SHOEING. 47 



In paring the foot be very careful not to cut down the ontside, so as 

 to allow the entire weight to rest on the inside of the shoe upon the sole ; 

 but only cut away the dead portion of horn on the sole, and cut down 

 the wall from heel to toe nntil the bearing is natural, leaving it even 

 and as near its natural state as possible. A red hot shoe should not be 

 allowed to be burned into the foot to fit it. 



The shoe to be selected should depend upon the condition of the foot 

 and the condition of the roads, &c. The flat shoe, wlien properly ap- 

 plied, leaves the foot nearest its natural shape, by allowing the horse a 

 good, even foundation to stand upon, and is most likely to give satisfac- 

 tion for all ordinary purposes. At some seasons of the year it will be 

 necessary to have calks upon the shoes, but ordinarily the foot should 

 be allowed to come as near the ground as possible. 



What we mean by the flat shoe is one flat upon its superior surface, 

 which comes in direct contact with the hoof, the under surface being par- 

 tially concave, so as to assist the horse in grasping the ground, to pre- 

 vent slipping and to assist in progressmg. 



The shoe should be as big as the foot so as not to require any cutting 

 down the hoof to make it fit the shoe, and the heels of the shoe should 

 not be permitted to project backwards beyond the heel of the hoof more 

 than about I of an inch. 



The outward margin of the shoe should just correspond with the 

 shape of the toot, except at the heel, where the shoe should be a little 

 wider from quarter to heel, especially on the outside. 



Many persons are not aware of the thinness of the hoof, which makes 

 it quite necessary that the nail holes should be near the edge, and quite 

 well forward in the toe, so as to avoid driving the nails into the quick, 

 which would cause serious lameness and injury. 



Do not rasp under the nail clinches, nor over them; and do not use 

 the rasp at all on the outside of the hoof, not even below the clinches, 

 except just enough near the shoe to round the edge, and do not cut down 

 the hoof if j'ou have used a shoe which is too small. 



A nail for a horse's foot differs materially from every other kind of 

 nail, not only in shape, but in the quality of iron from which it should 

 be made; it is important that it should be made from thr? very best of 

 iron, free from flaws, seams, liability to sliver, and all sulphurous gases 

 in the process of manufacture. It is presumed that every sheer knows' 

 that a nail forged hot, from the end of a rod, needs no argument to con- 

 vince any one that a belter nail is thus obtained than by punching, 

 rolling and shearing them from a cold plate. The numerous and well- 

 authenticated cases where valuable horses have be(;n ruined by using 

 cold rolled nails are enough to deter any first-class shot r from driving any- 

 thing but a Hot Forged nail, even if their cost should be double that of 



