The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-11-29
Horse Shooting.

In q state OF nature, or on soft soil,
the crust, bars, frog and sole, all assist
in supporting the weight Of the animal;
and perhaps in the same proportion as
the order in which we have mentioned
them. If it were possible, therefore, to
invent a shoe that would enable these
parts to support weight, in the same
proportion as in u state of nature, this
would certainly be the best shoe that
could be applied. This, however,
seems to be impracticablc, inasmuch rs
it is necessary, in consequence Of its
..,6 to apply e an uniyiel9in :,
select that part which can best support
the weight and bear with the least in
jury the insertion of nails. This part
is the crust, which in u state of
nature supports the greater part Of the
weight, but on the smooth, hard
road is obliged, with occasional eXcep-
tions, to support the whole. 1t is inn
possible to afford the sole that moder-
ate degree of pressure that would be
useful, and therefore we are constrained
to remove it from pressure altogether.
1t is needless to observe how much
the preservation of horses feet depends
on the careful and skillful application
of the shoe independently of its being
constructed on proper principles. Many
horses, with very bad and weak feet,
are enabled to 60 sound for years by
this combination of care and skill,
whilst with bungling hands a single
shoeing would suffice to lame them. 1t
requires considerable tact to fit shoe
properly on bad, weak foot, SO us to
save the weakest parts, and economic
the horn. 1t is very common, when an
attempt at neatness is aimed at, to find
the heels considerably too short, and
corns produced in consequence. At
other times the upper surface of the
heels of the shoe presents a rough de-
preston in the middle, with coarse
projections, two on each side. This is
done in rendering the heels of the shoe
narrower than the other parts, and is a
fruitful cause of corns. We often see
the outside heel of the shoe considera-
bly, within the crust, and the inside
heel without it, from improper fitting;
at other times, the upper surface of the
shoe is extremely rough and irregular,
pressing too hard on some parts, and
not at all on others, the nail-holes per-
haps in the middle of the shoe, and car
ried very near the heels. These are a
few of the faults often exhibited in shoe
ing.
TO fit a shoe properly. it ought to be
made perfectly fiat on the anvil, the
foot surface having been rendered as
smooth as possible; in this state it may
be applied hot, though not red hot, to
the foot, for a few seconds, when the
parts that are above the level are affec-
ted by the heat, and should be reduced.
Some persons object to the application
of the hot shoe to the foot, but their
grounds for objections are more imagi-
nary than real. If the shoe be not too
hot, or too long applied, we can see no
evil likely to follow, and it certainly
enables the smith to get good and
equal bearing for the shoe. The cir
conference Of the shoe ought to CORE
spond exactly with that of the foot; for
the want of which it often happens
that much horn is unnecessarily cut
away, and the natural shape of the hoof
destroyed. The shoes should bear
lightly on the heels, particularly on the
inside of the fore feet, and should ex-
tend about third of its width outside
the horn at this part, SO as to allow for
the expansion and the growth of the
foot. In the hind set care must be
taken that the shoe does not project
beyond the crust on the inside, but
should be rather kept within it, so as to
avoid cutting or interfering.
However well shoe might have been
fitted, it will not answer its purpose,
unless properly nailed on. There is a
great difference in this respect, even in
men that have had the same opportuni.
ties. A bungling hand will perhaps
nail the shoe on, however well fitted
with one heel too much without, and
the other too much within the crust; in
driving his nails, he may make several
attempts at each nail before he sue
ceeds, thus perforating the crust unnec
essarily, and weakening it considerably
or, he may drive the nails too high up
SO that they are altogether buried in thu
crust; or too near the sensitive part, SC
as to occasion lameness; or he may
fasten the shoe on so insecurely that i
comes off in q short time; or he may
nail it on with such force (draw it tot
tight) SO as to lame the horse. A goot
sheer avoids all these faults, mailing OF