Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1895-07-31


the middle all around and hammered
down to the edge. Thus when the
animal lifts its hoof and throws it
forward there is no straight toe to catch
and cause it TO stumble.
Creased shoes are those which have
creases into which the nails are driven
and which protect their heads from
contact with the ground. Stamped
shoes are hammered down ON the edges
The different weight" shoes are to
cause the horse to throw his hoof in
such manner that it will not interfere
with another hoof.
Bar shoes are used on lame horses.
They differ from the other shoes in
that they have bar across the heel
on which the frog rests. The frog is
the life of the hoof and when it be-
comes diseased or for any reason ceases
to perform the function of supplying
nourishment to the horn and joints the
entire hoof is diseased and the horse
gets lame. Nature intended that the
hoof should travel ON the ground and
the soft earth should supply the neces.
sary moisture to the frog. But the
horse is taken out of the pasture and
compelled to travel ON granite blocks
and cobble-stones with the result that
the frog gets little or no moisture and
cannot perform its proper functions.
When this is the case the bar shoe is
reso1ted to, and it Is said to be
n rnD " Iy,
it is necessary to use rubber pads inside
the shoes. These are cut the exact
size of the hoof and tho shoes nailed
over them.
A common cause for lameness among
horses is corns, and they may be grow
ing for several months before they give
evidence of their existence. Horse
shoers closely watch the feet of the
horses they shoe for evidences of these
disturbers, and are often able to get
rid of them before they have done
much injury. Corns on horses $
hoofs usually form just above the heel
and where the hair joins the hoof.
They then grow down into the hoof
as the hoof itself grows. and about
the first knowledge the horseshoer has
of their existence is when he pares the
hoof and uncovers the corn.
1t is often the case that they have
festered while in the hoof. and when
an incision is made large-sized hole
is found. In some establishments oint-
ment is used for the cure of corns, but
in others it is considered best to pro-
tect them from gravel and stones. and
permit them to grow out with the
hoof and be cut off with it. The shoes
on Arabian horses, which are required
to go long distances in the hot sand,
are solid pieces of iron, an opening
being left only for the frog. They
are fastened to the hoof with uusightly
looking nails, and altogether are cum
bersome affairs, yet they serve the pur
pose of protection to the hoof. After
the old shoe has been taken off, the
hoof pared and the new shoe fitted.
the skill of the horseshoer comes into
play in driving the new shoe. Some
times nails are driven up an inch, and
good foorman could easily drive a
nail its full length without injury to
the hoof, while man who did not
know his business might ruin the hoof
before he had hit the nail twice with
the hammer.
The nail penetrates only the wall or
horn of the hoof. This is about three
eighths of an inch thick and covers
the entire hoof. Inside this the coffin
bone fits. 1t is to distinguish between
the sensitive coffin bone and the insen-
sitive horn that the apprentice must
study the formation of the hoof and
attend the veterinary lectures. The
usual method is to drive the nails
about three. quarters of an inch and
in such manner that they will come
out when they have gone that far.
The ends are then pinched off, the
under side rasped little and then
clinched down over the hoof to prevent
the shoe pulling off. This done the
horse is again turned over to the ap-
prentice, who trims off the rough edges
with a rasp, and the horse is ready for
the street. Shoes should not be per-
mitted to remain too long ON horse
foot. The hoof is continually grow
ing and the old shoe may cause de-
formity or serious lameness.
The light shoes for PAGERS and trot-
ters which are driven on the streets
and boulevards do not last more than
five or six days, when they are worn
out And the lighter the shoe the
more it costs. because its forging and
mailing requires more work and skill.
so that owners of fast horses have q
considerable expense in shoeing bills
alone in the course of year.
Running horses on race tracks as q
rule do not wear their shoes except
when in a race. and they wear differ
entity constructed shoes for different
conditions of the track. = Chicago
Record.
Little Beth had gone into the coun
try. "You must keep an awful lot o.