Rational Horse Shoeing and Wagon Making
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with rules, tables, recipes, etc., useful to
manufactures, blacksmiths, machinists,
well-drillers, engineers, liverymen,
horse-shoers, farmers, wagon-makers,
mechanics, amateurs and all others who have
occasion to perform the work for which this
book is primarily intended.
The wall or crust is the horny sheath incasing the end of the
foot, in the front and on the sides from the coronet to the
ground. It is through this crust the nail is driven, and it is upon
this crust the shoe rests. In front it is deepest, towards the
quarter and heel it becomes thinner. It is of equal thickness
from the upper end to the ground (from top to bottom). The
white colored wall is the poorest, while the iron colored wall is
the toughest. The growth of the wall is different at different
ages. It grows more in a young horse and colt than in an old
horse in a healthy foot and soft, than in a diseased foot and
hard. In a young horse the hoof will grow about three inches in
a year and even more, while it grows less in an old horse. The
wall is fibrous, the fibers going parallel to each other from the
coronet to the ground.
THE SOLE
The horny sole is the bottom of the foot. This sole is fibrous like
the wall. The sole is thickest at the border, where it connects
with the wall, and thinnest at the center. The sole when in a
healthy condition scales off in flakes. This scale is a guide to the
farrier whereby he can tell how much to pare off. There are
different opinions in regard to the paring of the sole, but that is
unnecessary, for nature will tell how much to cut off in a healthy
foot. In a diseased foot it is different; then the horse-shoer
must use his own good judgment. It is, however, in very few
cases that the shoer needs to do more than just clean the sole.
Nature does the scaling off, or paring business, better than any
farrier.
THE FROG
The frog is situated at the heel and back part of the hoof,
within the bars; the point extending towards the center of the
inflection of the wall. This body is also fibrous. The frog is
very elastic and is evidently designed for contact with the
ground, and for the prevention of jars injurious to the
limbs.
CORONET
Coronet is the name of the upper margin of the foot, the
place where the hair ceases and the horny hoof begins.
THE QUARTER
The quarter means a place at the bottom of the wan, say,
about one-third the length from the heel towards the toe.
THE BARS
By the bars we mean the horny walls on each side of the
frog, commencing at the heel of the wall and extending
towards the point of the frog.
Any blacksmith or horse-shoer desiring to study more
thoroughly the anatomy of the horse should procure a
book treating on this subject.
