The Foot — Its Care and Shoeing. 113 



tional or not, of the heels of a shoe, such a slope, if 

 inwards assisting to close the heels, or if outwards to 

 open them, such a bearing and direction should not be 

 given, the shoe surface should be perfectly level. When 

 about to examine the foot or remove a shoe always see 

 that the animal can stand comfortably on three legs, 

 then by passing the hand down the limb to be lifted, 

 pinch slightly with the thumb and first finger just above 

 the fetlock, the foot will usually be lifted by the animal, 

 to hold it easily, grasp the toe of the foot and thus let 

 the animal bear its own weight; in removal of the shoe 

 a firmer grip is necessary. All clinches should be lifted 

 before trying to pull off the iron, and when doing so 

 avoid twisting of the foot, or injury to the joints at that 

 part will result. The greater number of shoeing smiths 

 are more competent to judge of the amount of trimming 

 and cutting required by a hoof than is the average horse 

 owner; the trouble is usually that people do not take 

 their horses to the smith often enough. The frog should 

 be left prominent, so that it will project beyond the bear- 

 ing surface of the quarters and thus limit the amount of 

 jar. As the bars are inflections of the walls, and there- 

 fore meant to support weight, they should not be cut away. 

 The pattern of the shoe for the sound foot is immaterial 

 so long as its bearing is true and level and rests on the 

 walls and bars. The shoe surface should be wide enough to 

 cover the wall and white line, the web being wider at 

 the toe than at the heels. Toe and heel calks are better 

 dispensed with unless on slippery roads. Avoid excess 

 of weight in shoes; for that purpose steel and aluminum 

 are used. Horses are made to go high by leaving on lots 



