CORRECTING FAULTY ACTION. 71 



nearly every respect. The objects in using shoes of that pattern on 

 the forefeet wei-e, in the first place, to remedy a faulty method of 

 picking up the foot, to see if it allowed the proper elasticity at the 

 heel, and should it be proven that tips could not be used on streets 

 and roads like those of Oakland, it might take the place of them, 

 obviating the greatest drawback of the full shoe. The experiments 

 were satisfactory on all these points. The peculiarity in action con- 

 sisted of the horse lifting the foi'efoot with a kind of a twist, in which 

 the inner side was elevated more than the outer, and, on the hypo- 

 thesis that unequal weight acts in carrying the foot towards the 

 loaded part, it was expected that the defect would be remedied. 



Nearly twenty years ago I experimented with a pacing horse, and 

 tested this theory until satisfied of the truth of it. This was de- 

 scribed in " Horse Portraiture," though at that time I had never 

 heard of the application of weight to the horse's foot in any other 

 method than in the shoe, or the loaded quai-ter-boot. The pacer was 

 a most inveterate " knee-knocker," and by making the outside of the 

 shoe very much heavier than the inside, and using a contrivance 

 placed in the "fork," he was cured, of the propensity. It is certain, 

 however, that a greater effect is obtained from the weight being 

 placed higher up than the sole of the foot, though in many instances 

 the lower application of it will be found sufficient. With the first use 

 of toe-weights it was thought that the advantages came from the 

 weight entirely, and hence horses' legs were ruined by caiTying loads 

 which permanently injured the tendons. Now it is demonstrated 

 that it is the inequality of distribution which gives the best efiect, and 

 that a 6-oz. weight on a shoe of 10 oz. is as effectual as 16 oz. on one 

 which weighs 1^ lbs. There being an entire absence of weight on 

 the inside quai-ter, that on the outside had a more potent effect. 

 " Side-weights " on the fore feet are inadmissable, as there would 

 be greater danger of injury to the hind legs when put on the 

 outside, or the knee and arm if the excrescences were on the 

 inner. The toe-weight can be given an angle in either direction, 

 though there are serious objections to using it in any other than 

 a straight line. Thus I was compelled to substitute something 

 akin to the former experiences, and, as will be noticed in the cut, 



