FITTING AND APPLICATION OF SHOES. 85 



"bearing on tlie ground level with tlie ground-surface of 

 tlie tip. If tliere is sufficient horn on the foot, this can 

 be easily effected by only removing the overgrown wall 

 to just the length the tip extends and leaving the horn 

 behind untouched. Where there is not sufficient super- 

 fluous horn, this method cannot be used, and we apply a 

 tip gradually thinned off towards its extremities. If a 

 little horn can be removed obliquely from the front half 

 of the foot by a few strokes of the rasp, this ' ' thinned "^ 



Fig. 61.— An ordinary and a "thinned " tip. 



tip is more easily fitted so as to get a level surface on the 

 ground. When a horse has worn this form for a month, 

 it is generally possible to bring a tip, of even thickness 

 throughout, into the same line of bearing as the horn at 

 the heels. 



Tips do not give a good foot-hold on grass, but they 

 afford greater security of tread on hard, smooth roads 

 and on ice than long shoes. The great advantages of 

 tips are two-fold — they are light, and they permit the 

 greatest freedom of movement and action in the pos- 

 terior part of the foot. In some cases of chronic foot 

 lameness the use of tips and regular work will effect 

 soundness when every other method of treatment has 

 failed. 



The Charlier System is a method of shoeing 

 which a few years ago took a very prominent hold on the 

 fancy of horse-owners. Like every other system it has 

 advantages and disadvantges — it has prejudiced enemies 

 and indiscreet friends. The principle or theory upon 

 "which it is based may be thus stated. The lower border 

 of the wall is, it is said, the chief sustaining structure of 

 the hoof, and as all that is required of a shoe is to pre- 



