Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-09-15
Balm Kennfher 3ournaI.
HORSE sHoEISG.

The only qualification for good horse
sheer, in the minds of many, is to bind on
the shoe so that no clinches shall rise or
the shoe loosen till it is the pleasure of
the owner of the horse to have the shoes
removed. This can be done by not head
ing back the hoof, and hard burning on
the shoe, but the expansion of the hooi is
at once stopped, the cords Of tho leg I'M
duly taxed, and it is only question Of
time when lameness will follow. A sound
horse Is an exception rather than rule ;
q contracted hoof is fruitful source of
lameness in the limbs; even the whole
body is in sympathy with the feet aud
legs, and the most disinterested observer
knows that it costs much more to keep in
good flesh a lame horse.
There are other causes Of lameness con-
nected with shoeing. Unskilled work in
dressing the hoof None but those who
are acquainted with the anatomy of the
hoof should undertake this surgical opera
ton. All hoofs cannot be treated alike,
and the operator must not only know his
business, but like it, so as to give il his
undivided attention. Better by far nail
on the shoes in careless way. as did our
fathers, If they tumble off in week, than
cramp and pinch to make the hoof look
pretty. We should not overlook the fact
that nature never designed shooting, and
only for protection is the shoe needed
Nature provides better and faster for
the toe Of the boot than the other parts,
~ here is needed the most protection
against the wear. and this should be head
ed back with judicious hand; but the
clinches and shoe will not remain 80 firm.
as before stated. IL is Of the opinion of
some of the best judges that we should
have fewer lame horses with no shoeing
We would or could not entirely do
away with shoeing. but if we should, in a
very few years. there would be Il wonder
tul change for the better, not only in the
hoofs of our horses. but in the pasterns
and upper joints The wild horses Of the
south and west give US fine specimens OF
hoofs and limbs Colts, before they are
shod. will glide over the ice much better
than they will after they are shod with a
dull calk, not that we advocate driving
horses over ice without calks. but to bring
out the fact that the horny boot that hard
ems up in winter so as to stand upon the
ice, grows in summer very fast, and will
supply a vast amount of horn for actual
service il unencumbered with shoe and
its attendant evils.
Then again iron is probably the worst
of all the metals 10 corrode the hoof
Nero. eighteen hundred years ago. shod
horses with gold, and was called II fool.
Probably he shod only his favorites with
this Metal, and might have known the
evils of iron on the hoof who can tell us
the contrary? Certainly the works OF art
of his day are the wonder of the world.
and may we not doubt whether we better
understand the art of shoeing than those
of bygone centuries. We find old Eng
lish works on this subject. (shoeing)
that were written nearly a century ago
that better accord with our long experience
of over fifty years then the most mordern
productions. Go into almost any shop with
a lame horse, and the smith will condemn
the last workman. Both cannot be right lone
or the other is ignorant if honest. Should
that be so in the nineteenth century with
our twenty-five thousand dollar horses?
A lawyer is not allowed to practice in
petty case involving ten dollars without
passing certain examination. Why not
extend this rule to other professions, and
we~shall have less quackery and higher
attainments in the usetu and important
arts.
In conclusion we do not claim that all
areunfit for their calling, but should there
not be a test or examination in order to
practice any and every important profess
sion, that the public may be assured that
they shall not be imposed upon.