Horse Shoes

Fullered shoes give a horse a better grip on the ground; calkins on the hind-shoes also assist horses jumping. Concave fullered shoes should be used for hunters. The inner edge of the hind-shoes should be rounded off and the toe set well back to prevent overreaching. It is sometimes necessary to have frost nails put in the shoes for show jumping if the take off is very slippery, but in this case the shoe should not be too light to hold the studs or frost nails.

Fig. 22 - Shoes For Hunting Or Schooling Young Horses - (a) Concave fullered front shoe; (b,c) Off hind shoes, concave and fullered with calkin. The inner edge of the ground surface of the toe is rounded off; (d) Is feather-edged on the inside to prevent brushing if necessary, and nail holes are in the toe in place of the inner edge.

Preparation Of The Foot For Shoeing

The foot requires careful preparation for shoeing: when reduced to the proper proportions the front of the wall should make an angle of 50 degrees with the horizontal. Commence with light shoes on youngsters, and avoid using too many nails, as the early training does not take place in heavy going.

Carefully examine every day for any indications of bruises, especially when actual jumping commences. On no account should the frog or sole be pared away. The ground surface of the wall should be rasped to make the foot level. If the feet are allowed to get too long there will be undue strain on the back tendons, especially during fast work.

The frog should be as near as possible level with the ground surface of the shoe, as the former helps to counteract the jar of concussion. The natural use of the frog coming in contact with the ground will help to develop and keep it healthy, otherwise the frog will deteriorate, and fail in its office as an anti-concussion mechanism.

Skill and experience are necessary to know the exact amount to lower the wall, and how to obtain an even-bearing surface when shoeing, but the toes must be well rasped down, and the heels scarcely touched.