84 THE HORSE. 



to be clenched very tight. Hard driving and tight 

 clenching will bend the hoof, at the place where the 

 clenches are turned, inwards and downwards towards 

 the shoe in such a manner as to injure the tender parts 

 contained within the cavity of the foot. Besides, it is 

 not necessary for a man to forget he is working with 

 the foot of a living animal. The shoe will remain on a 

 sufficient length of time with gentle diiving and clench- 

 ing, provided it is properly fitted to the foot. If it has 

 a thoroughly even bearing, there will be little stress on 

 the nails. The nails are often made so coarse that 

 they split the hoof, and thus keep it constantly broken. 

 A fine nail will answer all the pm-poses required, if it 

 is made of the right sort of material. 



I know of no worse fashion, in connexion with the 

 application of the shoe, than the one which the smith 

 has, of hammering the shoe on the one side or the 

 other, after three or four nails have been di'iven, for the 

 purpose of putting it straight on the foot. This is a 

 speedy method of making up for his total want of ac- 

 curacy in placing it at first ; but it should never be 

 suffered to be practised. It strains all the nails which 

 have already been driven, and is thus calculated to do 

 serious damage to the foot. 



As I do not intend to give full instructions about 

 shoeing, I will not pursue the subject any farther at 

 present. It would require a special volume for its 

 due consideration. I must say it was to me a mat- 



