OF SHOEING. 47 



for looking to the nails and taking the horse to the 

 forge when necessary. 



52. The position of the nails is a matter of great Position of 



nails. 



importance. In turned-up shoes the proper place 

 for the anterior nail on each side is immediately 

 posterior to the turn up ; the two other nails on the 

 outside dividing the remaining distance evenly to 

 the heels. On the inside the one other nail should 

 be placed exactly opposite the second nail on the 

 outside. 



In the common or straight shoe, the proper position 

 of nails is exactly the same, though it is not so easy 

 to define it on paper. Perhaps we shall be better 

 understood if we say, "place the foremost nail on 

 each side in the anterior portion of the quarter, and 

 let the two remaining nails on the outside divide 

 evenly the remainder of the shoe towards the heels. 

 On the inside place the one other nail opposite the 

 second nail on the outside." The ordinary, or at 

 least common, practice of putting one or two nails 

 forward, at or towards the toe, is erroneous. The 

 leverage at the toe breaks them, and in straight 

 shoes the friction at that part must wear the heads 

 off, and a nail, when its head is worn off, is useless. 

 In shoes of the form recommended, the " turn up " 

 keeps the shoe steady on the foot, and renders a 

 nail at the toe wholly unnecessary. It is a matter 

 of some importance that the two anterior nails on 



