WD 0356 - The Army Horseshoer.pdf

7/25/2019 WD 0356 - The Army Horseshoer.pdf

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Army

Miia

History

Institute

C/

THE

ARMY

HORSESHOER

1L 1910

A MANUAL

PREPARED

FOR

THE

USE

OF

STUDENTS

OF THE

TRAINING

SCHOOL

FOR FARRIERS

AND

HORSESHOERS

BY

THE

TRAINING SCHOOL

INSTRUCTORS

MOUNTED

SERVICE

SCHOOL

FORT RILEY.

KANS.

WASHINGTON

:

GOVERNMENT

PRINTING

OFFICE :

1910

~~

S~ J IMXIL

// /


6/108

d

U

C/ /

6tC-

C'-Lc

k -t-/

9970

WAR

DEPARTMENT

Document

No.

356.

OFFICE OF THE

CHIEF OF STAFF.

2


7/108

JUN

2 6

1940

Property

of

U.

Sg

L/C-

3

3

IqID

WAR DEPARTMENT,

OFFICE

OF

TIlE

CHIEF

OF

STAFF,

Washington,

January3,

19f0.

The

Army

Horseshoer.

1.910, prel)ared

at

the

Mounted

Service

Fort RIiley, Kans.,

for

the

use of

students

of the

Train-

School

for

Fa

rriers ,ind Horseshoers,

as well as

for

the Army

t

large and

the

Organized

Militia.,

is issued

for the

informa-

a

Id

guidance of all

concerned.

By

order

of

the

Secretary

of War:

J.

FRANKLIN BELL.

Mtajor-G(cnt('rl1,

Chief

of

Staff.

3


8/108


9/108

PREFACE.

Each

grnduate horseshoer of

the

Training School

for Farriers

,n H-Iorseshoers

takes

back with

hinm

to his organization

the

col)y

of

this

manual

which he has

studied

during

the

four

monthls

attendance.

The

sul)p)ly

of

the

first

edition is

now exhausted. Since

its

Iublicationll,

early four years ago,

class-room

and

shop methods

have

been

systematized

allid have

undergone

numerous changes,

the lmajority

originating

from

the exl)erience of instructors

and

of

grltduates

returning as

assistant instructors,

but

several

re-

suilting

from

suggestions

of attentive organization

commanders

tllhroughout the service.

The second edition

has

accordingly

been

thoroughly

revised

by

the

present

officer

in

charge,

FIirst

Iieut.

Duncan Elliot,

Eighth

('avalry,

with

the collaboration

of the instructor

of

horseshoers, Frank

G.

Churchill,

and Cal)t.

George

II.

Cameron,

Fourth

Cavallry, formerly

officer

in

charge,

now

assistanllt com-

mnandant

of the

Mounted

Service Schlool.

Probably

the mIost important innovation,

tending

to the rapid

progress of students, is

thle

present

system of teaching

shaping,

introduced

during the past

year. This will

be found

fully de-

scribed alld

technically

illustrated

in Chapter III. I)uring

the

portioll

of

the

course covered

by

this

chapter,

the

student

is

re-

quired to

exl)lain in the

class

room how he can

most readily

accomlllish

a desired

result andl to denlonstrate

his understand-

ing hby the use

of

shop

tools and a bar

of lelad.

It

is no exag-

geration to

say that

by

this

ingenious plban (Lieutenant

Elliot's)

students now

learn in two weeks

what

formerly required

tw o

months.

Chapter IV

(Anatomy

and physiology

of the horse's foot) has

been much simplified in accordance

with

tile

expressed wish of

a

committee of

the

general staff,

as

well

as the

recommendations

of the

school veterinarians.

5


10/108

THE ARMY HORSESHOER.

Special shoes,

as

described

in

Chapters

VI and VII,

were

formerly made

of

bar

steel, but

as graduates

comllplilined

that

they were

rarely able

to

obtain

similar

material at their sta-

tions, all shoes,

excep)t

the plate,

art? now fashioned

fronl the

issue

shoe.

Incilentally,

it may be stated

that less

timle

is de-

voted to

special shoes,

as

inquiry

developed

tile fact

tllat

they

were

seldom

called

for.

The satisfalt(orv

l)hotographs

reproduced in the

text were

made

by austel-

Signal Electriciall

E. IV.

8Iuddarth, and the

throwing harness

showin

in

Plate

XVI,

is

a pattern perfected

by

Sergt. Chalrles

Tayer.

Both

nonconllimisSioIned

officers

are

inlen-

bers of the

Mounted

Service

School

I)etachment.

Opportunity

is

taken to express

aplpreciation

of outside

slig-

gestions. Inasniluch

as

the

object

of

the

school

is

to

furnish

shoers that

will satisfy

the demands

of the service, opinions

of

mountled

officers

are as

necessary

as they are welcolme.

M[OUNTED

SERVICE

SCIOOL,

Fort Rilc', KItits.. Jully

3If, 1909.

6


11/108

ILLUSTRATIONIS.

Page.

Interior of the

shoeing

shop,

Training School

for Farriers

and

Horseshoers---

F--_

__--------------

_---

Frontispiece.

Plate 1.--Tools

_.------------___

------------------ _

13

II.--Anvil

and

tool boxes

.

.---------

------------

14

III.--The forge -.. ......... _____...... 1,

IV.-- he foot

------------

_------ ___-_-- - - - 37

V

and VI.--Raisiig the

foot

-----------------

_

_-

-

45-4(;

Three

positions forefoot (.3d

raised for clinch-

ing).

Three positions

hind foot.

VII.--The

foot

axis

and pastern

axis _ _____ ___.

4,S

VIII.--The

prepared

foot ______________ _

___

53

IX.--Normlal

shoes

(fittedl)

_

_.......

6

X.- Foot improperly

shod and

neglected_

___-_

65

Xl.--Special

shoes for correcting

faults

in

gatits___

70

XII.--

Weighted

shoes ___________ ____

____

.____

73

Pathological

shoes -- ___---

_-----

.3

XITI

Quarter crack (before

and

after shoeing)-

._ 81

XIV.--Raising

foot

of

refractory horse_

.--.......

_

99

XV'.--Iorse

in

stocks __

_-------

_------

101

XVI.--tarness for horse throwing__ - ------- 102

XVIL.-Throwving

the

horse for

shoeing_____-__

103

7


12/108


13/108

CONTENTS.

I'age.

(IJAI'TER I.--IIorseslloers' tools

and

their

iuses--Tlle

forge-_.....________-._____

11

II.--The

fire--IIeits

___ _

_-.. _____

___ _ _

Is

IIlI.-Working

and( slml)ing ironi-Thbc plale

slhoe_ 21

I

\. Anlltomy aIndl hysiolo)gy of

the horse's

foot_ '3ti

.--N0rn I shloei------- - 44

VI.-(;aits-Shoeing

t-)

(onforlml

or :titer

samne-

'aunil

ts

in ga it s--Shoeinig to correctt s e~--

Tl he

Iimking

of

shoes for

special gaits.

_

;7

I

I.-1 )ise; es-Tie mIlllking of ])a thologi(a

shoes_ _______ -_ _--... _ ..- 76

VIII.--Shoeing refractory

hrses ........ 96

9


14/108


15/108

THE ARM Y

HORSESHOER.

CHAPTER I.

HORSESHOERS' TOOLS AND

THEIR USES-THE

FORGE.

(Plate I.)

1.

The

c/inch-cutter

(fig.

1) colsists

of

two

parts-the

blade

and

the point. The

blade

is

used to cut or

to raise

the clinches,

being

pIlaced under the edge of the

clinch and struck

with the

driving hammnier.

The

point

is u1sed to punch nails and

stubs

out of the hoof.

