296 SHOEING AND THE FOOT. 
shoeing, it may be well at the outset to observe that yearlings, 
or in fact horses of any age, should not be shod until they 
have been ridden and are quiet. For if shod before, should 
they by plunging or kicking hurt either themselves or their 
attendants, the shoes would much increase the injury done 
With regard to the shoe itself, and the method of fixing it. 
I shall preface my remarks by pointing out that the foot as 
we find it in a state of nature, is, if not perfect, yet approxi- 
mately so, in shape, size, and in other respects. The feet of one 
thoroughbred horse are as a rule so like the feet of another, 
that it is needless to attempt to describe this or the other 
particular one, but rather to show the preparation for shoeing 
of one that is free from disease, and from defects in shape. 
Something will depend on its formation, natural or acquired. 
If the foot is very strong, much of the outside crust should 
be removed, the outer edge of the concavity being pared almost 
to an even surface; but if it be weak, then nothing but the 
crust on which the shoe rests should be touched, and the 
paring should be little and discriminate. Smiths, in fact, have 
one failing—a disposition to use the knife too freely, and un- 
fortunately not always in the right direction. Instances to the 
point may be seen in horses having naturally low heels, in 
which all traces of the bars have been removed by the impru- 
dent use of the knife in the hands of an unthinking operator. 
On the other hand, if, as sometimes happens, the toe is too 
long, it should be. shortened ; but this too should be done with 
judgment and by degrees ; if removed all at once lameness 
will probably follow. For the frog, all that is required is to 
keep it in its proper shape, and for this purpose an occasional 
slight paring will be sufficient. The heel is the most impor- 
tant portion of the foot,and requires more careful management 
in shoeing than perhaps any other part of it. In all horses, 
