142 HORSESHOEING. 



inner branch, full at the quarter, is desirable, but must be 

 covered by a quarter-boot, which a cross-firer should always wear. 



The outer branch should be fitted snug and terminate at 

 the buttress. From the centre of the toe to the end of the 

 branch the ground surface should be bevelled from the inner 

 edge of the web to a knife-edge at the outer border. 



Dressing and shoeing the hind foot : The hoof should be 

 relatively low from the centre of the toe around to and in- 

 cluding the inner buttress. If the outer half of the hoof is 

 deficient in length, it must be raised above the inner half by 

 applying a shoe witli a thin inner branch. The inner branch 

 may terminate in a knife-edge midway between toe and heel 

 (Figs. 151 and 152). 



The inner branch is to be fitted snug from the centre of 

 the toe to its end, and its ground surface should be bevelled 

 from the inner edge of the web to a knife-edge at the outer 

 border. 



The outer branch is to be fitted very full from the outside 

 toe to the end. This branch should extend well behind the 

 buttress, and in well-marked base-narrow hoofs should be turned 

 outward in order to support the overhanging coronet of the 

 quarter. The outer border should be bevelled base-wide, and 

 the nail holes punched coarse, i.e., far in from the outer border 

 (Figs. 151 and 152). The outer branch may carry a small 

 heel-calk. 



B. Interfering. 



A horse " interferes " when a hoof in motion strikes the 

 opposite Supporting leg. Interfering is apt to produce in- 

 juries, either of the coronary band of the inner half of the 

 foot or of the fetlock-joint, or (in fore-limbs) of the cannon, 

 even as high up as the knee. Lameness frequently accompanies 

 such injuries. 



The causes of interfering lie either in the shoeing (of the 