It is often

placed

in

the

crease of the

shoe,

under the

head

of

the

nail to be withdrawin,

and struck

smartly

with

the

hanllner.

The blow

raises the nail sufficiently

to en-

able the pilnchers

to grilasp

the

nail

head.

''Thi

pinchers

(fig.

2) are used to

remove shoes and to draw

nail

StlblS

n11id

ilmprol)erly

driveni

nails.

The

driving

hammer

(shoeing

hammller)

(fig.

9)

should

be used

only

to drive horseshoe

nails. to wrinlg off nails

after

they have

been

plroperly

driven,

and to

make

clinches.

The nippers

(fig. 4) are

used to remove

the surplus growth

The

shoeing knife

(fig.

3 is

used

to

pare away

the

dead

horn

white line;

to remove loose

particles

from

the hoof;

relieve pressure

on corns and

cracks; and

to

open the sole

wall for

the

escape of

pus

or

for

the removal of foreign

11


16/108


The

horseshoers rasp (fig. 5) is

lused to

llrel;lre

a

level biearlinl

suirfaice of the foot; to relllove extra length o(f toe;

to

soiiiothl

tle edges

of the

wall to

evell

clinches: to inlakie a slight groove

under

eaclh

clinch,

and

to

riun

lightly over

the

clinlches

itI

rder

to smooth len.

The fitting hammers (figs. 10

and

11) are use(l

in

fittingi

alnd in

turning

shoes.

The hoof tester (fig. 7) is usi, to locate injuries or soreness of

the sole. Llace

ne

point on tile sole and

the other oi the,

wall;

press by closing the

handles;

shift the lpoillts

fntdl

co)tilnue

Unitil

the

hlorse flin(ches.

The pincllers may be used for the

sailCe

L)Ir'-

pose, but

are not

as

satisfactory.

The clinching tongs (fig. ) are ulsed to dra'w down the clinlches.

The clinching block (fig. 15) is used to turn the clinches.

The tongs

(fig.

8) are usedl ill handling hot itutnls.

The pritchel (fig. 14)

is

nilade by

ihnd

froml r


17/108

THE

ARMY

HORSESHOER.

I'

PLATE

I.

13

23142-10-2


18/108


and

remove it at

once

; n

ow carefully

observe the

change

in

color

as the

remaining

heat

ill the body

extends

back

to

the

edge;

the color

will be first straw,

then coIpper, and

finally

blue;

as

soon as the

blue color has

reached

the cutting edge,

place the

PLATE

II.--ANVIL

AND TOOL

BOxES.

whole hardy under water and leave it there until

thoroughly

cooled.

The

creaser

(fig.

14)

is

used to

crease the

shoes

and

to

repair

damaged

creases.

14


19/108

THE

ARMY

HORSESHOER.

The

countersink

fig.

17)

is

used

in band-nmade

shoes

to

punch

holes of

sufficient

size

to

reeeive

the

heads

of

the

nails;

these

holes

are

comnleted

by

tile

use

of the

plritchel

(fig.

1(6).

Horseshoe

nails

retain

the

shoe

on

the

foot.

These nails

(fur-

uiished

in several

sizes)

are

machine

imade

and

pointed;

they

;aret

slightly

concaVe

on onle

si0de

1a l

ftit

onl the

other. In

driv-

illng the

nail into

the hoof

the

flat

side

is

held

faced

outward.

2.

The

anvil.-The

working

uparts

of

the

anvil

(P1.

II,

fig.

1

are

the

horn,

the face,

and

the

heel.

The

face,

or

tlle

upper

plane

surface,

is

of

steel,

ansd

is welded

to the iron

body.

The

alnvil is

firmnly

fastened

to

a

wooden

block,

which

is sunk

into

the

grountl(

to

a depth

that will

bring

the

surface

of

the

face at a conlvenient

working

height

above

the

ground-fromn

3(

to

3 i

ilclles.

The

horn

is

used to

open

and

to shalpe shoes;

the face

to

level

the wel)

iand

for

weldin;

and1

the

heel

to

straighten

heels

of

shoes

nlld to

turn calks.

(hlilps

are

ordiinirily

drawn

on

the

edge

of the

face,

bnut

in

thle

anvil

showII

there

is till

attachment

netlr the

base

of

the

holrn

which

is

used

for

this

lurpose.

The

sqlulre

hole

ill the

face

(

hardy

hole)

is

a

socket

for

hardies;

the

rounll

hole

(lpritchel

hole)

pernlits

the

passage

of the

Iritchel

through

the

nail

hole

of tlhe shoe.

The anvil

weighs front

125

to

150

lpolmnds.

Filgure

2

shows

the tool

box

issled by the

Quarterlmaster's

I)eipartment.

Its use

is

readily

understood,

and

the only

In-

strncition reluir'ed

is

that

all

tools

should be

placed

in

the

box,

hlandles

out.

Anl

objection

to

this

box

is

that

it

is easily

tipped

ove(r.

()n thlls

alccont

nllly shoers

l)refer

the lpattern

shown in

figure 3,

althoutgh the

tools

are

not

as near

to

the

hand.

3.

P'late

Ill

shows a section

of

a portable

forge.

In every

fol-rge

air is

forced t hrough

the

tire by

a bellows or

a fan

(F);

the latter

is

ni;(dle

to revolve

by

at

drive

wheel

or

by a

handle

(1I).

The

twyer

h:ll (T)

corresplodl(ls

to

the

grate

of a

stove.

Firmly

attached

to

It

and

extending

toward

the

worker

Is an

iron

rod

by

which

the ball

may be

rocked.

The

end of

this rod

Is shown

by

the

small

circle in

the center

of

the twyer

ball.

A

crater

(C)

should

be

nmade

around

the

twyer

ball

in order

to

confine

the fire.

Clay

niay be

used for

this I)urpose,

but

cement

Is better.

4.

The

field

outfit

issued

by

the Ordnance

Department

is

de-

signed

especially

for

portability,

and is

lpacked

in

two

chests.

15


20/108

THE ARMY

HORSESHOER.

PLATE

III.-SECTION

OF

FORGE.

16


21/108

THE ARMY

HORSESHOER. 17

Chest

No. 1 (22

by IS by 13 inches)

contains a small

knock-

down forge with fan and drive wheel

and a complete set of forge

and

shoeing tools. Weight

of

chest, I)acked,

122 pounds.

Chest

No. 2

(21 by 17

by 10

inches)

contains a small anvil and

block, water

bucket, leather

shoeing box, and

apron. Weight

of

chest,

packed, 68

pounds.

The

field anvil

weighs

17

pounds.


22/108

CHAPTER 11.

THE FIRE.-HEATS.

THE

FIRE.

5. Coal,

charcoal,

coke,

or

even

wvood,

may

be

u.sed

as

fuel

to create the necessary

heat in the forge.

Before

building

the fire

the

crater of the

forge must

ble

thor-

oughly

cleaned,

removing aill dirt,

ashes, and

IInICOInsunmed

fulel.

The twyer ball

should be

rocked vigoroustly',

and

the

slide

(S)

opened. A few

blasts

will aid

in removing the ccuml ulated

dust. The

ball

is

often so hented as to fuse, and nieltedl metal

and clinkers may close the openings ijn the ball, preventing the

passage of the blast. The

obstructionls

imust be remol'ed by the

use

of

the poker.

Coal

is bklllked

aroundm

the twyer

ball

in

the fornl of

a

crater,

in

the

center of

which

dry

particles

of

any infllllllmmalble manterltil

are

placed

and

ignited. W\\hen these particles

are

bu rlling,

coke

or

wet coal (if

no

coke is available)

is gradually

pllaced

on the

fire

and

the

fan is

revolved

slowly, care being taklen,

not to

cover so closely

that

the

filnlmes

are

smnothereld.

