HORSESHOEING. 93 



should be maintained without injuring the sensitive structures, 

 splitting the horny wall, or immoderately interfering with the 

 elasticity of the hoof. Each nail-hole should taper uniformly 

 from the ground to the hoof-surface (funnel-shaped). For a 

 medium-weight shoe six nail-holes are sufficient, while for all 

 heavy shoes, especially those with toe- and heel-calks, eight are 

 indicated ; however, it should by no means be said that every 

 nail-hole should contain a nail. Hind shoes usually require one 

 more nail-hole than front shoes, yet seldom more than eight. In 

 front shoes the nail-holes should be placed in the anterior half 

 of the shoe (Figs. 81 and 82), while in hind shoes they are to 

 be placed in the anterior two-thirds of the shoe, and in both 

 cases so distributed that the toe shall be without nail-holes (Fig. 

 86). The depth of the nail-holes — that is, their distance from the 

 outer edge of the shoe — will depend always upon the thickness 

 of the wall, and should equal the absolute (real) thickness of the 

 wall (Fig. 75). It is evident, therefore, that all nail-holes should 

 not be placed at the same depth (for thickness of the wall, see 

 p. 47). 



The direction in which the nail-holes should pass through the 

 shoe depends upon the obliquity of the wall. The nail-holes 

 around the toe, as a rule, should incline somewhat inward, the 

 holes at the sides less so, while those at the quarters should be 

 punched straight, — that is, should pass perpendicularly through 

 the shoe. 



Both front and hind shoes for army horses in time of war and 

 manoeuvres should be so punched that one or two nails may be 

 placed in the posterior half of the shoe. 



9. Clips are half -circular, leaf-like ears drawn upward from 

 the outer edge of the shoe. They should be strong and without 

 flaw at the base, and somewhat higher and thicker upon hind 

 than upon front shoes. Their height on flat shoes should equal 

 the thickness of the shoe, while on shoes with toe- and heel- 

 calks they should be somewhat higher. 



According to their position we distinguish toe- and side-clips. 



