740 



SHOEING. 



case of making shoes out of iron bars of uniform sliape and sub- 

 stance, Fig. 196) is the frequent cause of the fore shoes of saddle 

 and hght harness horses opening out at the lieels, and thus 

 necessitating a visit to the smithy before the proper time. Side 

 chps help to prevent lateral rotation of the shoe, but toe clips 

 have no effect in this useful respect. An experience of eighteen 



Fig. 195- — Foot surface of properly niade shoe. 



years among horses in India, in which country clips to shoes are 

 very rarely used, convinces me that the employment of toe clips 

 is by no means a necessity. Also my experience in England shows 

 that they are often a cause of foot disease, by exerting hurtful 

 pressure on the toe of the pedal bone and its sensitive structures. 

 The result of this harmful pressure can often be seen by a 'post- 

 mortem examination of the pedal bone, as in Fig. 197 (p. 742), 



