Report on the Horse-shoeing Competition at Newcastle. 661 
very close, especially in the Agricultural Class. All the men 
evidently entered upon their work with a full determination to 
win if possible, and there can be no doubt that the effect upon 
both the successful and unsuccessful will tend to improvement 
for the future. 
That it is time something more were done to raise the standard 
quality of our horse-shoeing was, however, very evident, even to 
a non-professional observer, and it is to be hoped that the 
Society may be induced to include competitions of this kind in 
their programme for some years to come. 
On the Tuesday afternoon His Royal Highness the Prince 
of Wales, accompanied by Prince Albert Victor and Prince 
George, together with Lord Egerton (the President), JVIr. Jacob 
Wilson (the Honorary Director), and several other members of 
Council, honoured this department with a visit, all evidently 
taking much interest in the proceedings, and I venture to say 
that this new departure has the hearty support of His Royal 
Highness and all his friends. 
The public also manifested great interest in the competition, 
as evidenced by the crowds who were constantly gathered rounJ 
the enclosure. By a rough calculation, made at various times, 
I came to the conclusion that the spectators numbered from 800 
t(j 1000 on the first two half-crown days ; but on the Thursday 
tliey kept the place uncomfortably crowded, and I estimated 
that at no time were there less than 1200 persons present, while 
about the close of the contest, from 2.30 to 3.30 P.M., at least 
2000 surrounded the ring. 
The arrangements made by the Honorary Director and the 
Surveyor were admirable in every respect. There was ample 
space for the men to work in, for the horses to be shod, and for 
the Judges and officials ; while the Grand Stand for the public, 
though apparently extensive, was not larger than the event 
proved to be requisite. 
In the belief that the present is a favourable opportunity, I 
venture to add to my formal Report a few suggestions, which, 
however crude, may possibly lead to advantageous results. 
These Shoeing Competitions are not, 1 think, altogether 
what the Society should rest content with. It is clearly a rough- 
and-ready method of bringing out the best of the workmen 
who do enter themselves, and it establishes the fact that though 
we possess many competent men, there are more who are not 
satisfactory shoeing-smiths. But having selected the best forge- 
men, have we any guarantee that they really understand the 
anatomy of the horse's foot ? 
I am sorry to say, speaking from considerable experience, 
that I believe many (in fact, most) of our men are very deficient in 
2 X 2 
