72 THE HORSE. 



The bars, which are situated on each side of the 

 frog, are e^ddently composed of the same kind of ma- 

 terial as the hoof. They require to be veiy strong and 

 hard. Their structiu*e and position render them emi- 

 nently fitted for preserving the shape of the heel. In- 

 deed, if it were not for them, the quarters would cer- 

 tainly fall in towards each other, and the horse would 

 get lame. The slightest inspection of the foot is suffi- 

 cient to convince any person of this fact. It therefore 

 behoves eveiy individual who cares for the presei'vation 

 of his horse's foot, to take care that the bars are never 

 thinned and weakened, either on the side next the frog 

 or the crust, by the smith's paring-knife. The rage 

 which exists for opening the heel, as it is called, is 

 most absm-d and injm-ious. Smiths have been so much 

 in the habit of doing this, in order to satisfy the ig- 

 norance of their customers, that it is now like a second 

 nature to them, and it is frequently veiy difficult to 

 persuade them to spare the use of the steel. If any- 

 thing is sliced off the back of the heel, at the point 

 where the hoof tm'us in to form the bars, it must 

 weaken the arch most materially, and thus, by allow- 

 ing the crust to approach the bars or the frog, con- 

 traction will be encouraged, and in all probability corns 

 will be produced. 



It appears to me very inconsistent in the old veteri- 

 nary writers to insist so much as they do upon keeping 

 the bars in theii' fuU thickness and strength, whilst 



