72 



HORSESHOEING. 



Fig. 72. 



in from three to five montiis. The time required for the re- 

 newal of the entire hoof we term the period of hoof renewal. If, 

 for example, we know exactly the rapidity of horn growth in a 

 given case, we can estimate without difficulty the length of the 

 " period of hoof renewal," as well for the entire hoof as for 

 each individual section of the wall. The duration of many 

 diseases of the hoof (cracks, clefts, partial bendings of the wall, 

 contractions, etc.) can be foretold with relative certainty only by 

 knowing the period of hoof renewal. 



Irregular growth sometimes takes place. The chief cause of 

 this is usually an improper distribution of the body-weight over 



the hoof, — that is, an unbalanced 

 foot. Wry hoofs of faulty positions 

 of the limbs are often exposed to 

 this evil ; a faulty preparation of the 

 hoof (dressing) for the shoe, as well 

 as neglect of the colt's hoofs, is in 



t^r-jrt the majority of cases directly re- 



M»: ^ • " "^ f-i^^J^ak V sponsible for this condition. 



If in the shortening of the wall a 

 part is from ignorance left too long, 

 or one-half of the hoof shortened 

 too much in relation to the other 

 half, the foot will be unbalanced. 

 The horse will then touch the ground 

 first with the section of wall which 

 has been left too high, and will continue to do so until this long 

 section has been reduced to its proper level (length) by the 

 increased wear which will take place at this point. In unshod 

 hoofs this levelling process takes place rapidly ; such, however, 

 is not the case in shod hoofs, for here the shoe prevents rapid 

 wear, and, indeed this levelling process is often rendered impos- 

 sible through the welding of high steel calks to the shoe. If 

 this fault in trimming be repeated at the next and subsequent 

 shoeings, and if the faulty relation of the ground- surface of the 



Crooked (right) fore-hoof. 



