134 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY 



nor does shoeing always promote this narrowing of 

 the foot, although it is in many instances the source 

 of contraction when unskilfully performed. 



Cause. — The cause of contraction, or rather 

 alteration of the shape and size of the horse's hoof, 

 is one which has given rise to much discussion. 

 Some veterinarians deny that it ever is a cause of 

 lameness, and at the worst it Is but a symptom of 

 a diseased condition. The feet of any and all breeds 

 of horses, if shod with heels on their shoes, become 

 contracted, because the frogs (whose function it is 

 to keep the heels open) are removed from pressure, 

 and coming in contact with the ground. As the 

 frogs atrophy the heels ''wire in," and the animal 

 has undoubtedly in time a foot with small frogs 

 and small heels, as compared to what they v/ere 

 before he first wore shoes with heels ; but take off 

 the shoes and turn the animal to grass, or shoe 

 him with *' Charlier shoes " (which have only a small 

 web and no heels), and the heels and frogs will 

 come back to their normal shape and size. 



It is a grand mistake for persons allowing the 

 shoes of horses to remain on longer than three weeks 

 or a month. Whether the shoes are w^orn or not, 

 they should be taken off, and the toes of the feet 

 shortened, and the heels lowered with the rasp. 

 Without this precaution the feet must become mal- 

 formed. I have known instances where riding- 

 horses have been so seldom ridden or exercised, 

 that their shoes have lasted three and even four 

 months, and were not removed during this time, 

 proceeding in some cases from the parsimony of the 

 owners, and in others from their ignorance of the 

 evil effects which would result therefrom. In some 

 instances the shoes were made thicker than was 



