206 THE FRENCH METHOD OF SHOEING HORSES. 
“ In the work of M. Jauze, lately published on shoeing,* 
the advantages of the French form are pointed out, and con¬ 
trasted with the English. His remarks on the consequences 
likely to follow the use of the common English shoe are cer¬ 
tainly substantiated by the deplorable state of our horses’ feet. 
“ If we refer to the action of the fore leg, it will tend to 
explain some of the advantages of the curved shoe. 
“ When a horse is about to move, the first indication of 
motion in the fore leg is a bend at the knee, which necessarily 
raises the heels, and they become more and more elevated, till 
the toe (which is the last part that leaves the ground) is lifted 
up for the moment that the foot is suspended. The base of the 
foot, just at .its leaving the ground, is almost perpendicular; 
when the knee is bent to its fullest extent, the foot is then in 
the same position, with the heels of the shoe pointing upwards. 
If we consider this first part of the motion of the limb, we find the 
movement of the foot very nearly describing a semicircle ; and 
on viewing the form of the joints connected with action, the 
necessity of a curve at the toe is clearly demonstrated. Again, 
the form of a shoe worn out, at once shews that it must be more 
suitable to put on a new one of that form rather than suffer the 
action of the leg to be opposed until it is worn to that shape. 
In the round part of the action, when the foot comes again to 
the ground, it is first on the base, generally, and not on the toe, 
as has been stated. There may be deviations from this 
general rule, as in those horses that have bad action ; also 
when horses are drawing heavy weights it must necessarily 
differ. The fore legs may be considered simply as pillars of 
support, having no power of themselves to propel the body 
forward, progression being principally performed by the hind 
parts. If it were not so, the action would be different, as I 
have before observed it to be in those horses that have great 
weights to draw, and this may be more readily observed in any 
draught horse going up hill. 
“ I have offered these few remarks upon action in order to 
bring the reader’s attention to the curve of the French shoe at 
the toe. This form of shoe certainly harmonises more with the 
motion of the fore foot than the English: it affords a greater 
surface of bearing at the toe than the projecting ridge of the 
strait, ordinary shoe, and is better calculated to allow the 
motion of the leg and foot. The labour of the muscles is also 
diminished, and, the limb being in its natural position, the 
ligaments have less imposed upon them : they are at ease, and 
consequently not so liable to be strained. 
“ It may not be inapplicable to remark the facility with 
* The work referred to is entitled, “ Cours Theoretique et Pratique de Mare- 
ehallerie Vbtirinaire." Paris, 1817-18. We do not happen to have it by us just 
now.— Ed. Vet. 
