86 



HORSESHOEING. 



more or less inclined to the foot axis, usually to a very small 

 degree, and the outer wall is somewhat higher (longer) and more 

 slanting than the inner. 



In the base-narrow position of the limbs the plantar hoof- 

 surface is more or less inclined to the direction of the foot axis, 



usually quite considerably, and the 

 inner wall is somewhat higher than 

 the outer. 



The foot is observed from the side 

 in order to determine the proper re- 

 lation of the length of the toe to the 

 height of the quarters. 



In this also the foot axis is our guide. 

 If this axis is as it should be, the wall 

 at the toe and the long pastern will 

 have the same slant (Figs. 59, 60, and 

 61). If the hoof has become too long 

 under the protection of the shoe, this 

 will be shown by the foot axis being 

 no longer a straight line, but broken 

 backward at the coronet (Fig. 76) ; 

 that is, the hoof in comparison with the 

 fetlock will be too slanting. By shortening the toe more than the 

 quarters this faulty relation will be corrected (Fig. 77) and the 

 foot restored to its proper slant. The plantar surface of the hoof 

 is therefore correct (balanced) when the horse places the foot 

 flat upon the ground in travelling, and when the lines bound- 

 ing the hoof, viewed from in front, from behind, and in profile, 

 correspond to the direction of the three phalanges (foot axis). 



Finally, this fact should be emphasized, that in changing from 

 flat shoes to those with calks, or the reverse, the hoofs must 

 first be dressed in accordance, so that the foot axes will remain 

 straight, and the feet be set always flat to the ground when the 

 new shoes are on. Each hoof, when ready for the new shoe, 

 should be let down and the horse allowed to stand upon it while 



Longitudinal (vertical) section of 

 the wall at the toe : o c is the abso- 

 lute, and a b the relative thickness 

 of the wall. With a as the centre, 

 and the line a c as a radius, a circle 

 is drawn ; the comer of horn in front 

 of this circle and indicated by dot- 

 ted lines is to be removed with the 

 rasp. 



