11 



persons to commence this work of setting nature right, that 

 they cause their colt's feet to be "jm!< in order," as the mis- 

 chievous interference is called, long before the process of 

 "breaking" has rendered the evil of shoeing necessary. There 

 are very few things so httle varied in nature, as the form of 

 the ground surface of horses' feet; for, wliether the hoof be 

 high heeled and upright, or low heeled and flat, large or small, 

 broad or narrow, the identical form of ground siu'face is main- 

 tained in each so long, as it is left entirely to nature's 

 guidance : the outer quarter back to the heel is curved 

 considerably and abruptly outwards, wliile the inner quarter 

 is carried back in a gradual and easy curve/"' The advantage 

 of this form is so obvious, that it is matter for wonder, it 

 should ever be interfered with : the enlarged outer quarter 

 extends the base, and increases the hold of the foot upon the 

 ground ; while the straighter inner quarter lessens the risk of 

 strikuig the foot against the opposite leg. 



It should surely be our object to retain these valuable 

 quahties as long, as we can, and not lightly sacrifice either of 

 them to a false notion, of what may be considered a prettier 

 form. "Whenever we observe nature steadily persevering in 

 one form, or one plan, depend upon it, it is not within the 

 range of man's ingenuity to amend it ; and he wOl better serve 

 his own interest in accommodating his views to her laws, than 

 in attempting to oppose them. In this spuit let us proceed 

 with our subject. 



Before the foot can be prepared for receiving a new shoe, it 

 wiU be necessary to remove the old one, m doing which great 



* Plate 1, fig. 2. 



C* 



