*il2 APPENDIX. 



on an expansion shoe and spreading the quarters outward violently, is 

 exceedingly cruel and dangerous. In the first place if the object is to 

 weaken the horn between bar and frog it can be done but very im- 

 perfectly with a saw and violently spreading the heels, and thus, in a 

 measure, bursting the shell apart will produce violent inflammation 

 and lameness. Spreading the heels even in some cases a quarter of 

 an inch, but little resistance may be shown, the horse may walk to his 

 stable all right, but in a few hours, if examined, he may be in great 

 pain, possibly in a high state of fever. It is really very doubtful pol- 

 icy for you to intrust a good horse in the hands of doubtful men who 

 travel the country assuming to cure all sorts of lameness by this 

 system of treatment. 



The first thing to be done in the way of curing contraction, is to 

 thoroughly soak the feet, either by poulticing by tying two or three 

 thicknesses of blanket around the feet and keeping wet for 24 hours, or 

 standing the feet in a tub in which is some mud. When the horn is 

 soft, cut down the feet level to the point of removing the superfluous 

 horn ; now, with a knife adapted to the purpose, weaken the horn be- 

 tween the heel and point of the frog, especially back, near and at the 

 point of the heel. This done properly on both sides, fit a shoe of the 

 simple flat kind accurately to the shell. Well back at the turn on each 

 side, cut or file out enough, as shown in the Tyrrell shoe, but further 

 back, so that it will bend as desired, about at the widest part. Now 

 lay on the shoe as intended to be nailed and mark on the outside over 

 the inside of the bar at the point of the heel ; punch or drill two holes 

 through, if you can obliquely the direction of the bar ; make and drive 

 two strong spikes from the ground surface up. Now bend and file 

 these spikes so that they will extend up and back inside the bar at the 

 point of the heels. The shoe must fit all round, there must be special 

 attention to having those spikes fit, resting against the bar, but not so 

 long as to come against the sole above. Nail on now, carefully, do 

 not, by any means, allow the nails to be large, or rasping of the shell 

 outside. This done, spread the shoe not over three-sixteenths of an 

 inch, if shoe is fitted close. The heels, it is seen, are spread so far as 

 the shoe is opened. This spreading should be repeated once every one 

 or two days, but never more than an eighth of an inch at a time, but 

 follow it up until the foot is brought back to its natural shape. 



This is the Tyrrell principle, but it is next to impossible to fit a 

 Tyrrell shoe. If too large or small, in the least, it will not do. The 

 improvement I give makes it simple and entirely practical. Experi- 

 ence teaches the writer that not one horseman in fifty and not one 

 shoer in a hundred can, or will, carry out properly and make a success 

 with the aid and the hints given here and in the chapter on shoeing. 



If the HEELS are w^eak, do not grow horn enough, do not cut away 

 any when paring for the shoe. Simply level the foot, being as careful 

 as you can not to waste by undue cutting where there is none to spare. 

 The shoe should be fitted carefully, and in this case must, in a measure, 

 protect the foot. For where the horn is light at the heel the sole is 

 also usually light and will not bear pressure. 



