Page:Hints to Horse-keepers.djvu/226



it is an almost universal custom to entrust the shoeing of horses to the Knight of the Hammer and Tongs who happens to be nearest to one's stable, and to pay but little regard to the manner in which the work is done, there are very few who are not ready to admit that the operation is frequently performed in an unskilful manner, and that their horses would be more serviceable, and would perform their work with much greater comfort to themselves, if their owners knew exactly how and when the shoeing should be done; and would insist on its being done at the right time, and in the right manner.

There is hardly any other class of mechanics who combine so much ignorance of the principles on which their art is founded, with so much conceit of their knowledge, as do ordinary horse-shoers; and it should be one of the first duties of the horse owner to inform himself of the construction and nature of the horse's foot, the reasons why shoeing is necessary at all, what parts of the foot it protects, what is the best form of shoe to effect the purpose, how it may be best fastened to the foot, and how often it should be removed. [218]