When the fire

is

burning

brightly, it should

be built

up)

around

the edges with wet coal, which will

in

time

the('come coke. (Sc(

Heats.) This coke is next burned nlld is relplaced

by

wet coal,

thus

keeping

up

the

sullpply

of

coke.

(Greenl

coal

is

of

little

use

in heating iron or steel

for

the reason that

it

does not give a

high degree of

heat, thalt it

sticks to the nietal, and that it ellits

a smoke which

interferes

with the

work.

A

clear fire

without

smoke

is

essential for good work

and the

higher degrees

of

heat

can only

be obtained from such

a fire.

The depth of

the

fire should

be

about

)

incelles;

the

metal is

then supported at

the

place

of

greatest heat, about 6 inches

above the twyer ball.

18


23/108

THE

ARMY

HORSESHOER.

If

the metal

is too

near

the twyer ball

the heat

is affected by

the

cold

blast.

T'lo bank

a lire,

cover thoroughly withl

the fuel and

open the

slide

below;

this

will

keep

the

tire

ailive

for

several

hours.

CLINKERS.

6.

HIeated

steel

or iron gives

off

Inarticles

or scales which

re-

main

in the tire. These melting

particles bind together

eparticles

of burned coal,

gradually

becomling

larger and

finally forlling

whalt

Is

called

a clinker. (Clinkers give

off but little

hleat

and

obstruct and slpoil

the fire they

miust therefore

be removed as

fast as

they

form.

Their

presence

will

le

shown

by-

a

tendency

of the

fire

to

spread aldi an

unusual tlrowing

out of sparks.

If

indications of clinkers

alilear, open

ill) the fire with

a poker,

and as soon as

the

air

touchles

the

clinker

it will

turn

black

and

beconle a solid

manss

which

can

be

lifted

oult

entire. Trying

to drag

out

the

climnker

without otlening

upl the fire only results

in

breaking up

the

cliicer

alnd

llaking the tire worse

than

it

was before.

1 EATS.

7.

There are four degrees

of heat

that

are to be considered

by the

horseshoer, and

tlley are generally

d(esignated as

the

black,

the cherry red,

the

white, anld the

welding

or

sparking

heat.

The black heat is wVleni

tlle

shoe

is

hot but shllos

no

color,

and

is used

in

making

miuinor c(h:ilnges

in

shaillng,

levelinlg,

a:1l(

in

openiing

nail holes.

The cherry

red

heat is Nwhen

tile

steel or iron shows

a

bright

cherry colored

glowv. It is used ii

the general sll:llilng of

the

shoe, in

pl)intiing

the

pritchel,

and in

shlarpening

tools.

The

next

(legree

of heat

is

called tlhe

white

heat

beclause

the

steel

or iron then

shows

alllost that color.

This healt is

used

when it is

lteessalry thall:lt

the Illetal

S1hol

be

very

plliahle and

easily

worked,

as in drallving

toe (lil)s. cultting off

the

h(els,

in

drawing

the heels

of

tle shlle,

in

hot

rasplling,

alnd in

tulrning

heel calks.

The welding

heat is sonietines

ealled sparking

heat for the

rea-

son that the nietal

then

gives off small

particles which explode

or

spark above

the

fire. As

soon

as the

sparks

al)pear watch

the

metal closely, ald

when

the

part to be welded

has a bubbling

19


24/108

20

THE

ARMY

HORSESHOER.

(fluxing)

appearance

it

must

be

withdllrawn

froln

the

fire and

worked

immledlintlely.

The silctces of

a

wveld

depends entirely

upon

the

proper

heat of

the parts

at the exact

inollmellt

the

weld

is

attempted.

A newly

made

coal

fire cln be

used for ordinary heating,

but

for

a welding

heat

coke is required.

(Coke

is ordinalry

coal

from

which the

gases have

been

driven

off by

gradimal he'ating.

It will

be found ready

it

hand

around

the edge

of

the

fire.

As

coke

does

not smoke,

there is no trouble

in observing

when

the lletal

has reached

exact welding

heat.


25/108

CHAPTER III.

WORKING

AND SHAPING

IRON.

THE

PLATE

SHOE.

8. As

a preliminary

to instruction

in shaping

and

preparing

a shoe for

the foot,

it is best

for beginners

to

learn

the

method

of making

and

shaping

a plate shoe,

using

an old

shoe

as

a

model.

The various

parts

of

a

shoe

are

commonly spoken

of

as

fol-

lows:

The toe

is

that portion between

the first

nail

hole on

one

side

and the first

nail hole

on the

other

side.

The quarters are

the portions

in

which

the nail

holes

are punched.

The heels

are

the

remaining

parts of

the

shoe. A

side

is

one-half

of a shoe,

arnd includes

one heel,

one quarter, and

one-half

of

the toe.

Tile plate

shoe is

made of

Y;

by IA

inch steel

which is much

more

easily worked

than

the heavier

service

shoe.

Take

a bar of

metal about

11 or

12

inches

in

length."

9.

To

bend

the

bar,

where

the

center

of

the

toe

will

be.-

Place the

bar in

the

fire so

that the center

is directly

over

the

draft.

The coals

of a properly

imade fire

should hold the

bar

:about 6 inches

above the

twyer ball.

When

cherry

red,

remove

from

the

fire,

holding

the nearest

end

with

the tongs

and

lean

a The length

of

bar required

to

make a shoe

for a foot

will

be

found by

measuring

in a

straight

line on

the

sole of

the

foot

front

the edge

of the

wall

at

the

center

of

the

toe

to

the extrem-

ity

of

either

bulb

of

the

frog.

A

little

more

than

twice

this

dis-

tance

will

he

the length of

the bar required

to

make the

shoe.

21


26/108


the

other

end on

the edge of the anvil

farthest

from you.

The

bar

is

hleld

onl edge altdl

at

anl

angle of about 45

with

the face

of

the anvil.

Strike

lightly

with

the

hammller

t

the

center

of

the

uipper

edge

of

the

bar,

and

gradually bend

the

bar

until it is right-angled

or L shaped.

22


27/108

THE

ARMY

HORSESHOER.

If, after

bending,

the

L

is

not

flat, but

twisted,

it

must be

leveled

on the

face

of

the

anvil.

Remember

to use

only

light

blows

on red

metal.

Heavy

blows

leave

irregularities

that

are

difficult

or impossible

to remove.

10.

To

shape

one

side.--I'ce

one-half

of

the

L in

the

fire

and

when

heated

seize

the

cold

half with

the

tongs and

hold

the heated

side

diagonally

over

the

horn of

the anvil,

the

left

hand near

the

base and

held

low,

the heated

end projecting

about

an

inch

over

the

horn.

23


28/108

THE ARMY

HORSESHOER.

Begin

striking

at

the

end

of

the

heated

Iportion

anfd, keepling

the

right

hand

steadcily

in

position,

shape

the

steel

by grad-

ually

moving

it

beneath

the

hamm:lluer.

Mlove

the

steel

over the

horn

by raising

the

left

hand

anld

calrying

it towared

the

point

of

the horn;

that

is,

as the

toe

is

approached,

shift

the

work

toward

the

point

of

the horn.

The horn of

the

anvil

is

so

constructed

that

the

diagonal

curve

across

the center

conforms

to

the

shape

of

the heels

and

quarters

of

the

average

sized foot

and

the

curve

near

the point

24


29/108

THE

ARMY

HORSESHOER.

is

shaped

like

the

toe.

For

a

very

large

shoe

begin

near

the

base

of

the

horn.

To

shape

the

opposite

side,

proceed

in the

samne

manner.

11.

