves first the cutting away 

 of any undue accumulation of horn, afiecting in 

 the least its health and freedom, second ; to 



