Horseshoe

Horse-shoe, an iron rim of varying pattern used to protect the hoofs of horses. For a foot in good condition all that is needed is a plain shoe of about the same length and breadth throughout, well adapted to the shape of the foot. The "seated shoe," wider than the plain shoe, and therefore more serviceable in the case of horses with weak or flat soles, consists of a flat surface on which the crust rests and an inner portion sloping towards the sole. The shoes should be renewed after intervals of a month at longest. The removal of the old shoe requires great care. The subsequent paring should be confined to the rasping of the wall surface on which the shoe has rested, the removal of the overgrown portions of the foot by means of the drawing-knife, and a final rasping round the lower edge of the crust after the shoe has been clinched. Except in the case of farm-horses employed on soft ground, the portion of the foot which has been exposed seldom needs cutting. The sole, frog, and bars should all be carefully preserved. As a general rule, five nails are sufficient, but when the horse has to draw heavy burdens seven or eight are necessary. To prevent tripping, the shoes for the fore-feet should be turned up a little at the toes. The hind-shoes are frequently turned down at the heels, and the inside heel is usually thickened.