HORSESHOEING. 87 



it is again carefully examined and closely compared with the 

 opposite hoof. Only after such close inspection has proved the 

 dressing to be faultless can the hoof be considered as properly 



Foot with an untrlmmed hoof; the foot The same foot dressed, by removal of that 

 axis is broken backward, and there is a sur- portion of the wall below the dotted line m 

 plus growth of horn at the bottom of the wall. Kg. 76. The relation between hoof and pas- 

 tern is improved. 



prepared and ready for the shoe. The two front hoofs and the two 

 hind hoofs, when the legs are in the same position, should not only be 

 of equal size, but also in proper relation to the size and weight of the 

 body. 



E. Preparing the Hoof for going Barefoot. 

 This becomes necessary when the nature of the ground and 

 the kind of service required of the horse render shoeing un- 

 necessary. However, to go barefoot the hoof must have plenty 

 of horn. After removing the shoes the frog should be pared 

 down nearly to the level of the wall, and the sharp outer edge 

 of the wall well rounded off with the rasp, in some cases as far 

 as the white line, otherwise large pieces of the wall will readily 

 break away. Hoofs with very slanting walls must be more 

 strongly rounded off than upright or stumpy hoofs. Going bare- 

 foot strengthens the hoofs. From time to time the condition of 

 these shoeless hoofs should be ascertained by inspection, and 

 any growing fault in shape or direction of the horn immediately 



