7G2 Report of the Stewa/rd of the Horse-shoeing at Windsor. 
present forge-farriers, and it seems probable will never be so 
until necessity compels. 
Report of the Judges of the Horseshoeing Competitions. 
The small number of the competitors was to be regretted, only eleven 
appearing in Class 1 and twenty in Class 2, and this was all the more 
surprising considering the liberality of the prize list and the area within 
which the competition was to take place. 
Our instructions to the men consisted in stating the kind of shoes we 
desired made, and that they were not to hurry through their work, as the 
time test would only be taken into consideration, other things being equal ; 
they were further required to fit and put on a fore shoe, and to make a hind 
shoe to be kept for inspection. Beyond these instructions they were very 
much left to themselves ; no orders against cutting, rasping, or burning were 
given, as it was thought that within such enlightened areas as London and 
Windsor it would be hardly necessary to enjoin the men to abstain from 
such practices. 
The detailed report which follows touches upon the various points on 
which we desire to lay stress, and we regret that so much still remains to be 
learnt by men who probably consider themselves fully competent to deal 
with the horse's foot. The viva-voce examination acts beneficially by 
bringing to light the men who take something more than a routine interest 
in their calling, but that so much haziness should still exist amongst those 
capable of reading for themselves is very inexcusable. We would beg to 
suggest that the Society issue anatomy plates at a cheap price, so that they 
could be hung in the forge or in their homes ; also that models or specimens 
of the foot be on view during the examination ; and again that the com- 
petition have a time limit, say, of 35 minutes. 
In a competition of this kind it is not often that the farriers have had 
such complete arrangements made for their comfort, everything that could be 
thought of being provided for them by our most excellent and energetic 
Steward, to whom, and to his Assistant, we owe our very best acknowledg- 
ments for their kindness and courtesy during the period of our work at 
AVindsor. 
Class 1. Draught Horses. — In the majority of cases the shoes were 
torn off after knocking up the " clenches," no eflbrt being made to draw the 
nails singly. 
Very little preparation or dressing of the feet was undertaken, the 
drawing knife being conspicuous by its absence, which, although a very 
desirable advance on the old system of paring and trimming, can perhaps 
be carried to the other extreme. 
The fitting was not at all well done, daylight between the foot and the 
shoe being the rule rather than the exception ; and this was all the more 
inexcusable as some of the shoes were fitted too hot, being kept in position 
longer than was necessary to indicate the " bearing " of the shoe. 
As a rule the nails were well and evenly driven, but in two or three 
feet they were placed much too high. 
The rasp was excessively employed on tlie outside of the crust in 
finishing off. 
The hind shoes kept for inspection were very rough, and many were 
very indifferently stamped ; in some the stamping being too close together, 
in others, being carried back too near the heel. The fore shoes were very 
generally " seated " out too much, as in some it was noticed that the outer 
edge only of the shoe was in contact with the foot, leaving the shanks of 
the nails visible when the foot was lifted for inspection. 
