34 OF SHOEING. 



especially if ridden, likewise require that the toe of 

 the shoe should be turned up. 



Most people have noticed how badly many horses 

 go when newly reshod, how apt they are to stumble ; 

 and that it is not until the shoes have been worn 

 some days, that they seem again to go at their ease. 



The reason of this is simple enough. As horses 

 are usually shod, that portion of the toe, which 

 would in a state of nature have been worn away by 

 friction with the ground, is retained. Not only is 

 this the case, but the evil is further aggravated 

 artificially by the presence of a straight iron shoe, 

 which is made to fit the protected, and therefore 

 elongated, toe. It can scarcely be a source of sur- 

 prise that a horse so shod strikes his toes against 

 the ground and stumbles. 



The horse has neither ease or comfort or safety 

 in travelling, until by friction with the ground he 

 has worn off some portion of the projecting toe of 

 this straight shoe, until, in short, he has in some 

 degree by wear assimilated the toe of the shoe to 

 the natural tread of his foot. 



But the horse which is shod with straight shoes 

 never gains complete ease and comfort in action, 

 because the shoe not only requires to be worn 

 through, but a portion of the crust at the toe must 

 also be removed before a really natural shape and 

 level bearing can be attained. 



The relief gained by the wearing away of the toe 



