Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1914-11-25
SHOEING THE HORSE.
81 80, r. u Russell, professor of veter mary
s,So,eb1ee' u OF M, Farmers Week Co urse.


As far back as history records. the do
mestic horse has been shod to increase his
usefulness. There are at least three rea-
sons why horses are shod, namely-to
correct defects ain-their gait, to prevent
excessive wear of their hoofs, nd to give
them secure hold on the ground.
Here in New England it is the common
practice to shoe the colt when he is first
put to serious work and to keen him shod
as long as he lives. In most cases this
is zone rather as a matter OF habit. than
from consideration of the actual re-
quirements OF the case. There is no
doubt but what under some circumstances
some horses are better without shoes than
with them.
The shoeing OF the horse may be re-
garded as necessary evil. 1t always re-
suits in more or less injury to the feet,
and 1t is important in these days of high
priced horses that they be so carefully shod
as to make this injury the least possible.
In giving directions for shoeing horses
with. normal feet, we can do no better
than to quote the following rules which
are given by DIR. F. Smith in his manual
OF veterinary physiology. DIR. Smith is a
member OF the veterinary staff OF the
English army.
i. The, reduction OF the wall to its
proper proportions, such as would have
occurred through friction had no shoe
been worn.
2. Fitting the shoe accurately to the
outline OF the foot, and not rasping away
the exterior OF the crust to fit the shoe,
since this not only renders the horn
brittle, but is so much loss OF bearing sur
face.
8. The exterior OF the wall should be
left intact. The practice of rasping the
wall for the sake OF appearance destroys
the horn, and allows of such considera Bile
evaporation from the surface OF the foot
that the part becomes brittle.
A. The sole should not be touched with
the knife; it cannot be too thick, as it is
there for the purpose of protection.
5. The bars should not be cut away,
they are part OF the wall, and intended to
carry weight. The shoe should rest on
them.
8. The foot-pad should not be cut, but
left to obtain its full growth. No foot pad
can perform its functions unless on level
with the ground surface OF the shoe.
I. The pattern Of the shoe is immaterial
so long as 1t has true and level bearing,
and rests well and firmly on the wall and
bars. We believe the simpler the shoe the
better, viz, one fiat on both ground and
foot surface. II should be secured with
no more nails than are absolutely neces-
say, as the nails destroy the horn; further,
the nails should not be driven higher than
needful, for high mailing is ruinous to
feet.
Such, briefly, are the conditions which
fulfil physiological shoeing. Young
horses need shooting oftener than older
ones, and all horses should be 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 so that the
shoe will at all times fit the feet. Ii
the hoof is allowed 10 grow TOO long with
out being cut back, the shoe which
formerly fitted is likely to injure the foot
by pressing on the sole inside OF the heel,
thus giving rise to what is known as
corns.
Some teams that have naturally good
feet can frequently do their work per-
fectly well without shoeing, thus saving
expense and preventing injury to their
feet.