SHOEING. 



659 



prevent its breaking. More iron than this becomes extra weight, 

 and causes fatigue in carrying, like thick, heavy-soled shoes or 

 clogs. 



It is a question among English authorities whether a shoe 

 should be "rounded at the toe" (a practice known as the French 

 system) to aid mobility. As shown by Fig. 478, it brings the 

 bearing surface in the form of a circle. 



On this point I copy here from Mr. Goodwin's new system of 



FIG. 475. 



FIG. 476. 



As the heel often rests upon the inner edge of shoe, with the bearing surface 

 badly concave a direct cause of contraction and weak heels. 



shoeing. " If we refer," says he, "to the action of the fore leg, it 

 will tend to explain some of the advantages to be derived from 

 the curved shoe. When a horse is 

 about to move, the first indication of 

 motion is a bend at the knee, which 

 raises the heels, and they become more 

 and more elevated, till the toe (which 

 is the last part that leaves the ground) 

 is suspended for the moment that the 

 foot is lifted. The base of the foot, 

 just at its leaving the ground, is al- 

 most perpendicular. When the knee 

 is bent to its fullest extent, the foot 

 is then in the same position, with the 



heels of the shoe pointing upward. If we consider this first part 

 of the motion of the limb, we find the movement of the foot very 

 nearly describes a semicircle ; and on viewing the form of the joints 

 connected with the action, the necessity for a curve at the toe is 

 clearly demonstrated. Again, the form of the shoe worn out, at 



FIG. 477. About as the shoe 

 should be fitted. 



