744 SHOEING. 



generally have side clips, and the toes, as already said, should be 

 made square — ^leaving an overlapping rim of crust at the toe, 

 which should be rounded off with the rasp — in order to lessen the 

 chance of over-reaching. 



I cannot too strongly condemn the practice carried on in some 

 forges, of invariably applying thick-heeled shoes. To such an 

 extent is this observed, in some instances, that I have frequently 

 seen the heels of sound strong feet cut down, simply to suit these 

 shoes, the habitual use of which is rarely necessary. The still 

 more injurious practice of employing shoes thinner at the heels 

 than at the toes, with the view of obtaining increased frog-pressure, 

 has become obsolete ; for it was found to cause an injurious amount 

 of strain to be thrown on the suspensory ligaments and back 

 tendons. 



For ordinary saddle horses, shoes weighing from eight to ten 

 ounces each, will be heavy enough. 



In the foregoing remarks, I have confined myself to the con- 

 sideration of the ordinary shoe with certain modifications ; as it 

 is the most suitable one for general requirements. The Charlier 

 shoe is only of historic interest; for all its advantages may be 

 obtained with tips, which are free from its many drawbacks. 



A har shoe for a fore foot — to be used when the horse is at 

 work — ^should be made heart shaped (Fig. 52, p. 177); so that it 

 may not get caught by the hind shoe. 



Nail Holes. 



Thin shoes, especially if they be of soft iron, should be fullered ; 

 tor if this be not done, and the nail driven flush with the ground- 

 surface of the shoe, the nail hole will soon become too big for the 

 head of the nail. If, however, the nail heads project beyond the 

 ground-surface of the shoe, they will quickly get worn down, or 

 knocked off; the result being, in either case, that the horse will 

 drop his shoe. With a fullered shoe, though the heads of the 

 nails are larger than the nail holes, they will lie protected in the 

 groove. 



If a shoe is made of hard iron and has plenty of substance, it 

 should not be fullered ; if this be done, it will be difficult to alter 

 the distance of the nail-holes from the outer edge, if required. The 

 holes should be punched' square and to narrow downwards (looking 

 at the shoe when the foot is "picked up"). The square cavity, 

 wide at the top, and tapering to the bottom, gives a secure and 

 solid lodgment to the nail head, which, of course, should bo of 

 the same shape ; it does not weaken the shoe, is easily made, 

 can be placed near the outer or inner margin as required, and 



