746 SHOEING. 



of the shoe which is behind the last nail hole, be "set" within 

 the outside edge of the wall, it will be very apt, from constant 

 hammering on the ground, to become imbedded into the horn near 

 the heels, which will consequently become unduly lowered. 



For horses used in ordinary light work, it is a clumsy and 

 unworkmanlike practice to leave a margin of shoe on the outside 

 of the heels, so as to give the foot a false appearance of being 

 open at the heels. It may, possibly, be advisable to do this with 

 heavy cart-horses that have calkins to their shoes, in order to give 

 them increased foot-hold. 



If practicable, the shoe, in ordinary cases, should be fitted on 

 at a red heat, and not when cold. The advantages of the former 

 over the latter practice are as follows : 



1st. The shoe can be put on in half the time. 



2nd. Exact juxtaposition between the iron and the hoof is 

 obtained, with, consequently, increased security. 



3rd. The bearing surface of the wall and sole is rendered 

 impervious to water. 



4th. The charring of the horn renders the hoof less liable tp split 

 when the nails are being driven. 



No harm can be done by shoeing hot, if the application of the 

 hot shoe be limited to the indication of horny eminences. Even 

 making a bed for the shoe by applying it at a red heat is unobjec- 

 tionable, if there is plenty of horn left. 



The heels should on no account be " sprung," that is, no space 

 should be left at the heels between the iron and the horn ; for if 

 this be done, the heels of the foot will be subjected to a constant 

 process of hammering while the horse is in motion, and will 

 consequently be liable to become battered down. Besides, grit 

 and other substances will work in between the heels of the foot 

 and the heels of the shoe. Corns may also be produced from the 

 same cause. 



Putting on the Shoe. 



The nails should take a short, thick hold of the crust, and not 

 come up higher than one inch from its ground-surface. 



After the nails are driven, the rasp should not touch the crust, 

 except to file, if necessary, a little of the thin horn from underneath 

 the ends of the nails, so that the clinches, when they are turned 

 down, may be properly supported ; and, if required, to shorten the 

 toe (p. 737). 



The external surface of the wall of the hoof is covered by a thin 

 horny layer (the periople), which gives it a smooth and polished 

 appearance, and also protects the fibres of the wall from the 



