Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-07-08
Horse ShOeing.

Excellence in any branch of bust
ness. whether it be in the field OF letters,
mon the farm or in the workshop, is new
or attained without careful study of the
principles so thoroughly incorporated into
every trade, art or profession. We can
bungle and patch, work at a job, and, in
our ignorance, at length believe that 1t is
sufficiently well done, but without thor
ough understanding of all that is required
Of us, and hand made skillful by care
full practice, little is performed that the
task demands, and many mistakes are
committed that should not be tolerated.
And more especially is this true when ap-
piled to horse-shoeing in the country. We
know not how well the work is done for
our city cousins, but we will assert that
the farmer in our country town pays for
nothing that is SO imperfectly done as the
work upon the feet OF his horses. Is 1t
strange that we are not accustomed to see
good Jobs in this branch of the black
smiths trade? Take our blacksmiths as
a class, and not one-tenth of the number
ever read a standard treatise upon the sub
iect They know no more about the use
Of the different parts of the foot Of a horse
than they do about shoeing an elephant.
Asarule, the owners of these faithful
servants of man are no better informed
upon this subject than the men to whom
they intrust the Performance of this impOr-
tant task They hitch their horses in the
shop and let the smith do the work to suit
himself, believing that the man that makes
his shoes stick to the feet the longest is the
best horse sheer. l once heard aneighbor
Of mine make the remark: &C. shall en-
Mr. 10, nf q
to my colt and not one of them came oil
for nine MONTHS
A man who will be guilty of such cruel
ty ought to be compelled to wear a pair OF
tight boots night and day for the same
length Of time In this particular the
owners of horses have only themselves TO
blame. No fixed rule can be given to
govern us as TO the length of time that the
shoes can be left on, even If we suppose
all horses feet to be sound. Some horses
ought TO be shod as often as every four or
five weeks, while others will wear their
shoes two months with little danger of
injury. The latter, however, should be
regarded as the limit TO the time that they
can be neglected with safety. There are
so many other points which we wish to
notice in connection with this subject that
work is to be performed, and learn, II we
can, whether or not the owners OF horses
are alone to be blamed for the almost
numberless unsound feet to be found in
the horse-barns throughout the country.
But little time is required for US to OBJ
serve that all horses are shod alike, re-
CARELESS of size, shape, or condition OF the
feet, or habit in travelling. The shoes are
all beveled or not beveled, the same num-
Der and size of nails are used for all kinds
Of hoofs. and dozen other points con-
nected with the job are carried through
in the same manner in all instances, when
it is quite probable that out of the dozen
horses in neighborhood the shOeing OF
no two should be done alike. Though il
is not possible to lay down positive rules
to carry the workman entirely through
this job, yet there are few suggestions
that it will be well for farmers 10 remem.
Der and insist upon their being observed
by their horse-shoers:
Ftrst-lf the foot is not diseased, the
frog should never be pared.
iSecoRd--Never allow shoe to touch the
foot when 1t is hot enough TO burn the
hoof.
1htrd-If the hoof is thin or brittle, use
small nails, ana Except on large feet Sin
nails are enough.
Fourtt-Do not rasp the hoof higher
than the clinches.
FUh-Fit the shoe to follow the exac
form Of the hoof, taking care that no iron
projects beyond the crust of the heel.
Strth-Do not pare or rasp the sole only
what is necessary to make level seating
for the shoe.
Serenth-When pulling off the shoes, i
possible, pull each nail separately.
Though the above enumerated sugges
tons should all be observed In nearly al
cases, yet they are far from being com
plete. This piece of work to be properly
done requires some previous know.edg'
bearing upon the subject, care, skill and
withal, a little judgment and common
sense. 1t will not be money i'll spent fol
every farmer TO purchase some good WORK