80 HORSESHOEING. 



presents rings the observer should note their position with refer- 

 ence to one another and to the coronet, and also their extent, 

 and, furthermore, should determine whether or not they cross 

 one another (thrush of the frog). At the same time he should 

 notice the length of the shoes. 



Next, the feet should be raised and the examiner should notice 

 the width of the hoof, the arching of the sole, the character of 

 the frog, the position of the bulbs of the heel, as well as the 

 presence of any cracks or clefts in the wall. Then the old shoes 

 should be examined as to their age, form, the distribution and 

 direction of their nail-holes (" punching"), position, and wear. 

 With respect to the form of the old shoe, one should observe 

 whether or not it corresponds to the form of the hoof. The 

 same careful examination should be made of the number and 

 distribution of the nail-holes. As regards the position of the 

 shoe, one must first ascertain whether it completely covers the 

 bearing-surface of the wall, and whether the shoe extends be- 

 yond the wall at any point and has caused interfering or given 

 rise to irregular wear. Finally, the wear of the shoe should be 

 observed, and the following points borne in mind : One-sided 

 wear, uneven setting down of the feet, and an unnatural course of 

 the wall are often found together, especially when uneven wearing 

 of the shoe has existed for a long time, — ^that is, during several 

 shoeings. As a rule, in such a case the more worn branch of 

 the shoe is too near the centre of the foot, and the opposite 

 branch too far from the centre (too " full") ; in other words, the 

 base of support (shoe) has been shifted too far in the direction 

 of the less worn branch. Moreover, increased wear of a part 

 of a shoe is an indication that the section of the wall above it 

 is too high (too long), or that the wall upon the opposite side of 

 the foot is too low (short). The twisting movement of many 

 hind feet should, from physiological reasons, not be hindered by 

 shoeing. 



