Rational Horse Shoeing and Wagon Making
------------------------------------------------------
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.
Interfering is a bad fault in a horse. It is the effect of a variety
of causes. In interfering the horse brushes the foot going
forward against the other foot. Some horses strike the knee,
others above it, the shin or coronet, but in most cases the
fetlock. Colts seldom interfere before they are shod, but then
they sometimes interfere because the shoes are too heavy.
This trouble disappears as soon as the colt is accustomed to
carrying the shoes. Weakness is the most common cause.
Malformation of the fetlock is another cause. The turning in or
out of the toes, giving a swinging motion to the feet, is also
conducive to interfering.
The first thing to do is to apply a boot to the place that is
brushed. Next, proceed to remove the cause by shoeing, or by
feeding and rest in cases of weakness. Nothing is better than
flesh to spread the legs with. Some old horse-shoers in shoeing
for interfering will turn the feet so as to turn the fetlock out.
This is done by paring down the outside and leaving the inside
strong. This is a bad way of shoeing for interfering, as it might
ruin the horse. The foot should be leveled as level as it is
possible. The inner side of the hoof should be scant; instead of
being curved it should be almost straight, as the horse
generally strikes with the side of the hoof or quarter. 'This is
done to make a side - weight shoe, the side weight not to
reach over the center of the shoe, but to be only on one side.
Put the shoe on with the weight on the outer side. If the horse
still interferes, give more side weight to the shoe, and make the
heel on the outer side about one and one-quarter inch longer
than the inside heel; give it an outward turn. This heel will
prevent the horse from turning the heel in the way of the way
of the other foot when it goes by, so as not to strike the fetlock.
Properly made and applied, side weight will stop interfering
almost every time. If the side weight is heavy enough it will
throw the foot out, and the trouble is overcome. There are only
a few horse-shoers that have any practical experience in
making side - weight shoes, which we understand from the
articles in our trade journals. Some horse-shoers in shoeing to
stop interfering will make common shoes shorter than they
ought to be and set them far in under the foot, so that the hoof
that the hoof adheres to and rubs harder against the leg than the hard smooth shoe. But, foolish as it is, such shoers
stick to their foolish ideas. I call all such fads faith cures. The rule is to have the side weight on the outer side, while
the exception is to have the side weight on the inner side of the foot. For old and poor horses ground feed and rest is
better than any kind of shoes. It will give more strength and more flesh to spread the legs.
Horses Foot for Shoeing
Sprung or Knuckler >>>>