F 9*] 



. The end and denVn of moeing horfes could 

 not have been aimed at upon any other c- 

 ca, .'it, by whomfoever firft put in practice, 

 but as a prefervative and defence for the hoof 

 as well as the fole ; but he could not think at 

 the fame time that it was neccffary to pare away 

 what he wanted to preferve by the ufe of the 

 fhoes, I will not even fay to that excefs that 

 we ufe in paring them, but not at all ; becaufe 

 that would be to act contrary to his firft prin- 

 ciple, and deftroy his own work. 



This precaution could never be recommended 

 but in cafes where the horny fole is uneven, in- 

 fomuch that the fhoe could not bear equally 

 upon it -, which would take off" from its necef- 

 fary firmnefs -, in fuch a cafe it may be rcafon- 

 able, otherwife it would be very abfurd. 



I have often fpoke to fuch lovers of horfe- 

 manfhip as take great care to have their hories 

 feet well pared ; but none of them could give 

 me any demonftration either of the neceffity or 

 propriety of it. But at length convinced by 

 my reafons againft it, I never could have any 

 fatisfaction from them, but that it was an efta- 

 blilhed cuftom, and that it muft be allowed to 

 be by far the mod genteel method. 



I will offer but one word more upon this per- 

 nicious practice, which is, that the greater part 

 of the farriers, ».i order to pare their horfes the 

 neater, pufh the buttrefs even to the very 



blood, 



