703 
ENGLISH AND GERMAN SHOEING. 
that this svstem, so far from being new, is very old, and in 
England is obsolete; simply because it was found, by expe¬ 
rience, to be injurious. In Germany, however, and else¬ 
where, it still prevails, and horses, whether employed in fast 
or slow work, are at the present time generally shod in the 
way recommended by the Times correspondent. The subject, 
nevertheless, is engrossing the attention of the authorities, 
both professional and public, and efforts are being made by 
them towards assimilating their practice to the English 
model. 
In directing attention to this matter, I think it is better 
to state a few facts rather than enter upon speculations con¬ 
cerning the theory, at least at the present time. 
Some years ago a German nobleman visited England, and 
made special inquiries upon the subject, the result of which 
was, his full conviction that the English system of shoeing 
was the best. By this he understood that, as regards the 
fore shoe, it should have a perfectly level bearing on the foot, 
and also on its ground surface; be well (( seated out,” without 
calkins or knobs, and pierced with, from five to eight nail- 
holes. He told me his story thus: 
For many years he had been in the habit of buying 
English horses, which, at the time of purchase, had good 
action and good feet. After these horses had been at work 
for some time, in his own country, they lost their action, and 
their feet became contracted , without any apparent cause. 
So disappointing a circumstance led him to search thoroughly 
into the whole system of management, but without success. 
At last the thought occurred to him that the cause might 
be in the difference of the method of shoeing in England and 
Germany; and after a careful and thorough study of the 
theory and practice of the art in both countries, he resolved 
to attempt the introduction of the English method in his 
own country, at least so far as his own horses w r ere con¬ 
cerned. 
The difficulties w 7 ere very great. German farriers, and 
not they only, have their own ideas of shoeing, and hold 
them very tenaciously. They fancy all innovation an im¬ 
pertinence, and therefore every suggestion awakens almost 
personal resentment. By dint of perseverance and personal 
superintendence, how ever, the difficulties w ere overcome, and 
ultimately the horses w r ere shod somewhat as they would 
have been in England. Not very long afterwards he began 
to reap the benefit. His horses went better, performed long 
journeys with less fatigue, their joints w T ere less stiff and 
swollen, the feet of the new horses did not become con- 
