248 THE HORSE 



be permitted to be driven nearer the heels than the widest 

 part or centre of the foot, since the rim of the crust narrows 

 after this is passed. It is of great importance that the foot 

 surface of the shoe should present a perfectly even plane for 

 the crust to rest upon, for if it is uneven the prominent 

 parts will receive an undue portion of the weight of the 

 horse when standing in the stable, which before long will 

 make itself unpleasantly felt. 



When shoes are an inch in breadth, the usual width, the 

 nail-holes may be punched rather nearer the outside than 

 the inside of the web of the shoe, but care must be 

 taken that they are sufficiently far from the edge, or the iron 

 may be caused to bulge in consequence. They must also 

 be made exactly parallel with the sides of the shoe, and 

 not allowed to slant across it. The punch may, however, 

 be driven rather obliquely towards the surface, so that 

 a slight cant is given to the direction of the nail, causing 

 it to incline to the outside independently of the slight 

 bend given to the point, and thus the risk of pricking 

 the sensitive laminae will be diminished. 



Bar shoes are very useful in cases of injury or disease, 

 when it is necessar}^ to prevent any weight being borne 

 by the heels or some portion of the crust. They are made 

 by connecting the heels of the shoe with a bar of iron — 

 completing an oval, in point of fact. Some horses stumble 

 very badly when ridden, who may yet be ridden in safety and 

 comfort if shod with shoes turned up at the toes, in the same 

 manner as the toes of the hoof would be worn away by 

 friction with the ground if unshod. Many years ago the 

 writer obtained a pattern of a French shoe of this description, 

 which has proved itself at times most useful and efficient in 

 preventing certain animals from catching their toes and 

 stumbling, the one slight drawback being that the shoes 

 do not last so long as ordinary ones, owing to the metal 

 being somewhat thinned out to turn up the toe. Sufficient 

 breadth must be allowed for the turning up, commencing at 

 the sides, and the same width of seating must be maintained 

 as heretofore, sufficient horn being removed from the toe to 

 fit m with the new shape. 



