EXAMINATION OF HOOF BEFORE SHOEING. 575 



slanting than the outer, the inner half of the sole wider than the 

 outer, and the inner quarter more curved than the outer. The outer 

 quarter is often flattened and drawn in at the bottom. The weight 

 falls largely into the outer half of the hoof. In motion the hoof 

 ])reaks over the outer toe, is carried forward and outward at some 

 distance from the supporting leg, thence forward and inward to the 

 ground, which it generally meets with the outer toe. The foot thus 

 moves in a circle whose convexity is outward, a manner of flight 

 called " paddling." A base-narrow horse whose toes point straight 

 ahead frequently " interferes," while a toe-narrow (pigeon-toed) 

 animal seldom does. 



A regular hoof (fig. 56), viewed from one side, has a straight foot- 

 axis inclined to the horizon at an angle of 45° to 50°. The weight 

 falls near the center of the foot and there is moderate expansion of 

 the quarters. 



An acute-angled hoof (fig. 5«) has a straight foot-axis inclined at 

 an angle less than 45° to the horizon. The weight falls more largely 

 in the back half of the hoof and there is greater length of hoof in 

 contact with the ground and greater expansion of the heels than in 

 the regular hoof. 



In the upright^ or stumpy, hoof (fig. 5c) the foot-axis is straight 

 and more than 55° steep. The hoof is relatively short from toe to 

 heel, the weight falls farther forward, and there is less expansion of 

 the heels than in the regular hoof. 



Finally, there are wide hoofs and narrow hoofs, dependent solely 

 upon race and breeding. The wide hoof is almost circular on the 

 ground surface, the sole but little concave, the frog large, and the 

 quality of the horn coarse. The narrow hoof has a strongly 

 " cupped " sole, a small frog, nearly perpendicular side walls, and 

 fine-grained, tough horn. 



Hind hoofs are influenced in shape by different directions of their 

 pasterns much as front feet are. A hind hoof is not round at the 

 toe as a front hoof is, but is more pointed. Its greatest width is 

 two-thirds of the way back from toe to heel, the sole is more concave, 

 the heels relatively wider, and the toe about 10° steeper than in front 

 hoofs. 



EXAMINATION PRELIMINARY TO SHOEING. 



The object of the examination is to ascertain the direction and posi- 

 tion of the limbs, the shape, character, and quality of the hoofs, the 

 form, length, position, and wear of the shoe, the number, distribu- 

 tion, and direction of the nails, the manner in which the hoof leaves 

 the ground, its line of flight, the manner in which it is set to the 

 ground, and all other peculiarities, that at the next and subsequent 

 shoeings proper allowances may be made and observed faults corrected. 

 The animal must, therefore, be observed both at rest and in motion. 



