\ 



92 HORSESHOEING. 



5. Surfaces. — That part of the hoof-surface of the shoe which 

 is in contact with the hoof (bearing-surface of the shoe, Fig. 83, 



a) should be horizontal and wide enough to 



Fig. 83. cover the wall, the white line, and from a 



t-velfth to an eighth of an inch of the outer 



ige of the sole. Shoes for large hoofs re- 



— 1— — ^aive a broader bearing-surface than those 



Transverse section of a „ n i n mi • .. l 



branch of a front shoe: a, for Small hoofs. The concavmg, or "seat- 

 bearing-surface ; b, con- jng" (^Yig. 83, h), should be made deeper or 

 "crease"; d,nau-hoie! shallower, according to the nature of the 

 sole. Shoes for hoofs with strongly arched 

 (very concave) soles, do not require any concaving (hind hoofs, 

 narrow fore-hoofs). The object of concaving is to prevent 

 pressure of the shoe upon the horny sole. 



The ground-surface of the shoe should be flat and perfectly 

 horizontal, except at the toe, which may be turned upward 

 (rolling toe, " rolling motion"). 



6. Borders. — The outer border should be moderately base- 

 narrow, — that is, the circumference of the ground-surface of the 

 shoe should be less than the circumference of its hoof-surface ; 

 in other words, the entire outer border of the shoe should be 

 bevelled under the foot. Shoes made base-narrow are not so 

 easily loosened, and materially assist in preventing interferin'g. 

 The inner border should be moderately rounded. 



7. The "Fullering" (Fig. 83, c). — In depth it should be about 

 two-thirds the thickness of the shoe, of uniform width, and 

 " clean." A fullering is not absolutely necessary, but it makes 

 the shoe lighter in proportion to its size, facilitates a uniform 

 placing of the nail-holes, renders the ground-surface somewhat 

 rough, and, because it is rather difficult to make, increases the 

 workman's skill. 



8. Nail-Holes (Fig. 83, d). — The importance of the nail- 

 holes, as regards their character, number, distribution, depth, and 

 direction, cannot 'he over-estimated, because by the nails which 

 are driven through them the stability of the shoe upon the hoof 



