SHOEING. 



647 



FIG. 459. Location cf nail-holes in an 

 ordinary flat shoe. 



away to level it to the proper proportion, and the faults, if any, 



that can be modified or corrected. If the horse travels high, the 



shoes must be light ; if low 



and subject to stumbling, 



they may be increased in 



weight a little, and the toe 



somewhat rounded; if lia- 

 ble to strike, then set close 



under the wall with edges 



filed smooth. 



It is not the business of 



the writer to say what in- 

 struments should be used 



for doing this, the buttress, 



drawing-knife, or rasp, or 



each alternately; the point 



is to cut away or remove 



the surplus growth in the 



easiest and best manner, 



which depends more upon 



the deftness and ingenuity of the man than upon the use of 



any special means. The but- 

 tress, in the hands of a man 

 who knows how to use it, can- 

 not reasonably be objected to, 

 next to which a good sharp 

 rasp is advisable. The wall 

 should be reduced to nearly or 

 quite on a level with the outer 

 margin of the sole, providing 

 the sole has not been cut away 

 too much. As a rule, the less 

 taken away from the foot the 

 better, except for special rea- 

 sons, which will be explained 

 hereafter. The bearing sur- 

 face of the entire wall should 



be made level, so that an even bearing surface of 'he shoe will rest 



upon it fully. The rasp should now be passed around the toe, to 



FIG. 460. An ordinary flat shoe 

 nailed on. 



