648 



SHOEING. 



cut away the sharp edges and bring it to the size required. Prac- 

 tically, this should be little more than rounding off the sharp 

 edges of horn to prevent splitting. 



The principle is the same of leveling and preparing the feet of 

 horses that have previously been shod. In such cases, to take off 



the shoe the best method is, after the 

 clenches are cut off, to raise both 

 heels slightly with the pincers, then 

 pry forward and across the foot a lit- 

 tle, when the nails can be pulled out 

 one by one. It is seriously obj ection- 

 able, as generally done, to pull off the 

 shoe by force, as the severe wrench- 

 ing endangers tearing the hoof and 

 straining and inj uring the foot. This 

 would be especially objectionable if 

 the hoof be thin and the horse sensi- 

 tive. Next, any stubs or nails should 

 be removed. 



While it is simply intended to pare 

 down the wall to its natural form, if 

 it is thin and weak, growing but lit- 

 tle, especially at the heels, where there 

 is great difficulty to grow sufficient 

 wall for the support of the foot, no 

 more should be removed than is bare- 

 ly necessary to level it. There should be no interference with sole 

 or frog, excepting to chip or cut away the portion of the old horn 

 which could not be exfoliated. Frequently the heels are too high, 

 or the toe too long ; in hither case, whatever the excessive accu- 

 mulation or growth of horn, it should be cut away until the foot 

 is brought back to its natural form and adjustment. Sometimes 

 there is excessive accumulation to the amount of half an inch or 

 more at the heels, or even of the whole wall of strong, upright 

 feet, yet to the ordinary observing shoeing-smith it may not 

 appear excessive, because cutting away so much would make the 

 foot appear to him to be unnaturally small. Several specimens 

 of abnormal growth of feet are given. (Figs. 463,' 464 are taken 

 from life.) Fig. 461, which was seen by the writer at Fulton 



FIG. 461. Mobility entirely d 

 stroyed in right foot. 



