ON SHOEING. 
249 
3dly, In fitting the shoes, by cutting too much out of the 
crust at the toe to admit the clip; the shoe is, consequently, let 
loo far back, instead of being fitted full to the crust; and after¬ 
wards rasping away the crust, making the foot, in fact, to fit the 
shoe, instead of the shoe to fit the foot. This is a faulty prac¬ 
tice, and very seriously so, which smiths in general are very 
apt to fall into; one which renders the crust shelly, from that 
part into which the nails are driven, from time to time, being 
rendered weak in this way. 
4thly, In turning shoes, smiths in general do not attend 
sufficiently to levelling or sloping the edge of the shoe from 
the foot to the ground surface, which I consider of great im¬ 
portance, especially if horses are given to cut or interfere in 
their action. 
5thly, Cutting the heels of the shoe off straight. —This is also 
a very bad practice. If well sloped, like a shoe for hunting, 
to which there cannot be any objection, they are less liable to 
be pulled off by the hind shoe catching in them, and more con¬ 
tribute to the safety of the horse and his rider. 
6thly, Leaving the inner edge of the hind shoes at the toe 
sharp, which if rounded will in a great measure prevent over¬ 
reaches, as well as render the fore shoes less liable to be pulled 
off by their catching in the heels of the same. Squaring the 
toe of the hind shoes for horses that forge, or “ carry the ham¬ 
mer and pincers,” as it is termed, leaving the horn projecting 
over the shoe, is, in my opinion, good as a general rule, not only 
preventing that unpleasant noise, but rendering horses less 
liable to over-reach and pull off their fore shoes, providing 
attention be paid to rounding the inner edge. 
7thly, In rasping the under part of the clinches previous to 
laying them down, farriers are very apt to apply the edge of the 
rasp improperly to the crust, forming a deep groove round the 
same, which cannot but be injurious to the foot, and, together 
with taking away too much of the crust in finishing off the 
foot, have a tendency to render it shelly. Curving the shoe at 
the toe, after the French fashion, where horses go near the 
ground, I am very fond of; but I cannot see any advantage in 
it as a general practice. 
Yours truly, &c. 
Portobello Barracks, Dublin, March 7th, 1852. 
