126 TIPS AND TOE-WEIGHTS, 



rasped with them, and a chance is given to the nails to break out. 

 Let the sole and frog be on no account touched with a knife. Shorten 

 the toe as much as possible on the occasion of each shoeing, with a 

 rasp. And above all, " gentle reader," if you don't happen to be 

 master in your own stable, never let the words " Charlier," " tip," 

 or "nature" escape your lips. If, however, you are not a slave to- 

 your groom, my experiences may be of use to you, and in any case 

 are very much at your service. 



P. S. — The above remarks having been delayed in transmission, I 

 take advantage of the oppoi-tunity to add some more last words, and 

 to make some remarks, which I hope will not be considered imperti- 

 nent, on the letters written by various gentlemen in re Horse Shoes 

 which appeai-ed in last week's Field. First, Waverly, who was per- 

 suaded out of the Charlier system by his farrier, says that I take for 

 gi-anted, for reasons which I do not attempt to explain, that grooms 

 and smiths are opposed to Charlier shoeing. I speak from expe- 

 rience, as all the grooms, excepting two, with whom I have ever dis- 

 cussed the subject, are opposed to it, for " reasons which they do not 

 attempt to explain." As to smiths, no less than four of them have 

 refused to shoe my horses at all on this principle ; they have all been 

 owners of superior forges. I never had my horses better shod than 

 by a village blacksmith who did what he was told ; but even he 

 charged me 2s. per set more fortijjs even than for the old heavy shoe! 

 I may say as regards Waverly, Be te fabula narratur, as Mr. Far- 

 dons speaks his own sentiments. Had "Waverly persevered with the 

 shoeing, the discolored horn would have grown and been worn out ; 

 his horses, not being lamed by the oi'iginal bruise, would not have 

 been lamed later on, any more than mine were. 



I agree with M. B. that Charlier shoes, not approaching the corn 

 place, cannot cause corns, any more than a gag snaffle could give a 

 sore back. I should like, however, to know whereabouts the soles 

 of his horses were worn unduly thin, as the frog of a flat foot, being 

 always prominent, sliields the part " aft " of the point thereof, and 

 the shoe should protect the forward part, it being as impossible as 

 undesirable to have the shoe in a very flat foot flush with the sole. 

 Is M. B. quite sure that the soles were in a natural condition ? He 



