PATENT FOOT-PAD. 243 



when not required. A pair of pincers are made 

 for the purpose of fitting the springs to which the 

 indiarubber is attached, and sold with them. The 

 pad is also split, to allow of the frog coming through. 

 I have never used them, but from what I have 

 been told by those who have, I believe them to be 

 excellent, and to fulfil the purpose for which they 

 are intended — viz., to prevent horses slipping in 

 frosty weather, etc. — very thoroughly, and I should 

 advise their adoption in preference to the system of 

 turning up. They are sold in various sizes. I 

 think their price is about half a guinea and upwards, 

 for a set of four. 



Calkins are lumps of metal which are welded on 

 to the heels of the hind-shoes for harness work, to 

 keep horses from slipping. Their use is chiefly 

 confined to cart and heavy horses, and horses which 

 work on roads which are heavily paved. They may 

 be styled ' necessary evils.' 



Horses — hunters especially — are very apt to cut 

 themselves when galloping through deep ground, 

 or in jumping. This is called overreaching, and is 

 produced by bad shoeing. It is very commonly, 

 and mistakenly, supposed that the injury is inflicted 

 by the toe of the hind-shoe striking the heel or 

 back of the foreleg. If such a cut is examined, it 

 will be seen to be of a crescent shape, and not that 



10 — 2 



