HORSESHOEING. 



101 



surface is more or less inclined to the direction of the foot axis, 

 usually quite considerably, and the inner wall is somewhat 

 higher than the outer. 



The foot is observed from the side in order to determine 

 the proper relation of the length of the toe to the height of 

 the quarters. 



In this also the foot axis is our guide. If this axis is as it 

 sliould be, the wall at the toe and the long past em will have the 

 same slant (Figs. 67, 68 and 69). If the hoof has become too 

 long under the protection of the shoe, this wall be sho^\^l by 

 the foot axis being no longer a straight line, but broken back- 



FiG. 98. 



Fig. 99. 



Fig. 100. 



An untrimmed hoof with 

 an excess of horn (a) at the 

 toe which breaks the foot 

 axis backward. 



An untrimmed hoof with 

 an excess of horn (6) at the 

 heels, which breaks the foot 

 axis forward. 



Hoof dressed and foot 

 axis straightened by re- 

 moving excess of horn be- 

 low dotted lines in the two 

 preceding illustrations. 



ward at the coronet (Fig. 98) ; that is, the hoof in comparison 

 with the fetlock will be too slanting. By shortening the toe 

 more than the quarters this faulty relation will be corrected 

 (Fig. 100) and the foot restored to its proper slant. If the 

 quarters are too long (too high) in comparison with the length 

 of the toe, the foot axis will be broken forward at the coronet 

 (Fig. 99), and the hoof will be too upright. By shortening 

 the quarters more than the toe the foot axis may be made 

 straight. The plantar surface of the hoof is therefore correct 

 (balanced) when the horse places the foot flat upon the 

 ground in travelling, and when the lines boimding the hoof. 



