CHAPTER XVI. 



Of Shoeing. 



A FINE horse without sound feet may be compared 

 to an elegant building without a firm foundation — 

 both are in constant danger of falling. 



It is not known when the practice of shoeing 

 horses with iron was first practised, although it is 

 certain that William the Conqueror introduced it into 

 Britain. 



We shall not dwell upon the methods which were 

 practised to preserve the hoofs of horses before the 

 invention of iron shoes, but proceed to consider the 

 best methods now adopted. The construction of our 

 roads and streets render shoeing indispensable ; at the 

 same time it must be obvious that shoeing with iron, and 

 nailing them to the hoofs, is productive of very serious 

 mischief, and is the cause of various diseases, most of 

 which we have already noticed in the preceding part 

 of the work. 



Much attention has been devoted by eminent 

 veterinarians to the best form of shoe for the preven- 

 tion of contraction, and the consequent destruction of 

 the expansion of the hoof ; but no means have yet 

 been devised to obviate this completely. 



There cannot be a greater error than the pos- 

 sessors of horses exercising parsimonious economy in 

 having their horses shod by those smiths who will per- 



