80 



HORSESHOEING. 



a somewhat steeper toe than the fore-hoof; viewed from, the 

 side, the angle of the toe with the ground in the regular stand- 

 ing position is from fifty to fifty-five degrees. 



Finally, we also distinguish wide and narrow hoofs; they 

 are not dependent upon the position of the limbs, but upon the 

 race and breeding of the animal. 



The wide hoof (Fig. 83) is almost round upon its plantar 



surface. Its wall runs 

 quite oblique to the ground. 

 The sole is but moderately 

 concave, and the frog is 

 fetrong and well developed. 

 The narrow hoof (Fig. 84) 

 is rather elliptical, with 

 steep side walls, strongly 

 concaved sole, and small, 

 ^ undeveloped frog. The horn 

 of the narrow hoof is fine 

 and tough ; of the wide hoof, 

 usually coarse. The wide 

 lioof may readily become 

 flat. Narrow hoofs are either 

 the result of breeding or 

 premature shoeing. 



In enumerating the pre- 



Right hind hoof of the regular position: a, 

 side-wall; 6, beginning of the quarter; c, begin- 

 ning of the bar; d, buttress; e, middle of bar; /, 

 body of the sole; /', branch of sole; g, white line 

 of the toe; g', white line of the bar; h, body of 

 the frog; i, branch of the frog; k, bulbs of heel; 

 I, middle cleft of frog; m, lateral cleft of frog. 



ceding forms of the hoof we 



have by no means referred 

 to all the forms in which 

 the hoof may be found ; on the contrary, hoofs vary in shape and 

 quality to such an extent that among a hundred horses no two 

 hoofs can be found which are exactly alike. In fact^ the same 

 variety exists as in the faces of people, and we know that we can 

 recall in succession even many more faces without finding two 

 that are exactly alike. This explains the manifold differences 

 in horsefehoes with respect to size, form and other qualities. 



