104 THE MULE. 



time, let it be without those implements you are to use 

 in his shoeing. Speak to him gently, then take up his 

 foot. If he refuse to let you do this, let the person 

 having him in charge do it. A young animal will 

 allow this with a person he is accustomed to, when he 

 will repel a stranger. By treating him kindly you can 

 make him understand what is wanted; by abusing 

 him you will only frighten him into obstinacy. When^ 

 you have got the animal under perfect subjection, ex- 

 amine the foot carefully, and you will find the heels, at 

 the back part of the frog, entirely free from that mem- 

 ber, which is soft and spongy. When the foot is down, 

 resting on the ground, grasp the heels in your strong 

 hand, press them inwards towards the frog, and you 

 wall immediately find that they will yield. You will 

 then see that what yields so easily to the mere pressure 

 of the hand will expand and spread out when the weight 

 of the body is thrown on it. This should give you an 

 idea of what you have to do in shoeing that foot, and 

 your practical knowledge should stand you well in an 

 argument with any of those "learned professors," who 

 declare the foot of the mule does not expand or contract. 

 In truth it is one of its necessary conditions. After being 

 a long time badly shod, nearly or all of this necessary 

 principle of the foot will be lost. You should there- 

 fore study to preserve it. And here let me give you 

 what little aid experience has enabled me to do. You 

 will observe the ground surface of the foot, no matter 

 how high the arch may be, to be at least half an inch 

 wide, and sometimes more than an inch, with the heels 

 spread out at the outside quarter. Do not cut away 



