66 HORSESHOEING. 



its position, which is behind and well out from the median line, 

 the hoof passes first forward and inward until it is close to the 

 supporting leg, and then outward to the ground (Fig. 64), where 

 the shock is received principally upon the outer toe. The toes 

 point either directly forward, as in the regular standing position, 

 or forward and outward as in the toe-wide position. 



Exactly the reverse is true of the horse that stands base-narrow; 

 in this case the hoof is moved in a circle whose convexity is 

 outward, — that is, the hoof from its position behind, and close to 

 the median line, is carried forward and outward and then inward 

 to the ground (Fig. 65). The direction in which the hoofs move 

 is diagrammatically illustrated in Figs. 63, 64, and 65. Many 

 deviations in the line of flight of hoofs and in the manner in 

 which they are set to the ground occur ; for example, horses 

 heavily burdened or pulling heavy loads, and, therefore, not 

 having free use of their limbs, project their limbs irregularly and 

 meet the ground first with the toe ; however, careful observation 

 will detect the presence of one or the other of these lines of flight 

 of the foot. Irregular carriage of the feet renders a horse 

 unsuitable for general purposes only when it is very pronounced, 

 in which case certain troublesome conditions, such as interfering 

 and disease of joints, are of frequent occurrence. 



D. Forms of Hoofs. 



A front hoof of the regular standing position (Fig. 66). The 

 inner and outer walls differ but little in direction and thickness. 

 The outer wall is a little thicker and somewhat more slanting 

 than the inner (see Figs. 53 and 54), and its outer circumference 

 describes a larger arc of a circle, — that is, is more curved, as can 

 be seen both at its plantar border and at the coronet. The 

 length of the quarter in relation to the length or height of the 

 side wall and toe is about as 1:2:3. The toe forms an angle 

 with the ground of forty-five to fifty degrees (see Fig. 60). The 

 direction of the wall at the toe, viewed from the side, should be 

 parallel with the direction of the long pastern. 



