132 MANUAL OF FARM ANIMALS 



with a rasp. When horses are closely confined in the stable, 

 the hoofs grow out long, and if not trimmed, will deform the 

 limb and make traveling difficult. 



The rate of growth of the hoof is of much importance, for we 

 are often interested to know how long it will take a crack, such 

 as quarter-crack, side-crack, or toe-crack, a cleft, or a calk to dis- 

 appear. On the average, the hoof grows one-third of an inch 

 a month. Hind hoofs grow faster than fore hoofs and unshod 

 ones faster than shod. While influenced to some extent by work 

 or exercise, grooming, moisture, and food, the time required for 

 the horn to grow from the coronet to the ground varies in propor- 

 tion to the distance of the coronet to the ground. The toe, there- 

 fore, depending on its height, grows down in ten to thirteen 

 months, the sides, six to eight, and the heel in three to five months. 



Shoeing. — The horse's hoof wears off faster than it grows out, 

 and it becomes sore. In order to prevent the hoof from wearing 

 too rapidly the feet are shod. While there are many reasons for 

 applying shoes, the most important are as follows : — 



First, to prevent wearing away of the hoof in order that it 

 may not get sore. Horses show need of shoeing first in the fore 

 feet, and in some parts of the country only the fore feet are shod. 

 For this purpose the light shoe is preferred. Second, to prevent 

 slipping, as on ice or mud. For this purpose, when the work is 

 hard, one needs heavy shoes with large calks, but for easy work 

 they may be lighter. In this connection it must be borne in mind 

 that a smooth-shod (shoes without calks) horse slips more on the 

 ice than though he were bare-footed. There are several makes 

 of shoes with removable calks. Third, horses are shod to 

 modify their action. 



Of the many things to be considered in fitting a shoe perhaps 

 the most important is to keep the foot perfectly level, thus pre- 

 venting undue weight being thrown on one side, and other attend- 

 ant injuries. The frog should be left in its natural size and 

 shape to serve as a cushion for the foot. Make the foot normal. 



