APPENDIX. 211 



balker, the lop ears of the sulker, the prompt, wiry expression and 

 pointed ear of the eager, intelligent, courageous character, and learn 

 to adapt your efforts to the control of each with increased success as 

 you get practice. 



SHOEING. 



In the first place the object of trimming and fitting the foot for the 

 shoe is to bring it back to its natural shape and bearing. If the foot 

 is healthy, the safest course is not to touch the frog or sole, but cut 

 down the wall from the heel to the toe until tlje bearing is natural. 

 The bearing of the shell or hoof should be level. The shoe should be 

 made to fit the foot, only so much longer as the foot will grow in the 

 time it is expected to be on. The bearing surface of the shoe should 

 be level and fit exactly all the way round to the foot. This means just 

 what is said, and the owner should see that the shoe is level at the 

 heels and not beveled in cup shape as shoes will usually be found vvhen 

 ready to be nailed on. Next see that the shoe is as big as the foot. 

 The best way is to sternly object to allowing the foot to be touched 

 with a red hot shoe and never on any conditions to allow the shoe to 

 be burned into the foot to fit it. 



Let the nail holes be as well forward in the toe as possible, at all 

 events do not allow the nails to go into but one heel. 



Do not, under any circumstances, allow any rasping under nail 

 clenches, and none over them ; no filing at all on the outside of the 

 hoof, not even below the clinches, excepting enough down near the 

 shoe to round the edge, but on no account should the hoof be cut down 

 to the shoe, because the shoe happens to be small or short. This sort 

 of work must not be allowed, yet it is just what all country shoers will 

 insist on doing. Simply let the nails be cut off with nippers, clenched 

 down upon the outside of the horn and if there is any soreness or 

 tenderness the hammering should be light, and carefully done. As to 

 corks, &c., their object is to prevent slipping. In a slate of health 

 the nearer the foot is to the ground the better. If the feet are getting 

 dry and hard, you should take measures to keep them damp. Flax 

 seed wet with water, stuffing or buckling a couple of thicknesses of 

 wet blanket around the foot. The simplest way is to throw some 

 water on the bedding under fore feet during the day. 



CONTRACTION. 



If in a state of health, the object should be to keep the feet natural 

 and healthy, the object now should be to bring the foot back to its 

 natural shape. If one heel is drawn in, then, this only heel should be 

 brought back natural. If both heels are drawn in, then both should 

 be spread back. Two conditions now become necessary, first that the 

 foot is prepared properly, and second that we have mechanical means 

 that will enable spreading the heels without injury, yet as desired. 

 The practice of sawing between the heels and frog, and then putting 



