SHOEING COMPETITIONS. 13S 



^qual. The three operations — preparing the foot, making 

 the shoe, fitting and nailing on — are about equal in 

 value. A maximum of five points in each is too small a. 

 number to make distinctive marking easy, but there is 

 nothing gained by adopting a higher maximum than ten. 

 A marking sheet for the judges of a shoeing competition 

 may be something in this form: 



CLASS 



No. of 

 Competitor. 



Preparation 

 of foot. 



Making 

 shoe. 



Fitting and 

 nailing on. 



Total. 



Remarks. 



The stewards should see that each competitor has a 

 number, and that the same number is attached to the 

 side of the horse on which he works. The steward also 

 should take the time at which each batch of competitors 

 commences work and see that none exceed it. 



Excessive rasping of shoes should be prohibited, and 

 the men should see the sizes and kinds of nails provided, 

 so that they may make their "fuller" and nail-holes 

 accordingly. 



Shoeing competitions are almost entirely confined to 

 country districts. It is a great pity that they are not 

 attempted in large towns. The only difiOiculty is the 

 expense. It would well repay large horse-owners to 

 subscribe and support this method of improving the art. 



In conclusion, I must say that the best of all ways to 

 improve the art is by giving practical instruction at the 

 anvil. A few lessons from a competent, practical teacher 

 are worth more than all books or lectures, as the work 

 has then to be done, errors are pointed out and corrected, 

 and reasons given for each step as it is attempted. 



The Berkshire County Council has adopted a travel- 



