46 OF SHOEING. 



lose shoes when out hunting ; but the author, 

 though using only five nails, has not lost a shoe 

 for years. 



It is not denied that even less than five nails may 

 on some feet retain the shoe. Experiments are said 

 to have been successful with three nails only. 

 Under favourable circumstances, and for road-work, 

 they have, no doubt, answered ; but there is at least 

 this objection to three nails only, namely, that if 

 any of these fail the shoe must come off. 



For hind shoes, when horses are shod level, 

 five nails are also sufficient ; but when one or both 

 heels are raised, as is pretty generally the case, 

 either by calkins or by thickening the shoe, there 

 is a tendency in the shoe to " twist," and six nails, 

 three on each side, are required. 



Nails to be 51. Whenever few nails are used, it is absolutely 



frequently 



examined uccessary that the farrier or groom should frequently 

 examine them, and see that each nail and clench is 

 good and sound. A broken nail, or one with its 

 head or its clench gone, is obviously useless, and 

 must be replaced. 



The necessity of replacing a damaged nail is 

 often urged as a serious objection to the use of few 

 nails by many persons whose horses are seldom seen 

 by the farrier except when taken at the end of the 

 month to the forge to be shod. This, however, is 

 easily obviated by making the servant responsible 



