HORSESHOEING. 125 



fastest trotters during the last year (1912) the average weight 

 of the front shoes was 6% ounces, of the hind shoes 4 ounces. 

 Of the seven swiftest pacei's of the same year the front shoes 

 averaged 5^2 ounceis, and the hind shoes 3% ounces. In short, 

 extreme speed at running, pacing or trotting demands as light a 

 shoe as can be made, which will at the same time furnish a 

 hearing for wall, white line and a narrow rim of the sole. 



In style of shoes there is no- marked difference between 

 trotters and pacers — except in the hind shoes of pacers that 

 cross-fire (see cross-firing," p. 140). Open shoes predominate. 

 Bar-shoes are used, not to give frog pressure, but to stiffen and 

 prevent spreading of the 'shoe, when after a few days' wear 

 it becomes thin at the toe. The average trotting and pacing 

 plate is so thin that it would be weakened by fullering, so most 

 of them are stamped (punched). Six nails are sufficient. Clips 

 are seldom needed. 



Pacers usually require a low circular grab or " rim " at the 

 toe. This is set flush with the outer border, is about one-eighth 

 of an inch high and is brazed on. Trotting plates are usually 

 without toe calks, though many are fullered across the toe (cor- 

 rugated) to furnish a grip upon the ground. 



On both trotting and pacing shoes the heel calks should be 

 low and sharp and should run straight forward so as not to 

 retard the for^vard glide of the foot as it is set to earth heel 

 first. The heel calk serves chiefly to prevent the lateral twist 

 of the foot a's the horse takes the sharp turns of the track. 



Freak shoes, toe- weights, side-weights, excessive length of 

 hoof or toe, and other unscientific appliances and methods of 

 shoeing speed horses are being gradually eliminated, and to- 

 day the fastest are dressed and shod in accordance with the 

 principles enunciated in this book. 



Fitting Shoes to Heavy Draft-Horses. 



What has been previously said concerning shoeing holds 

 good here; however, the conditions of shoeing are somewhat 

 different in heavy horses, and particularly with respect to hoofs 



