The Structure of the Horse's Foot and Princijdes of Shoeing. G57 
Principles and Practice of Shoeing. 
It seems to be impossible in the present circumstances to 
dispense with the iron shoe to save the hoof, and it will be a 
wise thing to decide at starting on what principles the practice 
which has been in operation from early times shall be carried on. 
No question of art or science has caused more disputes than this, 
and yet, so far as principles are concerned, nothing can be more 
simple. The basis of the art of shoeing is, or should be, the 
principle of non-interference, and it is not easy to carry this 
principle too far. Nothing can be better for the purposes of the 
horse than the foot in its natural state. While, therefore, trying 
to save it from too rapid wear, the most simple means should 
be used, and the organ left alone as far as may be. To this 
end a little knowledge of history will be useful. 
No one can say at what date the art of shoeing began ; but 
it can hardly be doubted that as soon as horses were used by 
man for his pleasure or profit, it was found out that the hoofs 
which served the animal well so long as he was left to himself, 
were worn more quickly than they grew when his master fixed 
the amount of work which the horse was to do. In such 
circumstances, some protection was required, and it may be 
supposed that the first idea of the human owner would be to 
adapt some sort of sole to the bottom of the foot, much as he 
did for his own feet ; and it is not unlikely that his first attempt 
at fastening would be by means of strips of hide or thongs which 
he used for his own feet as fastenings for his sandals. These 
failing, as they always do, iron spikes or nails would offer them- 
selves as a means of fixing iron shoes to the horn. Dr. George 
Fleming, in his article on the Principles of Shoeing, in Part I. 
of the Journal of the Society for 1881, remarks that the art of 
shoeing was probably known as early as B.C. 300, as a coin of 
that date has on it a figure of a horse being shod. The same 
author also observes that in a climate like ours, some substantial 
hoof armature must have been desired by a horse-and-chariot- 
driving people like the ancient Britons, and further that the 
superstitions which still cling to horse-shoes appear to be 
derived from the Druids, who were not only priests but skilled 
workers in metals. 
Having regard to the time that has passed since shoeing 
was first practised, and the amount of care and thought which 
scientist and mechanic have bestowed upon every detail con- 
nected with the foot and the shoe, the practice ought now to be 
perfect. But in reality we seem to have progressed in a crab- 
like fashion. It is not flattering to the workman of the nine- 
VOL. x.xiv. — s. S. U U 
