38 TKEATISE ON HORSE-SHOEING. 



obliges the horse to stop suddenly and without 

 warning when he is least prepared to do so, it 

 becomes necessary to guard against strains of the 

 hock and back-sinews, by raising the heels of the 

 shoe ; but this should be done in such a manner as 

 will give both heels an even bearing upon the 

 ground. Calkins may be, and, I believe, are, useful 

 to heavy draught-horses, but they are objectionable 

 for fast w^ork ; and turning down the out side-heel 

 alone should never be done; it throws the weight 

 upon the inner quarter, which is the least able to 

 bear it, and strains the fetlock joint. The plan I 

 have adopted for many years is to have the last 

 inch and a half toward the heel forged thicker than 

 any other part of the shoe; the heels are then 

 made red-hot, and the shoe is put in the vice 

 with the hot heels projecting, which are beaten 

 down with a hammer until they are about an inch 

 long, and then the sides are made even and the 

 foot and ground-surfaces level on the anvil. I 

 have found horses travel pleasanter and receive 

 less damage to their hocks, back-sinews, and fetlock 



