The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-06
THE HOOP Is THE THING.
SoME IYFoRMI TION FROM A SCIEN-
1IEIC HORSESHOER.
Evpsrt David RoborS, nnd hi. Forthcon.

Ing Book, which Has Reen Prepared
with tho Help Of Mr.. Robert Bonner.
In describing tho city bln 'lsmlth and his
ways last week, THG Sun Gayo n general
idea o! tho superior knowledge required to
shoe horses properly In this citv. In a general
way tho simple lila that aIcct tho hoois OF
horses In tho country 4, cbmnl"ed with those
In tho ct;T wNco oGt!iNcd and tho credit duo
tho city Blacksmith was awarded 10 him. But
since lhea .urtner Interesting In ormntlon has
reached T't& SgS. which will opcn the eyes Of
tho general reader TO tho Importance OF the ap.
phrently simple ar: OF horse .hucing
Tho person through whom this information
comoG IL Mr.. David Rphorch, known to every
owner OF nnr horses and every sporting man
IN the city. Mr.. tobcrge is usually termed tho
soientin1 horseshoer. In appearance ho Is n
typical blacksmith. His large flame is well
Get of bv n massive heal and his features are
built on large scale. Long Erayish-black
DundrSary whiskors descend ~ about the
middle button of his wnistcoat and lend i'm
pressiYeness to his appearance. His kindly
eyes although slow in movement, beam with
Intelligence Ito has tho brawny arms and
sinewv hands OF tho typical blacksmith, and
yet he never shoes horses himself aud works
with his head only.
Mr. Iiobergo is Of Fronch extraction and was
born In Canada, He has for years superin-
tended the shoeinC Of all Of Mr. Robert Bon
nor's horsos, including Mnud s., and latterly
Suncl. Al ono tIme when the famous mare
went lamo, Mr.. bonner, instead Of calling in
the aid OF veterinary surgeon. turned to his
blacksmith and allowed him TO use his arts in
effccting n cure.
Dir. Robergc ia now writing scientific trea-
tiso on horseshoeing, in pursuance OF Mr..
Bonner's advice and with his assistance. Once
t,ri,a tbaaa III
matters have n conference upon the subject OF
this book. and the work for the following days
is outlined. Usually these meetings arc held
In the evening ut Mr.. Boomers home.
Mr. RoberGe indicates his own plan for
the following chapter and relates or reads
what he has written since he last met Mr..
Bonner. The latter listens. criticises, and ad-
vises. When the book is finally finished. Mr.
Bonner will edit It carefully and prepare 1t for
publication. Very likely it will be published
through tho house which he founded
Mr.. RoberGe has most profound respect for
Mr.. Bonner'e knowledge about the proper way
OF shoeing What don't know about shoe
ing" said Mr.. RoberGe recently, Mr. Bonner
does: and between the two OF US, guess we
come rs near perfection as IA possible"
Tho book 10 many respects s revolutionary
and opposed to tho hitherto accepted princi-
pies aud theoI les OF veterinary surgeons Mr..
RoberGe has spent the past forty years in the
study OF hOrseshOeing. When he was u boy
his father. who owned an extensive farm in
Canada and a largo number of horses. had q
blacksmiths shop OF his own on tho farm.
Here Mr.. Roberge learned to shoe horses when
he was only II years old. While thus engaged
he met with an accident TO one shoulder that
has versince prevented his doing any shooting
with his own hands. Since he set up as u
It
horses merely for the purpose OF studying
their feet and hoofs and the effects upon them
OF various kinds OF ho'seshoes. The idea at
the bottom Of his system Is n simple one He
insists that ali the ills Of 0 horses foot. and
many OF tho horses leg. require mechanical
and not medical treatment. 1t is the smith and
not the surgeon, in his estimation, who should
be called in to treat the many troubles which
:, " 1t Is very difficult" said Mr Roberge to
The reporter: TO explain IN q few words the
theories which have resulted from the rxpe-
me- o. forty years But can do no be ter
than give YOU general outline of the book
,.ulch am now. writin!; with Mr.. Bonnsrs as
II s constructed so that it Is completely en-
c!sei IL = , box which W: cal the hot. The
posed bH. on the leaments which connect the
ineid" of tho hoof which dovetaiI With those on
the top OF the loot. The lines of the outside OF
ho.s.,s h2 # saHw the location. of the lR4:
to the we'll being of the horse ia that these liga-
ments -houl remain healthy and undisturbed.
are parfect but they are subject to change
within two or three weeks thereafter. Any dis
the standing and the gait of the horse. Ii also
causes spnSia rinG6one. 6uckling, and many
nv own ex"srenre have arTtved al tb % c6n
oiuson that every nd ricaldefect In the hoof re-
suits in nine troubles in the limbs Every I'M
Ovenness In the hoOf reflects in the foot
" II the lignments are bli-tered or Injured In
any way very serious troubles follow. This is
alright box. and no relief can come to the in
Iuries, because there is room Tor neither swell
part Is q' to swell S2 2d IN hat
way relief 10 &c tain extent is obtained. But
4 there were heavy air-tight covering over
any direction the healing process would be e.
tarded. That 10 the trouble with the horses
them and gives them no opportunity TO swell.
The result is that where an In ury to liga-
sore. and presently Affects ali the neigh boring
ligaments Sometimes the entire hoof has to
be removed. This is the case sometimes with
The first shoe ever made for horse was
ply . leather covering. Under the changing
conditions OF civilization, however. this shoe
used in travelling over STONES and the A usual
forms Of navements In the, cities, and an iron
shoe was Invented. Finally 1t became known
to tho world that a simple band OF steel or iron
on the hoof was as much protection as was |
needed, and 1t remains to-day" Mr.. Roberge |
said that for ordinary horses the manufactured |
shoe was as good as any, and for our paving |
made to order
had q case once" said Mr., Roberge "of |
q horse whose foot was Injured In such a way |
that could not get at It and could not treat It
moved the sole Of the hooi entirely, and. nav
ing dxed 1t properly. l put on a lenther sole |
horse. and his friends would hardly believe It |
possible that had done that. They had taken |
she horse to the best veterinary surgeons In |
the city. who had all been unable to do any |
f1Hl 4