The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-06-28

outside of the hoof. I first learned it
from the standard authors on shoeing,
and again from the British Army Vet
erinrry School, where all shoers with
the necessary certificate of education
are sent for a course Of instruction. At
the time I was serving my apprentice
ship George Fleming vas principal
veterinary to the army, and the teach
ing Enculcated in his prize essay on
shoeing was strictly enforced, and /
assure you it was all q shoer's position
was worth TO rasp the outside Of foot.
l boldly proclaim that rasping theout=
side OF the hoof in 80 per cent. of the
cases is not only unnecessary, unscien-
tiRc and useless, but absolutely injuri-
Gus TO the feet.
Where rasping is allowed a little
ia taken off now, q little at the next
shoeing, and so on, and the frst thing
you know there is but little hoof left to
work on. The fact ia, every time you
rasp the outside Of the wall you are
simply rasping away what you will
need to nail to at subsequent shoeings.
Did you ever notice that when q
horse is brought back to the shop lame
from a prick or press of a nail, the first
thing that strikes us ia how very thin
the wall is, and this very circumstance
forces us to the conclusion that if there
had only been a little more to nail to
that horse would not have been pricked.
Then don't diminish the thickness Of
the wall with the rasp; leave it q sthick
as nature made il.
I would especially advise the appren-
tice to demonstrate this lesson for him
self. Get a dead hoof prepare it for
shoeing; take a shoe, cut it in half at
the toe, &c one half accurately to the
hoof and nail on without rasping; now
ht the other half considerably within
the margin of the hoot-as ia too often
done-nan this on to the other side Of
the hoof; then rasp off the wall until it
fits the shoe. Now take q saw and cut
the foot through from side to side, and
from top to bottom just over the quar-
ter nails. / know Of nothing which
more fully demonstrates theNfolly of
fitting the hoof to the shoe. But this
is not all. When you rasp you destroy
that hard, enamellike surface which
encases the outside of the hoof and
thereby lay bare the longitudinal fbers
of the wall, thus exposing them to the
drying influence Of the atmosphere,
which admits Of evaporation Of those
adhesive properties which in q healthy
state bind the fbers Of the wall so
firmly together. This is one OF the
causes of brittle hoofs.
Now let me speak of q few cases
where rasping can be indulged in to ad
vantage.
First-Where the hoof has grown
~abnormally large and spreading to
wards the ground surface. Second
With the laminitae type of foot, where,
owing to the altered position Of the
anatomy, aud che deranged function
Of the secretory apparatus, the boot
grows continually long and fat at the
toe, with scarcely any heel. Third-It
may be found necessary to rRsp a por-
tion of the outer wall in order to re-
store the hoof to its natural position,
or to assist in preventing interfering,
but in all such cases the amount to be
taken off must be determined by sound
reasoning and good ldgment, and,
albeit, should always be done before
the shoe is applied, and on no account
should be used as an excuse for fitting
the hoof to the shoe.
Now, I know it takes time tG ft
shoes to the hoot. You may find il
necessary to go twice to a foot where
once would have been sufficient.
Horseshoers should show that they be.
long to a progressive age. Let US EN-
brace every opportunity that is new if
we find it better than the old; let US
prove to the horse-owning public that
our association is not, as some have
said, a gigantic trust for raising the
price Of shOeing. Let us show by the
excellence of our workmanship that
better work deserves better pay; let us
prove by every word and deed that we
are actuated by higher and grander
motives than the mere love Of the
money grubber.