Page:Horse shoes and horse shoeing.djvu/106

 Vossius shows from Palladius that mules were usually shod with spartum, for by ‘animalia,’ the word Palladius uses, Vossius thinks mules and asses were intended.

Pegge asserts that there is no clear, express, or positive proof that the Greeks shod their horses very anciently, or even customarily, in later times. ‘I think it not improbable they might begin to do it occasionally, and in some certain places, a little before the age of Mithridates; a conjecture grounded upon the practice of the Romans, with whom shoeing prevailed so soon after.’ By shoeing, this antiquarian perhaps meant the use of the solea—not the modern shoe. He adds: ‘But why, it may be asked, should mules and asses be more commonly shod than horses? I answer, these animals were much used in ancient times, more so than horses, for riding in Judæa, and for draught almost everywhere; besides, they are usually more tractable and patient, asses especially, and shoeing, consequently, was much more easily performed upon them.’

This is scarcely correct. The use of the horse for draught and riding purposes was very limited, principally because shoeing, as now practised, was, if written testimony be accepted, unknown to the Romans. Mules and asses were probably preferred, because their hoofs are far more strong and durable than those of horses. These animals are also much less tractable, and, as a rule, are more difficult to shoe, from their obstinate and often vicious tempers.

Colonel Smith says: ‘With regard to horse-shoeing, Bishop Lowth and Bracy Clark were mistaken in