78 HORSE-SHOEING SIMPLIFIED AND UNFETTERED. 



The use of the lifted off, and the colts, have, as vet, aone on 



drawing knife ' ' ^ ' ^ 



huperseded. yvell in work for several months. Tlieir froo;s have 

 never yet suffered any diminution, except from 

 natural detrition in meeting the ground, or other 

 hard bodies. The importance of this improved 

 system of shoeing in racing establishments, among 

 tlie two-year-old candidates in particular, must, I 

 conceive, prove of the first importance. 



From attentively watching the feet of young 

 horses w hich have never been shod by any method 

 except the side nailing, I have had the satisfaction 

 of observing one circumstance, which certainly I 

 did flatter myself would result from it, which is, 

 exfo"iiation"of ^lic Capability of the horny sole exfoliating of itself, 

 the horny sole, ^g ijj the UHsliod foot, thereby prcscrviug its thin- 

 ness and flexibility, instead of becoming morbidly 

 thick and strong. This I conceive is attributable 

 to the unrestrained motion of the sole, which the 

 improved shoeing admits. 



Having suggested these hints with respect 

 to the use of the drawing-knife being superseded 

 in colts' feet, I shall conclude, gentlemen, by 

 begging you to remember, that I do not pledge 

 myself to shew that this instrument ought to l)e dis- 

 carded ; but I have hazarded thus nuu'h to induce 

 the profession at large to extend the inquiry into 

 this interesting subject. 



