FRANCE. 



!G5 



deep channel, the nail heads, when the shoe is on, being flush 

 with the surface. In other words, the method is that com- 

 monly in use in America. 



It generally takes two men to shoe a horse in France, one 

 to hold up the foot and the other to do the shoeing. In the 

 army this assistant is prescribed for the farrier, though in 



Front. 



Hind. 

 Fig. 1. — French shoeing. 



Feet correctly shod. 



the shoeing a I'anglaise the farrier is supposed to work alone, 

 as is our custom; this, however, he rarely does. The hoof is 

 prepared for shoeing about as is customary in our army, 

 cutting away the sole and trimming the frog being prohibited. 

 The frog is, however, cleaned and loose parts removed ; it is 

 even prescribed that its point shall be brought to the center 

 of the sole and superfluous parts of the bars removed. After 

 the shoe has been accurately formed to fit the prepared hoof, 

 it is set on hot and held firmly till the hoof is evenly burned 

 on its whole bearing surface. The shoe is then removed, 

 quenched, reset, nailed, and clinched. 



Front. 



Hind. 



Fig. 2. — Shoeing a I'anglaite. 



Most shoes are now machine made. Orders regulate the 

 dimensions of the shoes for the various units. 



Rough Shoeing. — In winter, horses may be shod with shoes 

 having holes for the reception of ice calks ; permanent rough 

 shoeing is almost never practiced. The calks are provided 

 for the heels only, or two for the heels and two at each side 

 of the toe. The calks are of steel, square in cross section, 

 about i inch high and screw into place. 



