192 HORSESHOEING. 



of the side wall (a three-quarter shoe). This method of shoe- 

 ing shifts the body-weight upon the slanting wall and restores 

 the foot to its proper shape in from two to four shoeings. 



Causes. — Unequal distribution of the weight in the inner 

 and outer halves of the foot, in conjunction with excessive 

 cutting do^^^l or wear of the steeper wall. All faults in shoeing 

 which tend to produce contraction of the heels aid in the forma- 

 tion of a wry foot, especially when these faults directly affect 

 the steep wall. Neglect of the colt's hoofs during the first 

 years of life frequently lays the basis for wry foot in later 

 years. All wry feet are more susceptible to disease than others. 



The amount or degree of wryness varies considerably. In a 

 moderately developed case the steep wall (usually the inner) 

 will be drawn in at the plantar border of the quarter, presenting 

 a convex surface between this border and the coronet, and the 

 adjacent branch of the frog ^vill be more or less shrunken. In 

 extreme cases the slanting wall (usually the outer) will also be 

 involved and bent in the opposite direction, — i.e., will be con- 

 cave (dished) between coronet and lower border (crooked hoof). 



Prognosis. — ^^Tien the degree of wrvness corresponds to the 

 slant of the foot-axis and the old shoe shows nearly uniform 

 wear, the defect is not directly injurious. In very pronounced 

 " wryness," however, with thin, bent walls, a number of asso- 

 ciated lesions, such as corns and cracks, may be present and 

 render the animal unfit for service upon paved or macadam 

 roads. 



5. The Crooked Hoof. 



A crooked hoof (Fig. 212) is one whose walls (viewed from 

 in front or behind) do not pass in a straight, natural direction 

 from the coronet to the ground, but are bent in such a manner 

 that the bearing-surface of the wall in relation to the foot axis 

 lies either too far out or in. 



It may occur on any foot, but is seldom strongly marked. 



