SHOEING OP SOUND FEET 167 



form of a cup, but not too tliin, the bearing surface, or 

 wall, to be made level for the new shoe. This is all that 

 is required in a sound foot. The frog must be left to fill 

 its functions. Above all do not let the rasp be used upon 

 the surface of the foot, for it is the skin of the hoof, and 

 by its removal you expose it to every change in moisture 

 and dryness, and leaving it weak, dr^y, porous and 

 brittle. 



The shoe should be a plain one, and equally broad 

 and wide from heel to toe, and put on without seating ; 

 for why bring a concave foot in contact with a concave 

 shoe ? The toe should be slightly turned up,'and not too 

 short at the heels. The hind shoes should be provided 

 with heels. 



The nail holes should be three on the outside, and two 

 on the inside, and made straight through the iron, and 

 not incline inwards, and the shoe fitted to the foot, and 

 not the foot to the shoe. 



Bray horses should be shod with tips, or toes and 

 heels which secure firmness of tread, and greater power 

 when drawing heavy loads, and especially in cities with 

 smooth paved streets. 



Shoeing Uxsound Feet. — Feet with corns, weak, 

 flat feet, convexed sole, and sand or quarter cracked feet 

 should have shoes well- seated, and is advisable to throw 

 some extra weight upon the frog, and for this purpose a bar- 

 shoe should be used. (See Foot Diseases.) Leather 

 soles are useful in weak-s5led feet, and when the horse 

 steps high, and is much used upon city streets. One 

 sided nailing answers well for weak heels. Ring Boned 

 animals should be shod with easy fitting shoes, to avoid 

 jarring. Horses having, or have a tendency to na^vicular 

 or coffin-joint disease, should have shoes turned up a 



