CHAPTER X. 

 SHOEING MULES, ASSES, AND OXEN. 



Fig. 225. 



1. The shoeing of -mules and asses is, as in the case of 

 horses, a necessity if these animals are to be used for draft 

 or saddle purposes on hard streets. The structure and char- 

 acteristics of the hoofs of these animals are quite similar to 

 those of the horse, differing chiefly in the form and thickness 

 of the wall. The mule hoof is long and narrow and round at 

 the toe, the sole is well arched, and the 

 side walls are rather steep (Fig. 225). 

 In the ass the narrowness of hoof is still 

 more pronounced, the wall is relatively 

 thick, the frog is particularly well devel- 

 oped in its branches, and therefore the 

 hoof is relatively wide in the region of 

 the quarters. The horn of both mule and 

 ass is tough. 



The shoes differ from those of tlie 

 horse in no other respect than that they 

 should be lighter and narrower. Four 

 nail-holes are sufficient for an ass' shoe, 

 and five to six for a mule's. 



On account of tlie hardness and touffh- ^ ™"''''* ^°°^- (P'antar sur- 



'^ face). 



ness of the walls, we use nails that are 



short but strong in the shank; nails with weak shanks are apt 



to bend in driving. 



2. The shoeing of oxen is essentially different from that 

 of horses, because the foot of the ox is cloven (split), the long 

 pastern, short pastern, and hoof-bone are double, so that, in- 

 stead of one hoof or claw, there are two upon each foot, dis- 

 tinguished as outer and inner. Each claw consists of wall, 



207 



