46 



SHOEING. 



SHOEING. 



' With a poor hoof an otherwise 

 vaUiable horse becomes almost 

 worthless, so that the common 

 saying, " no foot, no horse," is 

 practically correct ; for this reason, 

 the subject of hoi^se shoeing is one 

 which should receive much atten- 

 tion, as it is by poor shoeing that 

 so many horses are rendered al- 

 most valueless for life. 



For want of space we can only 

 give some of the more important points which should be observed in 

 order to preserve the hoof in a natural and healthy condition. 



The hoof, in its n.-itural state, is adapted only to a grassy surfjxce; so 

 that, when we wish to bring the horse into practical use upon our hard 

 and stony roads, it becomes necessary to protect the hoof, by shoeing, 

 from the unnatural wear and tear which it is subjected to. 



It is greatly to be regretted that so large a share of the men who are 

 permitted to do this very important work, of shoeing the horse, are so 

 ignorant of the nature and structure of the foot and the principal rules 

 which should guide them in doing this very important branch of work. 



It is a great fault of nearly all shoers that they cut and pare with the 

 idea of improving the foot, when their aim should be, mainly, to let 

 nature have her course as much as possible, or, in other words, to im- 

 itate the natural condition of the foot and only pare away such parts as 

 have become useless. The shoe should always be fitted to the foot and 

 not the foot to the shoe as is too often practised. That part of the hoof 

 which should not have pressure is the portion between the bar and 

 the quarter, commonly known as the seat of corns. (For location, see 

 engraving on lOih page.) 



The greatest pressure should be around the outside of the foot, for 

 about half an inch. 



The frog should be allowed to come to the ground, which will pre- 

 vent, to a certain extent, the concussion which would otherwise "take 

 place. The frog should not be cid down, as is fr>'quently practised, nor 

 should it be touched, when healthy, except for the purpose of cleansing 



