ve plenty of room for the frog; the heels to be spread out as wide as possible.

This is important, for if the shoe is wide between the heels the horse will stan
d more firm, and it will be to him a comfortable shoe. The shoe should not be wi
der between the calks at the expense of same, as is done by some shoers, for thi
s is only a half calk, and the heel is no wider. The shoe should not be fitted t
o the foot when hot, as it will injure the hoof if it is burned to the foot.
HOW TO PREPARE THE FOOT FOR THE SHOE
The foot should be level, no matter what the fault is with the horse. The hoof s
hould not be cut down more than the loose scales will allow. In a healthy condit
ion this scale is a guide. When the foot is diseased it is different, and the sh
oer must use his own judgment.
The frog never grows too large. It should never be trimmed more than just to rem
ove any loose scales.
The frog in its functions is very important to the well-being of the foot. In th
e unshod foot it projects beyond the level of the sole, always in contact with t
he ground; it obviates concussion; supports the tendons; prevents falls and cont
raction. The bars are also of importance, bracing the hoof, and should never be
cut down as has been the practice for centuries by ignorant horse-shoers.
FORGING
Forging or overreaching is a bad habit, and a horse with this fault is now very
valuable. This habit can be overcome by shoeing; but it will not be done making
the shoes short on the heel in front and short in the toe behind. Never try this
foolish method.
To overcome forging the shoer should know what forging is. It is this: The horse
breaks over with his hind feet quicker than he breaks over
with the front feet; in other words, he has more action behind than in front, an
d the result is that the hind feet strike the front feet before they can get out
of the way, often cutting the quarters badly, giving rise to quarter cracks and
horny patches over the heel.
Some writers make a difference between forging and overreaching, but the cause o
f the trouble is the same too much action behind in proportion to the front: and
the remedy is the same retard the action behind, increase it in front. There are d
ifferent ideas about the remedy for this fault.
One method is to shoe heavy forward and light be hind, but this is in my judgmen
t a poor idea, although it might he