The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 13

Appendix. — Shoeing Horses

Appendix.

Shoeing Horses.

In a colony like this, where persons belonging to almost every grade of society become owners of horses, it is essentially necessary that some system of shoeing should be followed which would prevent those diseases appearing in the hoof which so often shorten the period of a horse's useful services, and sometimes bring his life to a premature and painful termination.

When the possessor of a horse or horses finds it necessary to change his farrier, he may possibly discover that the method of shoeing has also been changed, by which change he may be made either a sufferer or a gainer, and not knowing anything about the practice himself he may in vain look at his horse's feet for an explanation.

The practice of "side-nailing," which is becoming very general, has been recommended by Miles and Turner, two great authorities on the treatment of the hoof and on shoeing. This practice, among other advantages, has the recommendation of not interfering with the expansion of the hoof when the foot is in motion, and this has been found of paramount importance.

A very slight explanation of the structure of the hoof will show the reader the evil results that have ever followed the practice of confining the foot of a horse by nailing on a shoe in such a manner that expansion is impossible. There are three bones in the hoof; these rest partially or wholly on a soft elastic matter, called the "fatty frog." This matter is supported and kept in its place by the frogstay, which again rests on the outer frog. When a horse raises his foot, a flexor tendon, acting under the bones alluded to, slightly raises them from the cushion on which they rest, and when the foot returns to the ground the bones fall back on the cushion, which receives the weight of the animal on its yielding bed. This bed being elastic, of course presses against the walls of the hoof, and these being horny expand. The expansion and contraction may be very Blight; but they take place for a purpose which need not be further alluded to at present than by stating that it is necessary for the free circulation of the blood in the hoof. Now, any system that interferes with the free action of the hoof must produce lameness, therefore the "side-nailing system" has been adopted, as it is supposed that this method leaves the inner quarter of the hoof perfectly free. In "side-nailing" three nails are driven in the outer side of the hoof (that is of the fore-foot), and two nails on the inner side near the toe. The shoe is made long enough to support the extremity of the heel, but no longer. It must also fit close to the hoof all round, and none of it must be allowed to extend beyond the outer wall. In preparing the hoof for the shoe care must be taken that the pressure is even on all parts of the shoe; the frog must not be touched with the drawing knife, and the sole only relieved of those hard and flinty portions which would have been scaled off by contact with the ground, had the horse remained unshod; the nails should not be driven high up in the hoof; both Turner and Miles assert that this practice does not keep the shoe on more firmly than if they were clinched nearer to it; and the rasp must not be used outside the hoof for any purpose whatsoever—The use of it in such a way has a destructive tendency only. The reason why three nails are driven on the outer wall and only two on the inner near the toe is this—the hoof is thicker and more exuberant on the outer quarter and the toe than it is anywhere else. (I am alluding to the fore-foot.) The inner quarter is considered the wearing part of the foot; it is supposed to be constantly undergoing change by a more rapid process than that which affects the outer quarter, and, being weaker, the pressure of the nails against it, and the destruction of its expansive quality, leads to the formation of corns,—the falling in of the heel and quarter, the conversion of the fatty frog into a hard substance,—and, finally, to the establishment of that fatal result of all bad shoeing—the navicular disease.

It is not at all uncommon to hear persons complain of their horses' feet and legs having been knocked to pieces by the hard roads, when, in fact, the hard roads have had nothing whatever to do with them, the whole mischief having been done at the farrier's forge. In stating this I am far from blaming the farriers. They have pursued various systems, all of which they believe to be good; and I am certain that there is not a class of persons more willing or anxious to do their duty to their employers and the public than our farriers are; but it is not always possible for these persons to procure the expensive works that issue from the press treating on the subject of shoeing, and even if they could obtain an insight into these publications, they have not sufficient time to devote to the study of them. There are few trades more laborious than that of a blacksmith and farrier; their fires are burning late and early, the sound of their hammers is ringing in the ear sometimes before sunrise and often long after dark, and it is not to be expected that these industrious persons can snatch a few hours from rest and leisure to pursue a course of study; but if the owners of horses who have leisure time would look into some books treating on shoeing, and impart the knowledge they derive in a practical way to the shoers of their horses, they would be conferring a benefit on society, and they would also secure safety for themselves and comfort for their horses. With but very little instruction any owner of a horse would be able, when the animal came from the forge, to see whether he was properly shod or not. On lifting the hoof he could see if the shoe pressed equally on all parts of the wall, if the inner quarter was free from nails and not in any way confined, if the frog was untouched, if the heels were not extending beyond the shoe, and if the sole had been carefully divested of hard scales and left in a state to yield sufficiently to the pressure of the end of the coffin-bone, so as to relieve the concussion when the whole weight of the animal descended on that point.

I am perfectly aware that in quoting Turner and Miles I am selecting from a great number of writers on the hoof of the horse only two authors, and that other writers do not entirely agree with them; but as their system seems to me the best, and is, in my opinion, supported by able reasoning, I have put it before the public in the hope that some good may come out of it.