54 THE ART OF HORSE-SHOEING. 



from tliin, wide, old iron tyres they are "buckled" oil 

 one surface, and to hide this the farrier puts that side to 

 the foot so that it is not noticed until it causes damage. 

 Tliere are three or four forms of foot-surface adopted by 

 farriers, all of which have distinctive features, and some 

 of which have very grave evils. There is the plain flat 

 surface, which is given to all narrow shoes, to hunting 

 shoes, and to fjome heavier and wider shoes. So long as 



FiG. 32.— A level, flat teailcg-Huiiace, 



the sole is htalthy and arched this is a very good form. 

 All hind shoes have a flat foot-surface, and most fore 

 shoes might have it with advantage. It utilizes the whole 

 of the natural bearing surface, and must of necessity 

 afford a firmer basis for the foot lo rest upon than a more 

 limited surface. The fore feet are not so constantly 

 archt;d in the sole as the hind. Sometimes they are flat 

 and occasionally convex. If a shoe be intended for use on 

 all feet — on feet with convex and flat soles as well as 

 those properly formed — a wide flat foot surface would 

 often cause injuiy by pressing unevenly upon the sole. 

 To avoid this injury in less than five per cent, of feet, 

 and to save the trouble of keeping in stock shoes of 

 different forms, the fiat foot-surface of front shoos has 

 been replaced by a bevelled or ''seated" surface. 

 <Fig. 33.) 



