ON SHOEING. 57 



even all over the shoe, the hind foot must be shod 

 with a straight shoe. 



To the make and shape of the hind shoe in ordi- 

 nary use there is in general no objection, though 

 circumstances often require some modification to 

 prevent cutting, &c. The accurate fitting of the 

 hind will require as much attention as that of the 

 fore shoe. Two clips, one on each side, just anterior 

 to the first nail, will hold it firmer than one at the toe. 



The various peculiarities occasionally requiring 

 attention in the shoeing of the hind feet will be 

 noticed under the head of overreach and other 

 injuries and malformations of the Hind Limbs. 



64. The reader may, perhaps, ask why so much mndfeet 

 has been said regarding the shoeing of the fore ^ disease. 

 and so little on that of the hind feet. Are not both, 

 he may ask, of equal importance, and of the same 

 structure ? Doubtless : yet it is notorious that, if 

 a horse is lame before, in the great majority of 

 cases the seat of lameness will be found in the 

 foot. On the other hand, it is equally well known 

 that, if a horse is lame behind, the seat of lame- 

 ness usually is not in the foot. 



The difference, we beheve, arises from the follow- 

 ing causes: — 1st. The action of the hind limb, 

 as already explained, consists in propelling or 

 pushing, whilst the concussion and hammering 

 caused by the propulsion from behind is received 



