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MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY. 
it to such an extent as to destroy the bars, and thus leaving 
the frog elevated from the ground, but such extremes are 
the result of ignorance ; for to allow the sole to thicken 
must limit the expansive principle of the hoof, by rendering 
it un elastic, and consequently unyielding, which cannot fail 
to militate against the comfort of the horse and impair his 
usefulness. From this it is obvious that it would be decided 
economy to pay the smith the value of the increased labour, 
and it should be accomplished under the inspection of a 
careful groom, or the owner himself. 
It is a grand mistake for persons allowing the shoes of 
horses to remain on longer than three weeks or a month. 
Whether the shoes are worn or not, they should be taken off 
and the soles and heels thinned and pared. Without this 
precaution the feet must become malformed. I have known 
instances where riding-horses have been so seldom ridden or 
exercised, that their shoes have lasted three and even four 
months, and were not removed during this time, proceeding 
in some cases from the parsimony of the owners, and in 
others from their ignorance of the evil effects which would 
result therefrom. In some instances the shoes were made 
thicker than was necessary, consequently the animal sub¬ 
jected to carrying superfluous weight, besides being tightly 
fastened on and provided with an extra number of nails 
and these too at the quarters. All of which increase the 
tendency to thickening. It is perfectly clear that without 
due attention to the above points, in proportion to the 
degree of neglect, so will the evil consequences increase 
and the hoof must contract and close up the foot round 
the coronet. It is a notorious fact that low-heeled horse 
are seldom liable to contraction of the hoof. 
Contraction is also caused by want of natural moisture 
It will be seen that horses at grass are seldom or never 
