8 2 The Cofttpleat Horfe wan: or y 



not much trouble themfelves about it ; for provided 

 their Horfe's Feet but appear good, and they get 

 them fold, it is all they defire. 



I (hall treat of the firft only, wherein are four 

 Rules to be obferved in Shoeing all forts of Feet 

 whatfoever. 



The firft- is, Toe before, and Quarter behind, or as 

 we commonly fay, Before behind, Behind before. 



By Toe before is meant, that you may give the 

 Nails a good hold upon the Toes of the Fore-feet, 

 becaufe there the Horn is very thick, which it is not 

 in the Quarters of the Fore-feet, for there the Horn 

 is thin, and you would hazard the pricking your 

 Horfe. 



Quarter behind is, that a Horfe hath the Quarters 

 of his Hind-feet ftrong, that is to fay, the Horn 

 thick, and fo capable of fuffering a good gripe by 

 the Nails ; but at the Toes of the Hind-feet you 

 will immediately meet with the Quick, becaufe the 

 Horn is but thin in that part *, and therefore Smiths 

 fhould put no Nails at all juft in the Toes of the 

 Hind- feet, but only in their Quarters. 



The fecond Rule is, Never to open a Horfe' 9 s Heels. 

 People call it opening of the Heels, when the Smith 

 in paring the Foot, cutteth the Heel low, and clofe 

 almoft to the Frufh, and taketh it down within a 

 Finger's breadth of the Coronet, or top of the 

 Hoof, fo that he faparates the Quarters at the Heel, 

 and by that means weakens and takes away the 

 fubftance of the Foot, making it to clofe and be- 

 come narrow at the Heels. Now this which they 

 call opening, would be more properly call'd, doling 

 of the Heels ; for the roundnefs and circumference 

 of the Foot being cut, by doing that which they 

 call opening of the Heels, which is to cut them 

 wholly away, they are no longer fupported by any 

 thing j fo that if there be any weaknefs in the Foot, 



it 



