CHAPTER V. 



From Shoes to Tips — Further Satisfactory Tests. 



I am act pi-epared to say that one set of experiments, conducted 

 by one person, and that person liable to an uxidue prejudice in favor 

 of a new depai-ture, is conclusive testimony of the value of ti])s, 

 under all circumstances. To sustain the theories, however, I have 

 given the results in cases which have come under my practice, and 

 conclusive as they are at present to me, there may something arise 

 to show that there are defects which will eventually prove objec- 

 tionable. 



The whole system is so simple that apparently it would not require 

 long time to either demonstrate the superiority of this method of 

 shoeing or to establish some striking defect. But, as many are aware, 

 the results of a few experiments are oftentimes delusive, and only after 

 the severest scrutiny can an authoritative opinion be reached. This 

 has been tlie reason that I have delayed these articles, wishing to give 

 the matter more study, and to practice still further with the horees. 

 I have been extremely anxious not to "jump at conclusions," and 

 determined to test, as fully as in my power, the practical working, 

 and noting the effects of changes from tips to shoes, and fi-om shoes 

 to tips, endeavor to arrive at a proper estimate of the relative merits 

 of each. 



The more I studied the matter, the less reason I saw for the theory 

 proving erroneous so far as the well-doing of the feet are concerned, 

 biit I am well aware that for road-horses and trotters there might be 



