372 MANAGEMENT AND BREEDING OF HORSES 



on the wall of the hoof. As to the frequency of resetting, 

 all depends on the conditions, such as the severity of the 

 work, the nature of the footing, whether icy or dirt, and 

 the individuality of the animal. Some horses at very 

 severe work may require the shoes to be reset every 

 week, while others at light work may suffer no incon- 

 venience if left on eight weeks or until the shoes wear out. 

 Shoes for unsound feet. — There are a great variety of 

 horse shoes upon the market, many of which have been 

 designed from time to time to save and perfect unsound 

 feet. Such shoes may allay the pain and prolong the use- 

 fulness of the horse, but most of them allow dirt and 

 filth to gather under the protecting pad. Because of the 

 wet, dirty and filthy condition of the frog and sole of the 

 foot, due to the dirt being retained by the pad and to the 

 partial exclusion of the air, the foot tends to become soft, 

 tender and diseased. Various forms of rubber pads, 

 rubber shoes, rope shoes, fiber shoes and other contriv- 

 ances to diminish the shock and prevent slipping on the 

 hard slippery pavements of our large cities are in use. 

 They are usually expensive, but many of them are rather 

 efficient in deadening the sound and preventing slipping 

 on paved and cement streets, though, not so effective 

 on ice. 



