Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1878-12-26
On Horse-shoeing.
EDS. HERALD:

EDS. HERALD:
have thought few hints on horse
shoeing might not be out of place.
never seea horse but that notice his feet.
To non-observant, he would not readily
see the errors made by the blacksmith.
do believe that there is not one black
smith in a dozen, and not one horseman
In fifty, who give this any study. I never
let boy shoe horse for me, and, am
sorry to say, that but few old smiths
know how to shoe a horse correctly. do
net think any person should be permitted
to handle horses foot until he had Civ
en- it some study. OF late, when a young
man goes to learn blacksmithing, the
first thing he.does, after blowing the bel
lows awhile, is to shoe a horse; when, in
deed, it should be the last thing under
taken. On the other hand, a man goes
to the shop with his horse, and tells the
smith to shoe him, and goes away. When
he comes back the 'tjob'' is done. He may
or he may not look at the foot. Often the
shoe has been on from three to six months
"a shoe should never be left on for more
than two months); it comes off, and is
lost, the horse limps, and the owner
takes him back to the shop to have the
same thing done.
Compare the horse with ourselves. It
is true, the horse has no toes, and not so
many bones in the foot; yer, how would
we feel with one shoe or boot twice as
heavy as the other? Or with the heel
under the middle of the foot? Or with
nail "a pegJ pricking the foot at every
step? These things see every day. 1
once had little horse that weighed about
800 pounds shod, and in short time he
took to stumbling. 1 could not but think
the horse was sound; yet l knew there
was cause. then began studying the
horse 1 noticed that he walked as though
he had weights attached to his feet, and
| concluded that the shoes were too heavy
for so small horse; had them taken
of, and they weighed thirty-four ounces
then had a pair put on to order. In the
| first place, 1 had them made of old horse
shoes, welded together; theseI had ham
mered into the width and thickness
wished the shoes. took particular pains
to have the shoes fit the foot, and when
done they weighed seventeen ounces; So
| ounces each had no callIs put on them
but just had the heels turned; keep the
shoe level on the side next to foot. A light
steel toe was then put on. Six nails are
enough in any reasonable sized shoe. II
is generally the fourth nail that makes
the horse lame. The shoes were left OH
| two months, and never knew him to
stumble in the whole time. | always have
lighter shoes for the hind than for the
fore feet. If one shoe breaks or loses of
L get two new ones. always keeping the
feet alike. Another thing I am particu.
lar about: always stand by my horse
and never allow the smith to slap, JERK
or speak harshly to him. 1 have seer
young horses of much promise badly
spoilt by being roughly handled when be
ing shod. Sometimes horses are greatly
frightened by having the shoes put on the
foot while very hot. This should never
be done. Not unfrequeutly is horse
made to fear the smith by his kicking the
foot when he wishes the horse to raise it
One thing 1 wish to notice: No horst
need FFinterfere'' when properly shod
Simply MAKE IL4S AS0lS- I WiIllOub CdlhSI d
close as possible, the inside of the sho
being little straighter than the outside
and some thicker. To make the insid
half of the shoe thicker, do it by making
it narrower, thereby not making it an.
heavier. This is all that is necessary. 1
the foot is ssshoof-bound," don't have i
shod to effect cure, but take the shoe OF
and make strong brine, of salt, waite
: and lime Gust little lime), and pour
on the bottom and all over the hoof, thre
times a day. Another idea,::and redic
ulous one, too, is taking the shoes off an
letting the horse run idle, that the hoe
may become harder. A horses hoof cor
tinues to grow, just as our f1nger-nails dc
A new hoof is formed in from u to I
months; some horses feet growing taste
than others. So you see, to take the shoe
, off effects nothing, more than to keep til
foot shorter. &C. G.