598 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 
Surfaces.—The surface that is turned toward the hoof is known as 
the “upper,” or “hoof surface,” of the shoe. That part of the hoof 
surface which is in actual contact with the horn is called the “ bearing 
surface” of the shoe. The “bearing surface” should be perfectly 
horizontal from side to side, and wide enough to support the full 
thickness of the wall, the white line, and about an eighth of an inch 
of the margin of the sole. The bearing surface should also be per- 
fectly flat, except that it may be turned up at the toe (“rolling- 
motion ” shoe, fig. 5 a, b,c.) The surface between the bearing surface 
and the inner edge of the shoe is often beaten down or concaved to 
prevent pressure too far inward upon the sole. This “ concaving,” or 
“seating,” should be deeper or shallower as the horny sole is less or 
more concave. As a rule, strongly “cupped” soles require no con- 
caving (hind hoofs, narrow fore hoofs). 
Borders.—The entire outer border should be beveled under the foot. 
Such a shoe is not so readily loosened, nor is it so apt to lead to 
interfering. 
Fullering.—This is a groove in the ground surface of the shoe. It 
should pass through two-thirds of the thickness of the shoe, be clean, 
and of uniform width. It is of advantage in that it makes the shoe 
lighter in proportion to its width and, by making the ground surface 
somewhat rough, tends to prevent slipping. 
Nail holes.—The shoe must be so “punched” that the nail holes 
will fall directly on the white line. They should be confined to the 
fore half of front shoes, but may occupy the anterior two-thirds of 
hind shoes. For a medium-weight shoe three nail holes in each 
branch are sufficient, but for heavier shoes, especially those provided 
with long calks, eight holes are about right, though three on the in- 
side and four on the outside may do. 
Clips.—These are half-circular ears drawn up from the outer edge 
of the shoe either at the toe or opposite the side wall. The height of 
a clip should equal the thickness of the shoe, though they should be 
even higher on hind shoes and when a leather sole is interposed be- 
tween the shoe and hoof. Clips secure the shoe against shifting. A 
side clip should always be drawn up on that branch of the shoe that 
first meets the ground in locomotion. 
SPECIAL FEATURES AND FITTING THE SHOES. 
A shoe for a regular hoof (figs. 7 and 8) fits when its outer border 
follows the wall closely in the region of the nail holes and from the 
last nail to the end of the branch gradually projects beyond the sur- 
face of the wall to an eighth of an inch and extends back of the but- 
tresses an amount equal to the thickness of the shoe. The shoe must 
be straight, firm, air-tight, its nail holes directly over the white line, 