To

center

the

toe.-After

both

sides

have

been

turned,

see

if they are

of

equal

length;

that

is, see

if the toe

is

in the

(enter.

If

not,

then heat

the

toe,

and

grasping

the

longer

side.

with the tongs,

hold the

shoe over

the

point

of the

horn

so

that

it is

correctly

centered

and

strike

just

beyond

the

horn.

12. To cut

off the

heels.-Apply

the

shoe

to

the

model

and

how

mnuch

must

be

cut

from

the

heels.

Allowance

must

1 e ilade

for

their lengthening

in

drawing

them

out

(par.

13).

25


30/108

THE

ARMY

HORSESHOER.

Care

must

be

used(,

however,

not

to

cut

them

too

short,

because

drawing

theim

out

to

the

required

length

would

make

theml

too

narrow

to

give

proper

su)pport

to

the

foot.

It is

better

to

have

them

too long

and

to

cut them

off

again

if

necessary.

After

heating

to

a

white

heat,

place

the

ground

surface

on

the

hardy

so

as

to

cut

the

heel

off

squarely,

but

hold

the

toe

slightly

lower

so

that

the

cut

will

also

be

beveled;

that

is,

so

that

the

upper

surface

will

be

slightly

longer

than

the

ground

surface.

The

cutting

will

widen

the

steel

near

the

end.

To

bring

it

back

to

the

original

width

hold

the

inside

edge

on

the

heel

of

the

anvil

and

strike

on

the

outer

edge.

This

will

also

point

the

heel

slightly

and

dinlinish

the

work

of

hot

rasping

(ipar.

]4).

In

fitting a plate

shoe

for a foot

the nail

holes

should

be

punched

before

cutting

off

the

heels

so

that

if

necessary

the

toe

can

be

centered

to

correspondl

to

the

nail

holes.

13.

To

draw

out

the

heels.-Heat

the

heels

to

a white

heat.

Hold

the

shoe

on

the

horn

in

the

saime

position

as

for

shaping

and

upon

a

diagonal

that

will

insure

close

contact.

The

blows,

however,

are

struck

on

the

part

resting

on

the

horn

and

the

heel

is

brought

toward

the

hammer

by

lowering

the

left

hand.

In

drawing

out

the

heels

the

lower

(or

ground)

surface

of

the

shoe

should

be

made

slightly

narrower

than

the

upper

(or

bearing)

surface.

26


31/108

THE

ARMY

HORSESHOER.

Notice

that

to

draw

out

one

heel

the

ground

surface

is

on

the

left

side

when

the

heel

rests

on the

horn.

To draw

out

the

other

heel

the

ground

sulrface

is

on

the right

side,

and

the

shoe

is

changed

to

thie

olpposite

diagonllal

of

the

horn.

In

both

cases

strike

on

the

edge

of

the

ground

surface,

and

as

a

result

this

surface

will

be

the

narrower.

For

a

left-handed

man these

positions will be

reversed.

27


32/108

THE ARMY

HORSESHOER.

This drawing

out narrows and at the

same time thickens the

heel.

To

restore

it to

its original

thickness,

work on the

face

of

the anvil.

Hold the ground surface down so

as

to preserve the

bevel.

14. Hot rasping.-The

heels are

now

finished

by

hot rasp-

ing.

The

shoe

is placed

in

the

vise

with

the

ground

surface

toward

you, and the

heels are

rounded, carefully

preserving

the

slight

bevel

(the

upper

surface

being

longer

an(l wider

than the

ground surface).

28


33/108

THE

ARMY

HORSESHOER.

Care

must be used

to leave no

sharp edges on the heels

that

will

cut

the horse.

A pointed heel

will often cause

a "shoe boil" (a

bruise at

the

point

of

the

elbow).

15. To punch

out the nail

holes.-Apply

the shoe

to

the

model; if the heels are of

proper length

and the shoe

is

an

approximate fit, the

nail

holes are

punched

out.

The

nail

holes

are started on

the

ground

surface

with the

countersink

because the point of this tool conforms

to the

shape

of

the head of

the

nail. The point should not be driven more

than three-fourths through

or the shoe

will

be bulged

and

ruined. The

tool

is held slanted

outward to

conform to the

direction which the nail should

follow

and the hole

is

started

a

little

outside

of the center

of

the

web.

Heat

one

side

and

first start the hole nearest

the

toe. Its

proper position

can be

learned by examining

a

service

shoe of

the

same size. The

hole

at the bend

of

the

quarter

is

next

started, and finally the

hole

midway between the

two. The

plate shoe,

on account

of its light

weight,

requires but six

nails,

three

on

each side.

Heat the other side and proceed

as

before.

The

nail holes must

not

be

placed too far

back.

A shoe

nailed

of the

turn

of the

quarter

will

impede

the

expansion

of

hoof and eventually cause contraction

of

the heels.

23142--10 -3

29


34/108

THE

ARMY

HORSESHOER.

If,

in

punching

the

nail

holes,

bulges

tl)pear

near

them

on

the

edges

of

the

bar

or

shoe,

they

must

be

removed

by

workling

over

the

horn.

(Same

positiofn

and

lmeans

as for

(drawlag

heels.

)

Examine

the

pritchel, and

if

it

is

not

of

the

I)roper

shal)e,

point

it

before

using.

(See

Tools,

par.

1.)

Punch

out the

nail

holes

on

the

ground surface,

holding

the

pritchel

slanted

ontward;

then

pInch

out

the

holes

on the

upper

surface,

holding

the

pritchel

slantedl

inward.

30


35/108

THE

ARMY

HORSESHOER.

In

pritcheling

out

a

nail

hole,

to

avoid

blunting

or

breaking

the

point

of

the

plritchel,

that

part

of

the

shoe

where

the

nail

hole

is

to

be,

is held

over

the

pritchel

or

hardy

hole.

16.

Fitting.-The

shoe

is

now

ready

for

its

final trial

and

is

apl)lied

to

the

model.

If

it

does

not

exactly

conform

to

the

model,

it

will

have

at

least

one

of the

following

faults,

which

lmust

be

corrected

accord-

ing

to

the

explanation

given

in

each

case.

17.

Not

level.--To

level

the

shoe,

take

it

with

the

tongs

near

the

toe

on

the

far

side

and

examine

it

by

sighting

over

the

upper

surface.

If

it

aI)lelers

to

be

crooked,

lay

it

on

the

face

of

the

anvil

in

a

position

allowing

the highest

surface

to

be

struck

(par.

9).

If,

after

remedying

this

defect,

another

ap-

pears,

it

must

be

treated

in

the

same

manner.

A

crooked shoe

will

not

stay

on

the foot

and

is

apt

to

cause

lameness.

When

leveling

the

service

shoe,

if

it

be

found

necessary

to

strike

on

the

ground

surface

of

the

shoe,

let

the

blows

fall

over

the

crease

in

order

to

avoid

spoiling

the

concave

of

the

upper

surface.

Special

care,

however,

must

be

used

to

strike

a

square

blow.

If

the

face

of

the

hammer

does

not

fall

evenly,

it

will

dent

and

close

the

crease.

18.

Too

wide

at

the

toe.-Heat

the

toe

and

hold

it

on

the

extreme point

of

the

horn.

Strike

lightly

near

the

toe

on

the

side

farthest

from

you,

then

reverse

tile

toe

and

strike

as

before.

31


36/108

THE

ARMY

HORSESHOER.

19.

Too

narrow

at

the

toe.--Ileat

the

toe

and

hold

it

on

the

horn

of

the

anvil

so

that

there

will

be

a small

space

between

the

shoe

and

the

horn.

Strike

lightly

along

the

toe,

not

con-

fining

the

blows to

any

one

spot.

20.

