STABLES 



263 



pansion of the quarters, not only causes the full force of the con- 

 cussion incident to the contact of the foot with the ground to bo 

 felt, but induces a cramped, stilty stride, as a result of the 

 horse's effort to come down easily and thus spare himself the 

 pain of concussion. It is a. condition analogous to that of a man 

 with a tight shoe, which pinches as the weight is borne on it. 



The destruction of the elasticity of the lateral cartilages by 

 ossification, in the formation of side bones, has the same effect, 

 marked both in the stride and in the altered form of the foot, 

 the quarters becoming more narrow and straight. 



Fig. 135. — An untrimmed 

 hoof with an excess of horn 

 (a) at the toe which breaks 

 the foot axis backward. 



Fig. 136. — An untrimmed 

 hoof with an excess of horn 

 (b) at the heel, which breaks 

 the foot axis forward. 



Fig. 137.— Hoof dressed 

 and foot axis straightened 

 by removing excess of horn 

 below dotted lines in the 

 two preceding illustrations. 



Proper shoeing consists, first, in so dressing the foot that the 

 removal of surplus horn does not destroy the balance of the foot, 

 but leaves it with its axis unbroken either up or down, in or out, 

 tlius insuring an even distribution of weight and wear on the 

 joints above (T'igs. 135, 136 and 137). Only such horn should 

 be removed from the sole or frog as is loose; the bars, natural 

 braces to prevent contraction, should not be cut through, the 

 heels " opened up," nor the sole concaved. The shoe must be 

 uiade to fit the foot, not the converse, its upper surface being 

 perfectly level and smooth to favor the sliding of the wall in 

 the outward expansion of the quarters, not bevelled to turn the 

 heels out ; the nails should be placed far enough foi-ward to leave 

 the back of the foot free to expand on the branches of the shoe. 

 Hot fitting, properly done, insures a better fit than is possible 

 when the shoe is fitted cold, and is not injurious to the horn ; in 

 fact, there is some advantage in searing over the ends of the 

 horn tubules. 



Common styles of shoes are the plain open shoe, the bar 



