78 THE HORSE. 



on this point. There can be no greater drawback than 

 a thin sole. It should always be left as thick and 

 strong as circumstances will permit. It will then 

 answer its intended purpose of protecting the internal 

 parts of the foot from injurious local pressure. When 

 it is thin by nature, or is made so by the knife, the 

 horse will go veiy tender on broken stones, and will 

 probably drop suddenly, in consequence of the pain he 

 feels in the foot. The sole should be left as thick as 

 is consistent with saving it from pressing against the 

 shoe. 



It is not generally necessary to take much off the 

 frog. It should not be pared veiy close, nor yet left 

 too large. Either extreme is objectionable. 



When the toes are disposed to gi*ow long, and the 

 heels deep, they ought both to be well pared. If this 

 is attended to, the foot will preserve its proportions re- 

 markably well. Besides, a long toe is very uncom- 

 fortable and unsafe. Walking over it will fatigue the 

 horse, because a gi-eater amount of muscular exertion 

 is required under these circumstances, than when the 

 toe is short ; and if the foot is not lifted high, the ani- 

 mal will be likely to stimible. The heel should be 

 lowered to a reasonable extent, but the paring must be 

 confined entirely to the gi'ound-surface. The crust at 

 the back of the heel, and at the edges of the frog, 

 should not be touched with the knife. " Opening the 

 heel," as it is called, is most pernicious. The part of 



