80 SHOEING OE THE HOESB. 



extent ; it having been already so ably treated upon by Mr. 

 MUes, of Hixfield ; and as an additional recommendation, the 

 essay is issued in a form so cheap, that it is accessible to all.* 

 He, however, has neglected to deal with a number of details, 

 which in my opinion are of too much importance to be left 

 unnoticed. I propose, therefore, to treat upon certain of these 

 details, and in doing so, shall avail myself to some extent of the 

 labours of the author named. I will also call attention to other 

 associated subjects equally significant and important. 



It is too much the practice with many authors who treat 

 upon the subject of horses, to speak of shoeing as " a great but 

 necessary evil." So far, however, from this being the case, it 

 will be found to be a decided advantage. Unless the feet are 

 adequately protected, the animal, if worked upon hard roads, 

 vriU speedily become useless and unfit in every way, either for 

 pleasure or business. Writers, therefore, who so dolorously 

 lament the nesessity for fixing what they call " an unyielding 

 bar of iron, to that highly flexible organ, the foot," may be 

 severally suspected of ability to write a considerable amount of 

 nonsense. The errors committed in shoeing, and the consequent 

 evils to the animal to which these erroneous conclusions have 

 reference, arise to a great extent, from the applying of this 

 " unyielding bar of iron" in an improper manner, and upon 

 incorrect rules of art, rather than from the thing itself. 



In the present section, I shall treat in a plain manner upon 

 a few matters relating to the exercise of this art, endeavouring 

 to lay down certain rules with regard to its practice, and supply 

 such sufficient reasons for their recognition as will, I trust, 

 enable aU who foUow me with attention, to perceive their 

 adaptation and value. They will be found serviceable to the 

 amateur, in assisting the formation of his judgment ; and to the 

 Horse. Shoeing, by W. Miles. London ; J. Murray, Albemarle-st., 1858. 



