HORSESHOEING. 97 



toe. Length will depend upon the obliquity of the hoof as seen 

 in profile (see 1, 2, and 3). 



5. Shoe for a Base-Narrow Hoof. — Outer edge : the outer branch 

 either perpendicular or base-wide, the inner branch strongly 

 base-narrow. Punching: the nail-holes in the outer branch 

 should be crowded towards the toe and, under certain condi- 

 tions, punched deeper than the wall is thick, on account of the 

 greater width of this branch ; in the inner branch the nail-holes 

 are to be distributed back to the quarter and punched light. 

 Length will depend upon the obliquity of the hoof. The outer 

 branch should be about one-eighth of an inch longer than the 

 inner. 



6. Shoe for a Wide Hoof. — Somewhat wider webbed (more 

 covered) than usual. Outer edge: bevelled under the foot all 

 around (base-narrow). Punching : nail-holes carried back into 

 the posterior half of the shoe. Length will depend upon the 

 obliquity of the hoof. 



7. Shoe for a Narrow Hoof. — Outer edge : moderately bevelled 

 under the foot at the toe (base-narrow), elsewhere perpendicular. 

 Distribution of the nail-holes : regular. Direction of the nail- 

 holes : perpendicular and towards the quarters, inclining some- 

 what outward. The holes about the toe incline somewhat 

 inward. Length will depend upon the obliquity of the hoof. 

 'Concaving unnecessary. 



The forms of shoes described in paragraphs 2 to 7 differ from 

 that described in paragraph 1, but are necessary in order to lessen 

 the injurious consequences of irregular loading (unbalancing) of 

 the feet, and of unfavorable bases of support of the body-weight. 



G. Choosing the Shoe. 



The choice of the shoe for a given horse is not at all difficult 

 after we have carefully considered his weight, the nature of his 

 work, his standing position, gait, the form of his hoofs, and quality 

 of the horn, bearing in mind the general and peculiar properties 

 of shoes. As a rule, we choose a shoe that is longer than the 



