46 TIPS AND TOE-WEIGHTS. 



the four montlis wear of the shoes can readily be noticed in the dif- 

 ferent appearance of her feet, there being an evident conti'action of 

 the lieels, with the frog much narrower than when the shoes were 

 put on. 



I feel very confident that the shortening of the gait was caused 

 by her being turned out iw the field (a very large one — two hundred 

 acres) while she was lame, and running when she had to favor the 

 limb. She would run for half an hour at a time, careering over the 

 hills, and after feeding a little would resume the play. 



Having entirely recovered from the lameness, I think in time she 

 will resume her former action. I expected in this case to find the 

 shoes preferable to tips, if even they were not so good for the feet ; 

 but so far I have been disappointed in the result. When I replace 

 the tips I will extend them across the foot, and thus get as much 

 weight as possible near the toe and leave the posterior part of the 

 foot unhampered. 



A horse assuredly puts his foot down more gingerly when the iron 

 comes under the heel, and the only reason I could see for the full 

 shoe extending the foot further than a tip, was the greater amount 

 of weight in the whole mass. 



The effect of weight on the feet is a drfficult problem to under- 

 stand, in its bearing on the speed and action of horses, especially 

 trotters, and the only reliable way is to bring it to an actual test 

 with trials on different horses. But one thing few will question, 

 and that is, that a load of iron on the feet is prejudicial to the 

 endurance. 



The trainers of race-horses have adopted a much lighter shoe than 

 was formerly in vogue, and some have discarded them entirely. The 

 old-timers not only gave them long, exhausting sweats, under loads 

 of blankets, as vide the history of Hanie's Maria, but they wore 

 heavy shoes, their reasoning being that the plates would be a greater 

 contrast and the change give greater speed. 



Great as has been the change in the management of race-horses, 

 still greater has been the improvement in those who educate the 

 trotter. The most striking innovation has been the use of the toe- 

 weight, though boots have done a large share in developing the speed. 