One

quarter

too

narrow.-To

throsw

out

a

quairter

from

a

given

poillt.

Hleat

the

quarter

and,

holding

the

heel

on

the

horn,

strike

on

the

spot

from

which

it

is

desired

to

spread

or

throw

out

the quarter.

21.

One

quarter

too

full.-- a)

To.

throw

in

a quarter

froiI

a

given

point.

Heat

the

quarter

and

hold

it

over

the

point

of

the

horn

of

the anvil

so

that

the

shoe

will

rest

up)on

the

inside

32


37/108

THE

ARMY

HORSESHOER.

edge

at

the

point

from

which

the

change

is

to b)e made.

near

the

heel

oni

tlle lartt

projecting

over

the

horn.

Strike

(b)

To

throw

in

one

side without

changing its

general

shape.

Heat the

whole

shoe and place

the

quarter

that

is correct

in

water

until

cool.

Close

the

shoe

bodily

(par.

24),

which

ol)eration

will affect

the

hot

side

only.

(c) If

neither of

these

methods

aeconplllislhes

the

desired

result

the

quarter

luist l)e

reshlalled

over thle

diagonal

of the

horn.

22. A

bulge in the

quarter.-I-eat

the quarter

and hold over

the heel

of

the

anvil.

Strike

(lirectly over

the

bullge.

33


38/108


This will remove the

bulge,

but will

also slightly

straighten

the quarter,

which

mlust

later be reshalped.

23.

A straight

place

in

a

quarter.--Hteat

the quarter

and

hold

the

straight

place

on

the

point

of

the

horn,

as

shown

in

paragraph

21, but strike

alternate

blows

on

each

side of and

close

to

the

point

to be rounded.

24.

Both quarters too full

(with the general shape cor-

rect).--Ieat

the whole

shoe

and, holding

it

on

edge on the

face

of the

anvil,

strike

down

on the

elevated

quarter.

This will

narrow

or

close

the shoe,

but

will not

change its general

shape.

34


39/108

THE

ARMY

HORSESHOER.

25.

Both

quarters

too

narrow

(with

the

general

shape

cor-

rect).--Ieat

the

whole

shoe

and,

holding

one heel

on

the

face

of

the

anvil

and

one

on

the

side,

strike

on the

toe.

This

is

known

as

bucksawing

and

will

open

or

spread

the

shoe

without

changing

its

general

shape.

A

perfect

fit

having

been

obtained

the nail

holes

are

re-

punched,

if

necessary,

and

the whole

shoe

neatly

finished

with

the

rasp.


40/108

(Iar'rE:R

IV.

ANATOMY

AND

PHYSIOLOGY OF THE

HORSE'S

FOOT.

26. By anatomy of the foot is meant

a description of the

various pr)arts entering into

its formation: and by physiologr

is meant

the functions or uses of these

parts.

27.

The horse's

foot

is complosed of

three

[)arts: (1) The

bones,

surrountl1ded

)y

celrtain

elastic

structures

of

cartilage

(gristle)

andl

fat;

(2) the layer

of highly

sensitive

flesh (quick)

which

covers this

bony fralmework;

(3)

the

box, or case of

horn,

called

the

hoof, which

incloses and

protects the

sensitive

pa

rts.

BONES

OF

TIIE

PASTERN

AND

FOOT.

28.

The

bones

of the pastern

region

and foot form a column

extending downward

front

the fetlock into the hoof, and are

named ,is follows: The

long

l)asternl

bone Os

suffraginis ,

the

short

I)astern

bone

O.s

corll ),

the coffin boIne

(Os

pedis),

the

navicular

or shuttle

b)one (Os narzicular)is). (See

Plate

IV.)

The

long

pastern

bone

renthles frooml the fetlock joint above

to the pastern joint below.

Its upper

surface has

a

shallow

cavity

on

eamch

silde, sel)arated in the middle

by

a

deep

groove,

and into

this surface

fits

the lower

end of

the canllllot

blle,

forming the fetlock Joint.

The

lower surface is

imluch

smaller

and narrower than

the upper. )n each side is a small

ridge,

the

two

ridges

separated

In

the middle by

a

shallow

groove to

fit

the

nppler

surface of

the

short

I)astern

bone,

forning

the

pastern joint.

The

short pastern

bone follows

the direction of the long pas-

tern

bone downward

and

forward, and lies

between the )astern

and

coffin

joint,

its

lower end

being

within the hoof.

Its

uppler

surfaice

hais a shallow cavity

on

each side,

with

a

ridge between

thelll

to

fit

the lower end of

the

long

pastern

bone.

The lower surface of

this bone has a ridge on each side,

the

two

ridlges

separated

by

a

groove

to fit

the upi)er surface of the

coffin

bone

in

the

coffin

joint.

36


41/108

37

HE ARMY

HORSESHOER.

CltDr

0

CD

CID

CDc

D gt

m

Flo>

o-

0M

_

t rq

n

.0

t_.

2~~

BE r~j

.

qce

e

020t

0

-o-

mo

r

02-

c-I

~P

ncd

jH

=O

(D'

W.

o1

r

U J


42/108


The

coffin bone

is of

irregular

shape;

it

is situated

wvithin the

hoof and is

similari

to

the

latter ill outline

an'd

forim.

The front

surface

is known as

the

wall

surface;

it

shows

a

,lumber

of small

ojeinuiugs

for

the

p:Lsstage(-

of blood

vessels and

nerves,

and is roughenlled

to

give attch;llllellt

to the soft

l);lrtS

(sensitive lalillte)

covering,

it.

At thle tol)

of

this surfacte,

in

front,

is

a

ri(lge calle(l

the

peak

(plyr;lli(il IprO('cess),

to which

is a ttache(l

the extensor

tenll(lh of tll(

foot.

The

lower

surface,

c;alled

t le sole surface,

is half-Im(oo)

shluted,

dished and

smooth, andl

is

covered I)y

tlhe sensitive

sole. The

upler surface

hell)s to formi'

tlhe cothit

joint, anld

is (cIlledl

tile

joint

surface;

it

has

two shallow

cavities,

selparated

by

a

ridge

to fit the

lower

surface of

the

short

plsterIl

l)ne.

Just

back

of

the

joint

surface

is

: smiall

groove

to fit

the

navicular

bone

which

lies behiull.

Just

ba:ck

of

the

sole is a roumgh suifalce,,

to, whllichl is attaclled

the

flexor tenllloi

of

thlle

foot;

it

Is

catled tile tendinous

surface.

On

each

side

of

this

surface is a:

groove runi'uill

forwai;'l

to

an

opening;

an artery

and

a nerve

enter the bone, anll at vein

leaves

it through this olpening.

On

each side,

the

coffin

bone

extenls

lbackward,

forminlg

what

is called

the

wing.

IEach

wing llhas

a

notch

allnd

a

groove, the

latter

running

forward on the

outside of

the

lonet ; alt

aIrtery

lies

in

the

notch

and

groove.

The navicular

bone is

of

irregular

shape, situateld

behind

and

below

the short

pastern bolle

and

behind

the coffill

onlle, forming

a joint with

both. The

extrellities of

tihe

bone are

at-

tached

to the

wings

of

the coffiln bone:

the lowver sulrface is

covered

with

cartilage, which formls

La

smlooth surface

for the

movement

of the flexor

tendon, whillh bends

thle joint;

for this

reason

the

bone

is

usually

called the

"shuttle

bone."

ELASTIC PARTS OF

TILE FOOT.

29. All

of the parts of

the foot. except

the oones, are

more

or

less

elastic

or " springy

" and yield

when

pressure

is

applied;

but certain

p)arts

have a

very

high

degree

of elasticity,

their

special

use

being to overcome

the

effects

of

concussion or

jar

when

the

foot

strikes the

gronnd

and

to p)revent Injury, and

these

parts

are referred

to as

the elastic

parts

of

the foot.

