HORSESHOEING. 81 



B. Raising and holding the Feet of the Horse to be 



shod. 



This can always be done without much trouble if the horse 

 has been accustomed to it from early colthood. Certain rules 

 governing the manner of taking hold of the feet, and of after- 

 wards manipulating them, are of value. 



A shoer should never grasp a foot suddenly, or with both 

 hands. The horse should first be prepared for this act. First 

 see that the horse stands in such a position that he can bear his 

 weight comfortably upon three legs. This is well worth no- 

 ticing, and if the horse does not voluntarily assume such an 

 easy position, move him gently until his feet are well under his 

 body. 



If the shoer, for example, wishes to raise the left forefoot, he 

 stands on the left side facing the animal, speaks quietly to him, 

 places the palm of the right hand flat upon the animal's shoul- 

 der, and, at the same time, with the left hand strokes the limb 

 downward to the cannon and seizes the cannon from in front. 

 With the right hand he now gently presses the horse towards the 

 opposite side, and the foot becoming loose as the weight is shifted 

 upon the other leg, he lifts it from the ground. The right hand 

 now grasps the pastern from the inside followed by the left hand 

 upon the outside ; then, turning partly to the right, the holder sup- 

 ports the horse's leg upon his left leg, in which position he should 

 always stand as quietly and firmly as possible. The hoof should 

 not be held higher than the elbow-joint, but for more comfortable 

 vsrork somewhat lower and never too far back of the elbow. In 

 lifting the left hind foot the animal should be gently stroked back 

 as far as the angle of the hip, against which the left hand is 

 placed for support, while the right hand strokes the limb down 

 to the middle of the cannon, which it grasps /rom behind. While 

 the left hand presses the animal's weight over towards the right 

 side, the right hand loosens the foot and carries it forward and 

 outward from the body so that the limb is bent at the hock. The 



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