HORSESHOEING. 



85 



paces are abnormal, especially when there is faulty direction of 

 the limbs. WTiile in the majority of horses whose limbs have 

 been stiffened by age and overwork both kinds of wear are most 

 marked at the toe of the shoe, we see relatively fewer cases of 

 " grounding wear " at the ends of the branches (as in lamini- 

 tis) ; on the contrary, we always notice "swinging-off wear" at 

 the toe of the shoe. It is worthy of notice that length of stride 

 has much to do with the wear. We observe that with shorten- 

 ing of the stride both kinds of wear occur at the toe of the 

 shoe, and this is rapidly worn away, as is the case with horses 



Fig. 86. 



Fig. 87 



Fig. 



A normal-angled foot 

 with straight foot axis. 

 The shoe shows uniform 



An upright foot with 

 foot axis broken forward 

 by reason of too high quar- 

 ters. The shoe shows 

 "grounding" wear at ends 

 of branches, and "swing- 

 ing off" wear at toe. 



A hoof with foot axis 

 broken backward by rea- 

 son of surplus horn at the 

 toe. The shoe shows ex- 

 cessive "grounding" and 

 "swinging off" wear at 

 the toe. 



which are fretful and prance imder the rider, draw heavy loads, 

 or from any other cause, as disease or infinnity, are obliged to 

 shorten their steps. With increase of length of stride the wear 

 of the shoe becomes more uniform. 



The position and form of the shoe have a marked influence 

 upon its wear; at the place where the shoe is too far under 

 the hoof either as a residt of shifting or of having been nailed 

 on crooked, or where the outer branch has not the necessary 

 width, or does not form a sufficiently large curve, the wear will 

 be increased. 



