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The end and defign of fhoeing horfes could 

 not have been aimed at upon any other ac- 

 count, by whomfoever firft put in praftice, 

 but as a prefervative and defence for the hoof 

 as well as the fole ^ but he could not think at 

 the fame time that it was neceifary to pare away 

 what he wanted to prefervc by the ufe of the 

 flioes, I will not even fay to that excefs that 

 we ufe in paring them, but not at all -, becaufe 

 that w^ould be to acl contrary to his firft prin- 

 ciple, and deftroy his own work. 



This precaution could never be recommended 

 but in cafes where the horny fole is uneven, in- 

 fomuch that the fhoe could not bear equally 

 upon it J which w^ould take off from its necef- 

 fary firmnefs ; in fuch a cafe it may be reafon- 

 able, otherwife it would be very abfurd. 



I have often fpoke to fuch lovers of horfe- 

 manfhip as take great care to have their horfes 

 feet well pared ^ but none of them could give 

 me any demonftration either of the neceifity or 

 propriety of it. But at length convinced by 

 my reafons againft it, I never could have any 

 fatisfadtion from them, but that it was an efta- 

 blifned cuftom, and that it mufr be allowed to 

 be by far the moft genteel method. 



I will offer but pne word more upon this per- 

 nicious pradtice, which is, that the greater part 

 of the farriers, in order to pare their horfes the 

 neater, pufh the buttrefs even to the very 



bloodj 