These

are

the lateral

cartilages

and the

plantar

cushion, or

fatty

frog, us

it

is

sometimes

called.

38


43/108

THE

ARMY

HORSESHOER.

The

lateral cartilages

are

two thin pl)ates

of

cartilage (gristle),

one

attached

to the tol) of

each

wing of tile e(tffin

bone,

and

extending

blackwalrd and(

lupwardl so( far that their

Ul)1)er )borders

may be

felt:

under the skin a;love

the coronet at the

heels.

The plantar cushion is

a

ery elastic

wedge-shaped

pad, which

tills utl

the

space between the two

laiteral

cartilages

oin

tile

sides,

the

sensitive

frol,

below,

tiln

the

flexor tendon above.

The

ploillt or

front

l)art

of the

pllaintar cushion

exten(ds for-

wardt to the ritlge whicll sep'l)rates

t

he sole su1rf(Ce fl oil thle

telndlillous

surfl(e of

tlhe

cotliln hle.

'1h'e bh

Ils,

or b(ack

i rt

Is

covered by the skin

above

the

heels.

SENSITIVE PARTS

OF

THE

FOOT.

30.

Over

the bones

and(

elastic Iparts of the

foot is found

a

ominl)lete covering

of very sensitive flesh.

Frowi

each lpart of

this

layer

of

flesh sonie port

ion

of

the

hoof

is

secretted

or grown.

I he sensitive Iparts are: The coronary

band, tile

)periollie ing,

Ahe sensitive

lainin:;P,

tile sensitive sole, inld tile sensitive frog.

Th le coronary

band is

a thick band of tough flesh, lablit four-

fifths of

anl inch

wide, extending entirely around

tile

top of

the

hoof from

one

bulb

of the

heel

to the

other,

and lying

in

a

groove

(coronary groove) on

the

inner

upper

surface of tile vwall. The

surface of

the

coroniary band

is covered with

snmall l)ointed pro-

jections, called

villi,

froml

which is

secreted or

grown the horny

wall

of

the

hoof.

The perioplic ring

is

a narrow l)and of flesh running

around

just

above the

coronlary

batlnl

alld

ssel)arated froml

it by

a

failnt

groove in

the

wall. Froml the fine villi on the sulrface of this

ring

the

delicate

fibers grow which forml the

periople

or hoof

varnish.

The

sensative laminae (fleshy leaves) cover and

are firnly

attached to the front

surfalce

of the

coffin

l)one and to the lower

part of the

outer surfa:le

of

the

lateral cartilages. From these

delicate

leaves of

the

flesh

grow the horny

laminae,

the inside

lining of tile horny wall.

The sensitive sole (covers the

sole

surface of the

coffin

bone,

is

coveredl with villi, anlld

secretes the

horny sole.

rThe sensitive frog

covers the lower

surface

of

the

plantar

cushion,

alnd fron its

villi

the

horny

frog

Is

secreted.

39


44/108

THE

ARMY

HORSESHOER.

TillE: 11hOOF.

31.

The

box or

case

of

lhorn,

c;llled

tile hoof,

which

incloses

and

I)roteets

the

other structures

of

the

foot.

is dividritle

into

three

iarts;

wall,

sole,

and

frog.

I n a

healthy foot

these

parts

are

solidly

uniteed.

32.

Tile

wall/ (ex-cept

the bar)

extendlls

froln

the

edge

of

the

hair

to the

groulld,

anlld

is dividedl

into

the

toe,

quarters,

and

buttress

(or

heels).

The toe

is

tile

front

palrt

of

thle

wall.

It is

steeper

in

the

hind

foot

than

ill

the

fore.

The

quarter

exten(ls

backward

on e'lch

side

froml

the

toe

to

tile buttre,,sll

r

heel.

'he

buttress

is that

[part

of tile wall

whllere

it

be) nds

inwatrd

1and

forward.

Th'le

bar

is

at lMirt

of

thle wall

aVnd

rus

flroII

tihe

bUttress

to

Withilln

about

one inch

of

tile l)oilt

or

al)ex. of

the frog.

The buttress,

there-

fore,

is the

junction

of the

quarter

and

the

bar.

The

outsi(le

of

thle

dall

is covered

l)y a

thin

varnish-like

coat

of

tille

horn,

calle(l

thll

periople.

The

inside

of tile

wall

is coveredl

with

thin

pllates or

leaves

of

horn,

caelled

the

horny

laminae.

Betweell

tile

hlorny

lawlinie,

which

run

pIrallel

to

each

other

and in

a direction

downward

and

forward,

there are

fissures

into which

dovetail

the

sensitive

lainie,

anld

this

union

(a)

biluds

the

wall

of

the

hoof

to the

coffin

bone

and

lateral

cartilages:

(b)

suslpenIds

tile

weight

of

the horse

as

in

a

slingl;

and

((c) thus

p)revents

the

bones

from

descending oni

the

sole.

The uplper

lor'der

of thie

wall

shows

a

deel)

groove

(coronary

groove)

into

which

fits

tlle coronlary

band.

The

lower blorder

of tile

wall

is

(called

the

"Ibearing

surface"

(or spread

in

the

unshod

foot),

and

is

tile part

to which

the

shoe is fitted.

33.

The

horny

sole is

a thick

plate

of

horn,

somewhat

half-

moon

shaped.

The

uppler

surface

is

arched

uplward,

nnid

is

in

union

with

the

sensitive

sole

froml

which

the

horny

sole

grows.

rhe

lower

surface

is hollowed

an l is coverled

with scales

or

crusts

of

dead

horn,

which

gradually

loosen

anl fall

off.

The

outer

border

of

tile

sole

is joined

to

the

inner

part of

the

lower

border

of the

wall

1by

a rillg

of

soft

horn

called

the

white

/ine.

This

line

is

sometimes

called

the

guide

line,

as

it

shows

where

the

nail

should

be

started

in

shoeing.

40


45/108


The inner

border

is a

V-shaped notch,

which

is in union

with

the

bars, except

at its narrow

)part.

where it

joins

the

frog.

The

horny sole I)rote(:ts the

sensitive sole and must not

bear

upon

the

shoe,

except

a

very

narrow

strip near

the

white

line,

ain eighth or

tenth

of an inch

in

width.

34. The horny

frog is

a

wvedge-shaped

nlass filling up the

triangular splace between the

bars. Thlle

lower

surface

has two

prominent ridges,

selpar'ated behinll by a

cavity

called

the cleft

and

joining in front at

the

point

of tlhe frog; these

ridges ter-

minate behinld in

the

btfbs of

the frog.

Between

the sides of the frog

and

the bars are two cavities

called

the commissures.

L)eep collmissnres

indicate a

thick sole

and

shallow

ones

the

reverse.

'Lhe

lllper

surface of the

horny

frog

is the

exact

reverse of

the

lower: it has i11 the middle a

rildge of

horn

callet

the

frog

stay.

which1

;ssists

in

forming a

firill

union between

tile hlorny

frog

allel the sensitive frog. The

honly

frog assists

tile ll]autar (Cushion inl

lreaking tlhe jar or (oonles-

sion,

protects

the sensitive frog,

anld pIrevents the foot

from

slipping.

SU('TITUR: OF I ION.

35. The

horn

of

the

hoof

presents

a

fibrous nppenrance,

and

consists of very

fine horn fibers or

tubes,

similar to hairs,

run-

ning dlownwarid

and l

fora-nr(ld nd helh

toget:ther

by

31 ementing

substance. The horn

fil)ers

of

w;lll, sole and

frog,

all

run

in

the

same dlirection. dlownwardl anld forward, the

oillly

difference

being

that those of

the frog are

nlllch finer,

softer, and

more

elastic.

