98 SHOEING. 



majority of horses thus afflicted, if allowed to go bare for a 

 year or more, would have the defect remedied by that 

 greatest of veterinarians nature. The time to pull off 

 the shoes and be sure the hoofs will not break up at the 

 edges and allow the feet to become tender, is in the spring, 

 as soon as the frost begins to come out of the ground. 



Animals that have never been brought to the forge have 

 feet well fitted by nature for hard usage, which are in them- 

 selves proof of man's folly in blindly following customs. 



Where shoeing is a positive necessity, preparation of the 

 hoof is of great importance. Closely observe the unshod 

 foot when it comes to the ground. Every part of its surface 

 sustains a portion of the weight and wear. The frog, which 

 appears to recede from the level of the foot when held in 

 the hand, settles down so that it also bears upon the earth. 

 When we put on the shoe, the weight is seen to be sus- 

 pended in the foot, especially when calks are allowed. 

 The frog is merely pushed down. The sole, frequently 

 pared out by the merciless smith, has no opportunity for 

 usefulness, and the wall of the hoof, besides being forced 

 to drag along the iron thus nailedr to it, sustains upon its 

 edge the entire weight of the animal, besides bearing the 

 friction within. 



When shoeing the colt for the first time, no preparation is 

 required for a shoe further than slightly leveling with the 

 rasp the ground surface of the wall. Horses constantly 

 shod will be found to have a crust of horn near the toe. 

 Wear at that point is prevented by the immovable shoe, which, 

 at the heels, always has slight play, because not nailed, and 

 the growth is retarded or worn down. The fact that an 

 iron casing does not permit a normal wearing of the 

 foot's surface, forces the horse to submit to this damaging 

 condition of affairs, unless he is handled at all times 



