346 CALKINS CLIPS. 



destined for road-work, the heels, and particularly the seat of com, 

 can scarcely be too well covered. Part of the shoe projecting 

 externally can be of no possible good, but will prove an occasional 

 source of mischief, and especially in a heavy country. A shoe, 

 ihe web of which projects inward as far as it can without touch- 

 ing the frog, affords protection to the angle between the bars and 

 he crust. 



Of the manner of attaching the shoe to the foot the owner can 

 scarcely be a competent judge ; he can only take care that the 

 shoe itself shall not be heavier than the work requires — ^that, fbi 

 work a little hard the shoe shall still be light, with a bit of steel 

 welded into the toe — ^that the nails shall be as small, and as few, 

 and as far from the heels as may be consistent with the security 

 of the shoe ; and that, for light work at least, ihe shoe shall not 

 be driven on so closely and firmly as is often done, nor the points 

 of the nails b" brought out so high up as is generally practised. 



CALKINS.* 



There are few cases in which the use of calkins (a turning up 

 or elevation of the heel) can be admissible in the fore-feet, except 

 in frosty weather, when it may in some degree prevent unpleasant 

 or dangerous slipping. If, however, calkins are used, they should 

 be placed on both sides. If the outer heel only is raised with the 

 calkin, as is too often the case, the weight cannot be thrown evenly 

 on the foot, and undue straining and injury of some part of the 

 foot or of the leg must be the necessary consequence. 



CLIPS. 



These are portions of the upper edge of the shoe, hammered 

 5ut, and turned up so as to embrace the lower part of the crust 

 and which is usually pared out a little, in order to receive tht' 

 clip. They are very useful, as more securely attaching the shoe 

 to the foot, and relieving the crust from that stress upon the nail« 

 which would otherwise be injurious. A clip at the toe is almos* 

 necessary in every draught-horse, and absolutely so in the horsp 

 of heavy draught, in order to prevent the shoe from being loos- 

 ened or torn off by the pressure which is thrown upon the toe ip 

 the act of drawing. A clip on the outside of each shoe, at the 

 beginning of the quarters, will give security to it. Clips are like- 

 wise necessary on the shoes of all heavy horses, and of all other? 

 who are disposed to stamp, or violently paw with their feet, anc 

 thus incur the danger of 'displacing the shoe ; but they are evils 



* Called " calts," or vulgarly, "corks," in the XT. S. — .,4;n. Ed 