They

also

run

in wavy

lines, whereas

the fibers

of

wall

and sole

a:re

straight.

They grow, as

plrevimisly eNpslaite d. fron

the snmtll finger-like

)rojections

or points

called

rilli.

whic h cover

the snrfaces of the

coronary band, sensitive

.'ole. an(d

sensitive

frog. /

EXPANSION AND

CONTRACTION.

.36. When

weight

collics l o4l tie le

c-,

the

I

lantar

cushion

tind

hlorlly

frog are

eomnli

ressodI

let

weeni

the

grinolll

b)elow

and

the strluctures

above; this

compllression caulses them

to spread

out

sideways, carrying

outward the lateral cartilages

and

bars

and the

wall

at

the

quarters.

This

is called expansion.

41


46/108

THE

ARMY

HORSESHOER.

The foot structures, however, are so held together that

the

cofftin

bone (os pledis) can not descend

and could not come

through even were the entire horlly

sole

removed, as Is somle-

tinles

necessary in

a diseased foot. This

being so,

plroper ex-

pansioln

without frog plressure

is

not

l)ossi]le,

the

force expandl-

ing

the

plaiitar

cushion being exerted

from below

by

pressure

of the

gronld on the horuny frog, mll(d

uIt

little colnling

fromi

the

bony structures

iblove,

they acting mlore

in

the

capacity

of

biiffers. The result

of

absence of frog pressure Ialay be noted

in horses shod witll

heel

calks and used on

city

pavements.

The

expansion being reduced to a niiminimum,

contracted heels

nimst result.

When weight

is removed from the leg, the pIlantar cushion

returns

to

its

nornml

size,

allowing

the

lateral

cartilages

and

quarters to move innward( to where they were before

exlpa)nding.

This

is

called contraction. The elastic lateral

cartilage is mnerely

a flexible extension

of the

wing of

thle

coffin

)boe

and would

appear

to have

been

splecially

d(esigned

for

expan;sion

an(d con-

traction at

the

quarters.

It is also

to

be noted( that

the bars

are a

i)rovision

for this salle

pIlirpose, since expansioul

and

con-

traction could

not

take place if

the

wall formed

a

solid unbroken

ring around the hoof.

In

addition

to

breaking

the

jar

when

the

foot

comes

to

the

ground,

the plantar cushion has another

inlportant use. It

assists in the

circulation of the

blood through

the

veins of the

foot.

When

weight is

placed

iupon the foot

the

p)ressure on the

plantar

cushion

forces

the

blood

upward through the

veins;

then,

when

thle foot

is

lifted and

the pressure is remloved from

the horny

frog and p

lantar

cushion, the

veins

of the frog

again

fill

with

bloodl, :ll(

th]is pl)ulping action is

repeated with each

step. Proof of

this

statenent is

seen when

a1

vein

of

the lower

leg

is cut. If the horse

is Nwalked,

a

jet of blood spurlts outt

each

time

he pInts

the

foot to the

grollnd:

bult

if lie is allowed

to stand

the

blood

flows in a steady streaml from

the vein.

(:reat,

injury

to the foot

results from

starting the

horse off

s111-

denly at a fast gait

on a hard road after he has been

standing

for

some time,

or

when

he first

comes

out of

thle stable. The

circulation of the

blood and the structures

of

the foot sholld

have tinle

to

gradually adapt

themselves

to

the change froln

rest

to

severe

work.

42


47/108

THE ARMY

HORSESHOER.

43

MOIST'URE.

37.

The wall

of the healthy

hoof is, by

weight, about

one-

fourth

wvater,

the

sole

more

than

one-tbirdl,

and

the

frog

almost

one-hnaf. Th'lis

water

is

sull)llied

by

the blood.

anl

preserves

tile

horn

ill :t tough

and elastic condllition.

The periol)le,

which

covers the vnlII,

Iprevelnts

the

evap'lortion

of

water, and therefore

should( never ble rase(l.

As there is

no simlilr corering for

the

sole anid

the

frog, the

layers of

hlornl on their

exl)osed

surfaces

dry out a ndl lie.

The

ldead layers

are hard

and

brittle

and

gra(itilly

fall or fliie

off; hbut. as they

1preserve the moisture

in the

layers

of

live horn Ieneath,

as

little as

possible

should

be

removed

in

preparing the

hoof for

shoeing.


48/108

CHAPTER V.

NORMAL SHOEING.

By normal

shoeing is

meanlt the

shoeing

of

I sound

foot of a

horse

with

proper gaits.

RAISIN(G TIIE

FOOT.

88.

In

preparing to raise

:a hol'Ses

foot, never al)plroach

the

animal

suddenly. for

lie

will

lnot

only

l)e startled(,

Inut a sud(lell

pull at his foot will

plrobably

disturbl his hlal.llt'e. and

the

lifting

will be

more difficult

for both imn andl horse.

To

raise

the forefoot,

the shoer

stallds

with

his i).:ck to the

horse's head and

places

his insi(le

hlnd

on

the

horse's shoulder.

Then,

beuding over,

he

runs his

lltln( gently

dowin

the

back of

the

leg until

the

fingers,

with

the thuimb on

the

outside,

are just

above

the

fetlock. The shoer's

shoulder is pressed

against

the

shoulder

of the horse,

forcing

the

weight upon

the other

fore-

foot. (P1.

V,

fig.

1.) A slight grasp

of

the hand

on the ten-

dons

is

usually

sufficient

to

induce

thie horse

to

raise the

foot.

The

shoer next

straddles

the

holrse's

leg

anll

holds the foot

upon

his

knees.

The

shoer's

toes

shoull

be tulrned in to

give

strength to

the position.

(I'1.

V,

fig.

2.)

89.

Raising

the

hind

foot is

Jperfornled in

two

different

ways.

In

the

first

Inethod the

shoer, stalndling at the

horse's

flank

and

with his back

to the

anlliml's

hen(l, b)ends lutil

his shoulder

presses

the

horse's

thigh,

runs

his hand

gra:dually down the

tendons and

grasps

thenl

as

in

raising the

forefoot. In the

second

method,

the

one

generally einl))oyed,

the

shoer

stands

as illn the

first

method, b)ut with

his

outsiide

foot

a(lv:anced

(P1.

VI,

fig. 1); the hand

nearest the horse

is hplaced

upon

the

ani-

mal's

hip, gently pushing

hinl over

and forcing tlhe

weight

upon

the

opposite

hind foot;

meanwhile

the

other

hand

is

run

slowly

44


49/108

THE

ARMY

HORSESHOER.

I 1

PLATE

V.

23142-10

----

4

45


50/108

THE

ARMY

HORSESHOER.

PLATE

VI.


51/108

THE

ARMY HORSESHOER.

down

the back

tenl(lons from

below the

hock.

The

leg is grasped

under

tile fetlock

alldl

is

slightly

raised

forward.

The

shoer

now

swings

his inside

leg unlder

the horse's

leg

(L'l.

VI, fig.

2),

plesses

it

with

his

klnee

and(l

exten(ls

it

to

tile

rear

to

the

posi-

tion

shIownI

ill

Plat

1 ,

figure

3.

('re

mnust

b)e exercise(l

that

the

foot is

inot hel(l

t()

high

nor c':ll''itl

too

far

to

the rear,

for

the

discomfortols

ot

th!ese

strainel(d

1)sitions

will

induce

the

horse

to

pull his

leg

away.

PRELI

MINARY

EXIM

INATIONS.

40.

Three

carefll

examlllnations

should

i)(?

made

lbefore

old

shoes

are

reniovedl

frol

the

horse:

1.

