34 TIPS AND TOE-WEIGHTS. 



"Figure 1. The shank or cannon bone. 2. The pastern bone. 3. 

 The coronet bone. 4. The sessamoid bone. A. The point wliei-e 

 the weight of the horse would fall upon the upjDer end of the pastern 

 bone. B. The point where a line dropped from A would meet the 

 ground. C. The heel of the hoof. Now, it is clear that the weight 

 of the horse will fall upon the upper end of this slanting pastern 

 bone at every step ; and the bone, having a joint at each end of it, 

 will sink to the weight thus thrown upon it, and break the shock 

 both to the leg and foot ; but if the heels of the shoe are longer than 

 the heels of the hoof, the projecting pieces of iron will meet the 

 ground further back than the natural heels would have done, and 

 will check the sinking 'of the pastern bone, just as an upright pastern 

 does, by bringing tlie heels too much under the center of the weight, 

 which causes the horse to stop short and go stumpy. If you wish 

 to avoid these evils and keep the hoi'se's shoes on his feet, you must 

 bring in the heels, and let the shoe strictly follow the form of the 

 foot, whatever that form may be." 



This argument of Mr. Miles is a foi'cible illustration of the bad 

 effect of doing away with the natural bearing of the horse's foot, 

 and, -strongly as it favors the accurate fitting of the shoe to the foot, 

 is a still better exemplification of the laecessity for leaving that part 

 of the fore foot as nature made it, unhampered and free to perform its 

 natural functions. The illustration shows the position of the foot 

 and leg when the animal is standing ; when in motion, and particularly 

 when going fast, thei^e Ls far more necessity to guard against the 

 evils of a wi'ong bearing. Then the foot is thrown forwai-d and 

 strikes the ground at the farthest point it will reach. The formation 

 of the fore limbs from the scapula down is such as to break the jar 

 as much as possible. Unlike the hind legs, they are not rigidly 

 attached i;p the bony framewoi-k of the trvnik, but are bound to it 

 with elastic bands of muscles. 



The angle which the humerus and scapula form is the same as 

 the elliptic steel spring under a caniage ; from the elbow to the 

 ankle the bones are curved, and the sloping pastern, bending down 

 when the weight is thrown upon it, complete the protection above 

 the foot. Were the foot a solid, unyielding body, all the protection 



