ARTISTIC HORSE-SHOEING. 25 



colli. j'ns a notable proportion of iron, and are somewhat 

 resisting- and indestructible. 



*^ A good hoof should have the wall unbroken, its outer 

 face smooth and even ; the angle at the front not less than 

 50° — the lower or ground face of the front hoof should be 

 nearly circular in outline— the sole slightly concave at the 

 circumference, deeper at the centre; the border of the w^all 

 ought to be thick at the toe, gradually thinning toward 

 the heels, but at the inflexion or commencement of the bar 

 a strong mass of horn should be found ; the bars should be 

 free from fracture, and the frog moderately developed, firm 

 and solid. 



" The hind foot should possess the same soundness of 

 horn, though it differs from the fore hoof in being- more 

 oval in outline from the toe to the heels ; the sole is also 

 more concave, the frog- smaller, and the heels not so high. 

 The horn is usually less hard and resisting — a circum- 

 stance perhaps due to the hind feet being more frequently 

 exposed to humidity in the stable than the fore ones." 



VIEW OF THE BONES OF THE FOOT. 



Fig. 9 shows a foot from which the skin and flesh have 

 been taken and gives a view of the exact location of the 

 bones. A, represents the upper pastern ; B, the lower past- 

 ern ; and (7, the coffin-bone. 



Now in order that all tlie bones and joints should work 

 properly it is necessary to keep the foot at an angle of about 

 50 to 56 degrees. If we get the heel too high it is just as 

 bad as it is to get it too low. Therefore particular pains 