Of the

action

of the feet

when the

horse

is

in

motion.

2. Of the

shalpe qiild I)osition

of

the feet at

rest.

3.

Of the evi(lellce

of

wearl

(oi

tilhe

old

sihoe.

For

the

first

exlnminal;tion,

the horse l;tmving

free use

of his

head,

shoultld

)e le.d

ait

;1

wvalk all(l

at

al

low trot

upon

level

grolundl.

UIneveni

gronll(1

will produce

mtodifications

of

the nat-

ural g2lit,

anlld

tight

reill

or :

short

holdl

oil

the halter shank

will oIlso

aliter

the free, latullral

motion.

TIe

shoer

assumllllles

a

squattinlg

pIositioln

atill

observes

the

feet

ias

the

horse

is led

past

him.

away

fromi

hinl,

111and1owrd

hil.

The

n1111111(1r

illn

which

a1

foot

lenaves

thle

groulll,

its pa;lil

in the

air,

and

the

mnanner

in

whlich

it

is

plaulte(l,

should

Ie

closely

watched

in

order

to

det(c.t

any of

the

(hl'fts

of

gait

which

call

be reedlied

by

ilntelligent

shoeilg.

(,S, Chalter

I.)

41.

For the

se('olld

examim;atio.

the

Ihr'Se

llhould

stand

nt t

ease

on

tile

tloor:

the

sllape

of

each

foot

mlldl leg

should be

ob-

serve

fro

te

f

fro

e

sie.

a

romm

the

froit

from

each si(e.

aid

froi

tle rear,

care

being exercised

that

thel leg,

at

the

time.

is

bearing

its

proper

share of

the aninial's

weight.

Th'l'e shoel'

first

stludlies

the

nalturil-l

I;lsternl

conformlltion.

Is

the

long pastern

sl:nting

in

inwrdll ),

is it

vertical

(straight),

or

is

it

sloping

outwqard

(toe

out)?

( l1.

VII,

figs.

1,

2,

and

.q.)

HIlaing

decid(ed

this

point

he(

thein st(udies

the

position

of the

"pasterl

axis " l

nd

the

"foot

axis."

As seen

from

thle

front

we

any consider

that

the

"pastern

axis

is the

imaginary

line exactly

splitting

the

long

pastern

in

two,

and

that

the

foot

axis

is the

line

exactly

splitting

47


52/108


PASTERN

CONFORMATION.

1.

TOE

IN

4. BROKEN

OUT 1. CORRECT

8.

BROKEN

IN

PASTERN CONFORMATION.

12. BROKEN FORWARD

7.

SLOPING 8.

REGULAR 9. BTUMPY

PREPARATION

OF

THE HOOF.

48

I

I

It.

10. BROKEN BACK

I1.

CORRECT


53/108

THE

ARMY HORSESHOER.

the foot

in

two; that is, the

linle

froll

the

center

of

the

toe to

the center

of

tile

coronet.

(l'lle foot axis

Imay

he d(rawn

on

the wall in chalk.)

These

two

axes

shouhl

hbe

in

prwlonlgation

or

appear

to

be

one

straigilt line no matter

what the natural pastern

conformation figs.

1,

2,

3,

allnd

5) and if tlle

shller

finds this

condition

satisfactory,

he will simplly neetl to plrepare

the foot evenly

for shoeing

as

exl)lained

later. But

if

the

two axes

dlo

unot al)l)ear as one

straiight line

there will

be a break at

the

coronet.

This

is

a

plroof

that the foot is

not

level and that the horse

is

not

standing

correctly.

If

the line is

" broken out "

(fig.r.

4) the

inner wall

is

too higyh

and

the fault

is

remedieid

by nipping

offt more

of the

inside

wall

than

of

the

outside.

If

the line

is

"broken

in

"

(fig. (I)

the

outside wall is to/) high

and

should

be trilmmed

down

more than the

inside. The dotted lines

in the figures

show

the

amount

to

be

trilmmled

off.

It vill

be

noticed

that the

"lbroken ot t"

foot looks

like

the

"toe in, and

the

" broken

in foot looks like the "

toe out,"

blut

in

the natural

conformations

there

is

no break

at lhe

coronet.

42. Stan.lding

at the si(le, tile shoer should

notice

the

height

of the foot,

the

length of

tlhe

toe.,

nd

tle slope of the line of

the

toe;

that

is,

the front line

of the hoof as seell froml the

side.

Ilere,

again, we

have three

cases of natural Ilastern conforllna-

tionl: The "

sloping,"

the

i' egular,"

and the "

stumplnlly

" (figs. 7,

8,

and 9) ; but the line of

tle toe

shoul(l,

nevertheless, be

paral-

lel

in each

case

to the

lpastelrn axis as

seen

from

the side.

By careful

sighting

froml the

side,

draw

a

chalk

line between

the

second

and third clinches, with

exactly the smllle slope

as

the

line

of the

toe.

This mark

will generally

hav-e

the

sallle

direction

as the horn fibers.

Now

staand

ick aInld determlline

if

this inirk

and

the

"

pastern axis," is seen

froml the

side, are

one

anld

-tlIe

same

line.

If

so. trinl off

the

surpllus

growth

evenlyv. If not. the

line

will lie

broken at the

coronet.

11n

"broken back"

(fig. 10) the

toe

is too

high and

should be

trimmed

more

than the

lheel: in "

broken

forward

" the heel is

too high

alld

should

be trinlllled

lmore

than the

toe.

The '"broken

balck" looks

like

the sloping

pastern and the

"broken

forward "

looks

like

the

stumlly

pastern.

'The

break at

the

coronet, however, is

the sure

guide.

For

the

third

examination

the foot

must

be

raised.

48.

The

wear

of

the

old

shoe

should

be

carefully

noted

as

a check

on the preceding two exaLinations. If the shoe has

49


54/108


worn

evenly,

its position

on tlie foot wV.Is

ull(loubltedly

correct.

If one side

of the

shoe

shoNws more

wear,

(a) tllat

si(le may

have

been fitted

too closely,

(b) there

m

ay lIe sollie

fault

ill

gait;

which

shoull

have

bleeli

notell

l

tle

first

ex;iillnatioll,

c

)

the

foot

may not

llailve lwell l)rolprly

leveledl

ill the

last shoeing,

(d)

the quarters,

as

frequenltly

hlllpell,

Imay

have grown

1ll

evenly since

the

last

shoeing.

Horses

with

long,

solldng

las-

terns

wear the

shoe miore at

the

eIel.

while

those

with

shol't,

llupright pasterns

wear

the

shoe

more ;lt the toe.

T'here

is

a slight

scuff at thle

nmoment of b1reaking

over,

which

prodilces

a norilmal

.wear

at the

toe,

but ovel'rorked

horses

and:

those

suffering

from

disease

show

more

than tllis

ntormal

wea r.

REMOVAL

OF T11H:

Ol.l)

SIIOE.

44. The

clincllhes

are

cut

off or

straightene(l

with

the

clinch

cutter

and

h1ainmer.

Thlle sllhp

edge of

tlhe clinch

cutter

is

placed

under

the

edge

of

the

clinch and

struck

with the

halm1-

nler

until the clinch

trnsl uI)

fiat against

the wall

or

is

brokenl

off.

If

evenl one

clinch is

left holding

it

may

break

off the

portion

of

the wall

to which it

is

fastenled.

Beginning

at tlIe

lieel,

thle

shle

is loosellned

with the

pinchers

lind,

gradually

working

toward

tlhe

toe,

is selallrate(d

from the

hoof

until

all

the

nails

are

free

excolpt

one

at

tile

toe.

The

shoe

is firmly graspled

at

this

na

Documents

WD 0356 - The Army Horseshoer.pdf