Shoeing Horses 103 



pincers. A light blister applied to the coronet where 

 the crack starts will stimulate the growth of horn. 

 Cutting through the wall at right angles to the point 

 of the crack will often prevent the crack extend- 

 ing further. The hoof should be kept well oiled. 

 Care should be taken, until it is well healed, that 

 the horse is not subjected to severe exertion that 

 will split the crack open. 



SHOEING 



Shoeing consists in fastening to the hoof of the 

 animal some hard substance, usually iron. Shoes are 

 applied for several reasons: 



(1) Shoeing is employed to prevent the rapid wear- 

 ing away of the horn of the hoof, and thus to prevent 

 the feet from getting sore and tender when traveling. 

 This is the reason for shoeing most horses. In some 

 parts of the country it is not common to shoe horses 

 unless they show the need of it by getting footsore 

 when traveling, especially on a hard road. When horses 

 show the need of shoeing, it is first seen in the fore feet. 

 In many parts of the countr}^ shoes are applied only to 

 the front feet, except in rare cases in which the hind 

 feet show signs of too rapid wear. For ordinary 

 uses, a shoe without calks and just heavy enough to 

 prevent bending is best; such shoes are often called 

 "plates." If shoes are too heavy they are likely to 

 tire a horse and make him leg-weary. 



(2) ■ When roads are slippery, from ice or other 

 causes, or when horses are subjected to heavy pulling, it 



