99 



FORM. 



By form is meant the proper angle or slope of the foot. If 

 the foot is too long at the toe it is equivalent to lowering the 

 heel and increasing the strain upon the flexor tendon. It also 

 lowers the instep, and frequently presses the tendon of the 

 extensor between the hoof and the highest part of the coffin- 

 bone, while if it is too elevated at the heels, which again is 

 equivalent to being too low at the toes, a tendency to fall or 

 stumble is promoted by it. 



When there is an abundance of horn, and the foot will bear 

 some reduction in size, the reduction should be made in refer- 

 ence to the slope of the fetlock. As a rule, the slope of the 

 foot should be a continuation of the slope of the fetlock. If 

 the heels are low and weak, they must not be made a particle 

 lower, but the strength and thickness of the shoes at heels and 

 toes must be considered with reference to the same points, 

 namely : the just equilibrium of the animal over himself, pre- 

 ferring a slight extra elevation to any undue depression of the 

 heels. When it is remembered that the horse is being shod to 

 correct certain pathological conditions, and that the floors of 

 almost every stable have a sloping surface, it will be seen how 

 much a little extra elevation of the heels will contribute to his 

 standing at ease in the stable, and how injurious the opposite 

 condition must be. 



After the pathological shoes have done their work, the use of 

 the same kind of shoe should be continued, omitting the back- 

 nailing^ and using calks or not, or modifying them to suit the 

 animal's habits of going. As a rule I do not approve of the 

 use of toe-calks except under special circumstances, such as 

 for slow draught work, and during the continuance of frosty 

 weather when their use appears to be indispensible. 



I may further remark that I think no shoes should remain 

 upon the feet of any horse, without being removed or renewed, 

 whether the animal is working or resting for longer than twenty 

 days. 



To return to the preparation of the foot. After a perfectly 

 level bearing has been obtained for the shoe, not a particle of 



