SHOEING. ‘ 145 
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to facilitate the expansive tendency of the feet. This 
principle, as far as the bearing surface is concerned, I 
believe to be the best plan yet discovered for expanding 
contracted feet, having witnessed the beneficial effects 
of its ‘application i in 4 large number of cases always with 
advantage. Great care must be taken that the bevel is 
little more than a level bearing, as it would do much 
mischief if beveled sufficiently to force the heels.. 
PREPARING THE FOOT. 
The subject of paring has not escaped the fatality 
which seems to have attended every matter connected 
with the foot. The most opposite and contradictory 
opinions have been expressed regarding it. Wheresuch 
extremes exist, a line drawn between the two is usually 
the most correct. We will therefore assume that position. 
‘In a state of nature (and we must.take her as our guide) 
‘the growth of the hoof is about equal to its wear. When 
the shoe is upon it this wear is prevented. Our object, 
then, in paring the foot is to make the removal of the 
hoof equal to the growth of the foot. Where this prin- 
ciple is not observed, we see the effects of not paring in 
some horses whose shoes are allowed to remain on the 
feet for some months without being removed—the crust 
becomes unusually long, the sole thick, the animal trip- 
‘ping at every step. These cases prove the necessity of 
proper paring as a substitute for the natural wear of the 
hoof when unshod. In preparing the foot for the shoe, 
-eare should be taken to remove all the old stubs, the 
erust should be lowered from the toe to the heel with 
the rasp, and the sole should then be carefully pared 
with the drawing-knife. The bars and the frog require to 
be trimmed out, removing only ragged or loose por 
