130 



HORSESHOEING. 



fitting shoe. Afterwards, the least fault or defect must be 

 remedied, and then the work of nailing it begins. Bj nailing, 

 the shoe is firmly and durably fastened to the hoof, in doing 

 which the horn of the wall is spared so far as possible, the 

 elasticity of the hoof borne always in 

 mind, and wounding of the pododerm 

 entirely avoided. The nails must in all 

 cases penetrate the white line and pass 

 through the wall in such a straight 

 direction that they will appear neither 

 too high nor too low upon its outer sur- 

 face. In the first case there is con- 

 siderable danger of pricking or close- 

 nailing, and in the latter the nail-holes 

 will tear out easily when the nails are 

 being clinched. 



In driving a nail, it should be held 

 in the fingers as long as possible in the 

 direction in which it is desired that it 

 shall pass through the horn. A nail 

 should be driven cautiously, with atten- 

 tion to its sinking and sound, and yet 

 with enough force so that at each stroke 

 it will penetrate from one-fifth to one- 

 fourth of an inch. The power required 

 at each stroke will depend upon the 

 hardness of the horn and the size of the 

 nail. Fearless driving and timorous 

 tapping should not be allowed. 



Nails, which at a depth of five- 

 eighths of an inch are still going soft, or 

 which bend and give a dull sound, or cause pain, should be 

 immediately withdrawn. 



According to the size of the horse and his hoofs the nails 

 should be driven from five-eighths to an inch and five-eighths 



Driving hammer. 



