I 
AND TRAINING OF THE ENGLISH RACK-HORSE. 238 
the foot, to make his observations on the most sound part of the 
crust; and as the nail-holes of plates are placed farther apart 
than those of shoes, it sometimes gives the smith the advantage 
of driving his nails into the more sound parts of the foot.” 
“ As plates are narrow, they cannot well come in contact with the 
sole : they may, therefore, be made flat on both sides. For mode¬ 
rate sized horses plates need scarcely ever exceed in breadth 
three and a half eighths of an inch. The fullering cannot, well, be 
too coarse, provided it does not too much weaken the plate: it 
must be made in the centre. The depth of the fullering must be 
regulated, and the nail-holes punched- in it, according to the 
substance of the plate and the size of the nails likely to be used 
in putting it on: the heads of the nails (when driven home) 
should be buried, and on a level with the surface of the plate. 
In good feet, the nail-holes should begin where the toe may be 
said to end. There should be four nails on each side : the first 
and second nail-holes from the toe may be punched an inch 
or more apart. Be this as it may, the smith must observe to re¬ 
gulate the distance here between these two holes so as to admit 
of his punching the third within the distance of about an inch and 
a half of the end of the heel of the plate ; and in the centre of 
the space then left, between the third nail-hole and the end of the 
plate, the last hole of the four should be punched : otherwise, the 
plates, particularly of the fore-feet, will spring at the heels, from 
the concussion produced by severe running upon hard ground.” 
The plate may be either a full-plate or a three-quarter-plate; 
the differences being in their length at the heels, and the latter 
“ seldom requiring more than three nails on each side.” u A three- 
quarter-plate is more generally used for country plate horses; 
their feet having got out of order from repeated running and tra¬ 
velling, together with the necessity there is of frequently re¬ 
moving their shoes and plates. Some horses' feet will allow of a 
plate of this sort coming within half-an-inch of the end of the 
heels; and others may not allow of its coming within an inch or 
more. It is the soundness and substance of the horses' heels 
and quarters which must regulate the length of the plates.” 
“ If a horse is a long striding one, and a free-runner, he is likely 
to be rather a difficult one at his turns; and although it may show 
bad judgment to run such a horse over a small round course* 
yet if such should happen, it may be advisable, for the safety of 
both the rider and the horse, to give the latter some hold of the 
ground by turning up the heels of his hind plates.” 
“ Whether the plates shall be put on in the stable or on the 
course, will depend on the distance of the one from the other, 
and also on the kind of feet the horse may have.” 
• 4 
I 1 
