6 94 SHOEING. 



be easily prevented by stopping with flaxseed meal, and tying two 

 or three thicknesses of blanket around the feet, and keeping wet 

 while standing in the stable. The horse, if necessary, can be put to 

 work as usual. In the course of a few days, spread out a little 

 more, or as may be necessary to make the hoof sufficiently large 

 to remove all pressure from the weak parts. When grown down, 

 the cause is removed, first, by the quarter being opened out to its 



natural position, there- 

 by removing all press- 

 ure upon it outwardly ; 

 second, by the circula- 

 tion now having entire 

 freedom more blood is 



brought to the parts, 

 FIG. 534. Toe-crack. FIG. 535. Quarter-crack. ,, ,, 



so that there is grown 



a tougher and thicker quality of horn, thereby making it a relia- 

 ble cure. 



If an ordinary case, with but little drawing in of the quarters, 

 simply lower the inside quarter a little so as to remove pressure 

 from the upper edge of the wall, and put on a level shoe. Next, 

 with a firing-iron, burn a slight crease across the upper edge of 

 the wall, keeping the foot soft, and stimulating the growth by 

 applications of hoof liniment. This will enable growing the wall 

 down without its splitting back. But if the quarter is drawn in 

 perceptibly, then in addition to the creasing, the quarter must be 

 given entire freedom by cutting down between the bar and frog. 

 The advantage of a bar-shoe is that it brings some pressure upon 

 the frog, causing a slight spreading of the quarters, and giving 

 relief; but, as must be seen, in its best form it is merely palliative, 

 as the frog soon becomes atrophied by the pressure. But if the 

 hoof is thin and much contracted, and especially if the growth of 

 horn is not very healthy, nothing short of opening the quarter 

 and keeping it so can be relied upon for success. 



Blind Billy, on account of the severity with which he brought 

 the feet to the ground when traveling rapidly, frequently burst 

 the quarter of one of his feet which grew white horn and was con- 

 tracted a little. By weakening the horn between the bar and frog 

 so as to let the quarter give as pressure was thrown upon it, in 

 connection with keeping the feet soft and stimulating the growth 



