THE BRITISH-BRED TROTTER 233 



One of the most expensive and critical considerations 

 with balancing light harness race-horses is shoeing, . 

 During the last decade many ideas and changes have 

 taken place and been tried out. The trend of opinion 

 gradually leads to simple and plain shoeing. I favour 

 a simple plain shoe, and no more iron than is 

 required to protect the wall of the foot. By repeated 

 experiences I am conscious that, in general, horses are 

 required to carry too much weight, especially the 

 lower-class race-horses that are in training. Weight in 

 shoe cannot make speed or develop soundness. When 

 weight is required to balance action, then the limbs of 

 the animal should be relieved and given rest as much 

 as possible, no toe weights left on over night, and shoes 

 frequently taken off. 



The angle of the foot is very important, and must be 

 defined by the natural form and structure of the animal. 

 When the horse wears his shoe evenly over all the surface 

 then the angle is right, but when the shoe is worn 

 down at one place more than at others the wall of 

 the foot is either too high at the place where the 

 shoe is worn most, or too low where the shoe is worn 

 least. Forming the angle this way sometimes causes 

 an odd-shaped foot ; this is due to the peculiar form and 

 structure of the limb. 



