732 SHOEING. 



10th. In order to conform to th© shape of an unshod foot which 

 is in wear, the ideal horse-shoe should have, as in Fig. 71 (p. 213), 

 a turned-up toe (" roll-toe " or " stumble-toe "). This arrange- 

 ment, which is similar to that of the toe of a shoe which has 

 been in wear for a considerable time, places the muscles which 

 bend the foot {flexor pedis perforans and perforatus) and their 

 tendons at a mechanical advantage, by reducing the distance 

 between the fulcrum (F) and power (P) of the foot4ever (Fig. 

 180). It is almost needless to say that a shoe of the well-made 

 pattern shown in Figs. 71 and 190, could not be easily con- 

 structed out of ordinary bar iron (Fig. 191). Either the shoe 

 or the bars would have to be machine-made. 



The use of too heavy shoes, not only causes the feet to carry 

 an unnecessary burden, but it also necessitates the employment of 

 large-sized nails, which are apt to injure the wall to an injurious 

 extent. 



The outer hind heels may have low calhins, and the inner 

 ones may be thickened for ordinary hacks and trappers. I think, 

 however, I am right in saying that, ,as a rule, such horses go safer, 

 sounder, longer and faster, when their frogs are allowed to come 

 on or near the ground, than when the ends of the shoes are 

 turned down. If, however, calkins have to be employed, they 

 should be made not more than a third of an inch in height, and 

 the horn at the heels should be proportionately reduced. Calkins 

 on the outer hind heels of tthe shoes of a 'cross-country horse, are 

 often of great assistance to him in preventing him from slipping, 

 when jumping. Heavy draught horses that are not required to 

 go out of a walk, may have calkins on the inner and outer heels, 

 both before and behind ; though whatever contrivance is adopted, 

 care should be taken that the natural slope of the foot is main- 

 tained. Hence, it is generally advisable with them, to apply 

 at the same time, "toe-pieces," which will give greatly increased 

 power, and will also allow the foot to preserve its natural slope. 

 To obtain the advantages derived from the employment of calkins 

 and " toe-pieces," we necessarily lose the benefit of frog-pressure. 



If the shoe is not already bevelled, the inside edge of the ground- 

 surface of the hind shoes at the toes should be rounded off, so that 

 the horse may injure himself, as little as possible, in case he 

 happens to over-reach. Hind shoes of 'cross-country horses 

 generally have side clips, and the toes, as I have already said, 

 should be made square — ^leaving an overlapping rim of crust 

 at the toe, which should be rounded off with the rasp — in order 

 to lessen the chance of over-reaching. 



I cannot too strongly condemn the practice which is carried on 

 in some forges, of invariably applying thicknheeled shoes. To 



