116 



HORSESHOEING. 



somewhat inward. Lengtli will dei:)eud upon the obliquity of 

 the hoof. Concaving unnecessary (see Fig. 120). 



The forms of shoes described in paragi-aphs 2 to 7 differ 

 from that described in paragraph 1, but are necessary in order 

 to lessen the injurious consequences of irregular loading (un- 

 balancing) of the feet, and of unfavorable bases of support of 

 the body-weight. 



Fig. 120. 

 Fig. 119. 



Flat shoe for a round hoof (right front). 



A left front shoe for a narrow hoof. 

 conca^■ing is unnecessarj*. 



G. Choosing the Shoe. 



The choice of the shoe for a given horse is not at all difficult 

 after we have carefully considered his weight, the nature of his 

 work, his standing position, gait, the form of his hoofs, and 

 quality of the horn, bearing in mind the general and peculiar 

 properties of shoes. As a rule, we choose a shoe that is longer 

 than the hoof, because the latter grows and carries the shoe 

 forward with it, and because the quarters gradually become 

 lowered by rubbing and wearing away upon the branches of 

 the shoe. The length of the shoe is of e-special importance. 

 ■For horses employed for slow, heavy-draft purposes the shoe 

 supplied with heel- and toe-calks should extend backward far 



