Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-07-07
Shoelng the Horse.

As far back - history records, the do
mestic horse has been shod to increase
his usefulness. There are at least three
reasons why horses are shod, namely, e
correct defects in their gait, to preven
excessive wear of their hoofs, and t
give them secure hold on the ground
Here In New England 1t is the common
practice to shoe the colt when he 10 frs
put to serious work, and to keep hin
shod as long as he lives. In most case'
this is done rather as matter OF ha6i
than from a consideration of the actua
requirements of the case. There Is NJ
doubt but what under some circum
stances some horses are better withou
shoes than with them.
The shoeing of the horse may be re
garded as a necessary evil. 1t always
results in more or less injury to the feet
aud it is important in these days OF hlgf
priced horses that they be so carefully
shod as to make this injury the leas
possible.
In giving directions for shoelne
horses with normal feet, We can do NJ
better than to quote the following rule'
which are given by DR.. F. Smith in hi
manual of Veterinary Physiology. DIR
Smith is a member of the veterinar!
staff Of the Epglish army.
l. The reduction of the wall to III
proper proportions, such as would nave
occurred through friction had no shoe
been worn.
2. Fitting the shoe accurately to ths
outline of the foot, and not rasping
away the exterior of the crust to mt the
shoe, since this not only renders fhs
horn brittle, but is 80 much loss OF bear
ing surface.
5. The exterior of the wall should bt
left intact. The practice of rasping the
wall for the sake of appearance destroys
horn, and allows of such considerable
evaporation from the surface OF the fool
that the part becomes brittle.
q The sole should not be touched
with the knife; it cannot be too thick, al
it is there for the purpose OF protection
5. The bars should not be cut away
they are part of the wall and intended tc
carry weight. The shoe should rest or
them.
6. The foot-pad should not be cut
but left to attain its full growth. Nc
foot. pad can perform its functions unless
on level with the ground surface OF the
shoe.
7. The pattern of the shoe is imma
terial 80 long as 1t has true and leve
bearing, and rests we'll and firmly on the
wall and bars. We believe the simpler
the shoe, the better, viz, one fiat on
both ground and foot surface. 1t should
be secured with no more nails than are
absolutely necessary, as the nails de-
stroy the horn; further, the nails should
not be driven higher than needful, fol
high mailing is ruinous to feet.
Such, briefly, are the conditions which
fulfil physiological shoeing.
Young horses need shoeing oftenel
than older ones, and all horses should bt
shod more frequently in summer than In
winter, as their feet are growing faster
at that time. II horses are to be shod
at all, they should be shod often enough
30 that the shoes will at all times fit the
feet. If the hoof is allowed to grow toe
long-Rithout being cut back, the shoe
which formerly fitted is likely to injurt
the foot by pressing on the sole inside oi
the heel, thus giving rise to what ID
known as corns.
Some teams that have naturally good
feet can frequently do their work per
fectly we'll without shoeing, thus saving
expense and preventing injury to theil
feet.-Dr. F. L. Russell, Professor OF
Veterinary Science U. of M. College ol
Agriculture.