OF SHOEING. 45 



sole from being pared out, the bars from being cut 

 away, the frog from being pared, or the crust being 

 needlessly injured by the use of more than five 

 nails. 



50. The appropriate number of nails must ob- ofnaiis. 

 viously be the fewest that will answer the required 

 end, viz., the retaining without fail the shoe in its 

 place on the foot. 



The regulations for cavalry prescribe six nails for 

 fore shoes; but it will be found that, with an un- 

 rasped crust, and a well-fitted shoe, five are sufii- 

 cient for any sort of work. 



In good truth, however, the number of nails that 

 will retain a shoe depends on the accurate fitting of 

 the shoe, on the goodness and right placing of the 

 nails, on the quahty, toughness, and thickness of 

 the crust in which they are driven, on the due pre- 

 servation of the clenches, and the timely removal of 

 any broken or defective nails. 



If any of these points are neglected — if, for 

 example, the shoe is wider than the foot — in deep 

 ground no number of nails will hold it on ; or if the 

 crust be weakened or rendered brittle by rasping, 

 the nails will get no real hold ; or, again, if the 

 clenches be half cut through by filing, or if the 

 heads of the nails are worn out or defective, no 

 number of nails can retain the shoe. 



It is astonishing to see the number of horses that 



