32 ARTISTIC HORSE-SHOETXG. 



tion of the lower face of the hoof — wall, sole, bar, and frog 

 — should take its share of wear and strain ; but it will be 

 readily understood that this cannot be properly effected if 

 the weig"ht is thrown more upon one side than the other; 

 that part which receives the largest share will be subjected 

 to the g'reatest amount of loss from wear, and this, with 

 the diminished secretion of horn, will tend to distort the 

 foot and limb still more. 



In a well-formed leg- and foot the degrees ot resistance 

 of the different parts of the hoof are so well apportioned to 

 the amount of wear to be sustained, that all are equally re- 

 duced by contact with the ground, and the whole is main- 

 tained in a perfect condition as regards growth and wear. 



The amount of growth, even in a well-proportioned 

 foot, varies considerably^ in different animals, according to 

 the activity prevailing in, or the development of, the secret- 

 ing apparatus ; and in this respect the operations of the 

 farrier, as we will notice hereafter, are not without much 

 influence. 



It may be laid down as a rule, that the horn grows 

 more rapidly in warm dry climates, than in cold wet ones ; 

 in healthy energetic animals, than in those which are soft 

 and weakly ; during exercise, than in repose ; in young, 

 than in old animals. Food, labor and shoeing, also add 

 their influence ; while the seasons are to some extent con- 

 cerned in the growth and shape of the hoof. In winter 

 it widens, becomes softer, and grows but little ; in sum- 

 mer it is condensed, becomes more rigid, concave, and 

 resisting, is exposed to sevei-er wear, and grows more 

 rapidly ; this variation is a provision of Nature to enable 



