HORSESHOEING. 



143 



foot that strikes, as well as of the foot which is struck), in 

 the position of the limbs, or in the use of the aiiimal. Horses 

 that have the correct standing position do not interfere when 

 thej are properly shod; base-wide horses interfere sometimes; 

 horses base-narrow do^vn to the fetlock and toe-wide below that 

 point interfere very frequently. Traces of unequal length, 

 weariness, and shoeing at too long interv^als favor interfering. 



In attempting to lessen or remove interfering, the horse 

 must be most carefully examined with respect to the position 

 of his limbs, his gait, and his 

 shoeing, in the manner de- 

 scribed on pages 90 to 92. 



If the cause is found to be 

 the twisted position of a shoe, 

 too wide hoofs, raised clinches, 

 etc., nothing need be done fur- 

 ther than to correct the shoeing ; 

 but if a faulty position of the 

 limbs is the cause, we must 

 ascertain the exact part of the 

 hoof that does the striking, 

 diminish the size of the hoof 

 at that point, regulate the en- 

 tire plantar surface of the hoof, 

 make the shoe straight along 

 the region that strikes, — that is, 

 without curve, — and so fit it to the foot that one-third of the 

 thickness of the wall will extend beyond the shoe. Where in- 

 terfering is so pronounced as to produce serious injuries, we 

 use a shoe with no nails in the inner branch (" dropped-crease " 

 shoe) (Figs. 153, 156, 157). 



The so-called interfering shoes (Figs. 154 and 155) are 

 worthy of recommendation only for hoofs of the base-narrow 

 position. The interfering branch, whose greater thickness 

 raises the inner wall, which is often too low, is to be so shaped 



A right front shoe with nailless and 

 narrow inner branch for a base-wide hoof. 

 Suitable for horsea that strike anywhere 

 from inner toe back to the quarter. 



