The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-06-07
Remarks ON the Shooting Of Horses,

and when palpable harm has resulted.
The first requirement in q man who un-
dertakes to shoe horses is knowledge of
the component parts of the foot, its nor
NAL form, and its movements when in ex-
ertiOn: this may seem too mnch to exact
from men to whom little opportunity to
scQuire the knowledge has been given.
We are only stating, however, what is
required, knowing we'll that for while
less must necessarily be accepted. The
art of shooting horses is one that demands
the application of mind no less than of
hand and arm work. Some of the most
essential rules are very simple, and such
as common sense might be expected to
dictate.
The first undertaking rule to be carried
out in shoeing is, that the natural bearing
surface be given to the foot-any devia-
ton disturbs the line of bearing, not in
the foot alone, but in the whole limb. To
carry out this rule in practice, the depth
of the hOof in all Its parts, front, quarters
and heels, must be adapted under AN in
telligent understanding; this done, the
bottom circumference OF the foot is there
by regulated. The man who understands
how to do this part is most likely to know
how to adapt shoe accordingly. In the
earliest stages of horse-shoeing, and in
those countries where, up to the present
time, the art has undergone the least
change, they studied the way that the
hOOf was worn, and modelled their shoe In
accordance.
A thorough knowledge of how to pre-
pare the horses foot-the first and i'm
portant step in the process of shoeing-
-presuppOses an intimate understanding
of the whole process; the m0lding or Civ
ing form to the shoe, may be always we'll
done when the workman has an under.
standing of what is required. In no two
horses are the feet exactly alike, yet in
their essential functions all act and are
governed by the same law. If the sub
ject were well understood. since there are
no two ways of telling the truth or inter.
preting q physiological law, there would
not be q thousand different opinions in the
same country Is to how q horses foot
should be cut and carved away every
month.
There is q very taking phrase always
used by people who wish to be thought
wise about shoeing, viz: That the shoe is
to be fitted u the foot, not the foot to the
shoe. If there is any truth in that
saying, it does not lie 90 near the
surface as is generally supposed. In
preparing the horses foot to be shOd,
the requirement in the skill Of
the operator above all is, that he should
know the right form and required bear
ing surface of that particular foot; he
has, in fact, as much to give the bearing
surface to the foot, a. he will afterward
have to adapt the shoe to it; the foot sur
face and that of the iroE shoe to he ap-
piled are entirely dependent on the skill
and understanding of the sh0er, and on
these mainly depends the success Of the
whole process.
We will 60 little farther in explana-
ton. When we have adjusted the foot,
whether 1t be sound or an I'M sound one,
We proceed to adapt our shoe according.
~, and If the understanding aud manual
skill are efficient the shoe will be brought
to the foot in every way nodded To tts re-
quirements. In approximatinx the two
surfaces, which is always done once or
twice, and, If necessary, more frequently,
till the adaptation IL complete, we just ~
much review the foot - We do the shoe.
and may in the critical process with -
much pr0priety file away little hoof -
we may In another case bend the iron un-
der tie hammer. In either case, It d
necessarily an adaptation Of surfaces; the
foot in the first part of the preparation
being approximately finished, - the shoe
when first tried Is the same. In answer
to the question, What parts Of the hoof
are to be removed we should say a0NS,
only 90 far as is necessary to give the cir.
conference and due proportion to the
whole hoof. This we may say cannst al
ways be effected; unfortunately, ashoses'
feet come to our hands, We find such de.
flciency, through destruction Of parts. and
not unfrequently . general debility
throughout the whole hoof, that We can
only make the best use Of what remains.
False position given to the horses foot,
and ill-adapted shoes, produce injuries
proportionate to the exertion to which the
animal is exposed. The shoe pinches the
soldier on march-not 90 much the gen.
tleman in his carriage. The horse tina,
works moderately suffers prppQrti0nately
less from the i'll effects Of shooting. 81
strong and % exQuisitely beautiful are the
structures that but for the gr0ssest error
horses would mot suffer, and soon become
useless, - now.
! When horse ID judiciously and sqita