37 



made gradually thicker towards the ground surface, the last 

 inch being plane with the ground ; and the best way of 

 doing it is to have the heels made red hot, and the shoe 

 placed in the vice with the hot heels projecting, which 

 should be beaten down with a hammer, until they are 

 about an inch long ; their sides should then be made even 

 on the anvil, and the foot and gi'ound surfaces made perfectly 

 level. I believe, that such a form often prevents strains 

 of the hock, and back sinews, when a horse is suddenly 

 stopped with liis hind feet far under him, or when he has 

 to hold back a carriage against a steep hill. 



The toe being the part of the hind shoe, which is exposed 

 to the greatest wear, requires to have considerable substance 

 given to it, and shoidd always be accompanied by a strong, 

 narrow chp, turned up in. front of the hoof, to obviate the 

 danger of the shoe being forced back upon the foot ; a circum- 

 stance very likely to happen, where a clip is not employed. 

 Clips on the side of the foot are of a very doubtful advantage 

 in retaining the shoe, and are decidedly objectionable, as 

 occupying the place of nails, wliich would perform the duty 

 much more efficiently, and inffict less injury upon the horn. • 



The common objection, lu-ged against a chp at the toe, viz. 

 that it causes the unpleasant noise called "forging," arises 

 from the abuse, rather than the use of it, for if we consider 

 for a moment, how "forging" is occasioned, we shall see, that 

 a stout, narrow clip, properly let into the horn at the toe, is 

 not at all likely to produce it, although a broad, clumsy one, 

 extending from side to side of the toe, occasionally may. 



Before a horse can advance his fore foot, he must disengage 



