Rational Horse-Shoeing   By: John E. (John Edwards) Russell (1834-1903)

by

WILDAIR.

PREFIX.

Since the publication of this little volume we have made changes in our horse shoe with a view to adapt it especially to Army use. Our design has been to make a shoe that any Army farrier can apply in a cold state without the use of any other tool than a knife to prepare the hoof, and a hammer to drive the nails. Our success in this attempt has been so complete that we are now using the pattern designed especially for Army use in all our contract work.

The shoe is rolled without a heel calk, so that the frog pressure may be readily secured without heating and drawing the iron: the nail holes are punched so that the nail furnished by us with the shoe may be driven, without the use of the pritchel to punch out the holes. The shoe, being made of the best quality of iron, may be bent cold to adapt it to the shape of the hoof.

Officers will at once see what a vast saving there is in the transportation of shoes requiring no forge with its heavy outfit and which are less than half the weight of the clumsy old patterns.

[Illustration: THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.]

RATIONAL HORSE SHOEING.

by

WILDAIR.

With Illustrations.

New York: Published by Wynkoop and Hallenbeck, No. 113 Fulton Street. 1873.

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1873, by Wynkoop & Hallenbeck, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington.

INTRODUCTION.

In presenting the observations contained in the following pages, we are aware that we appeal to practical men who judge by results, and have but slight patience with mere theory. We wish, therefore, to state clearly at the outset, that the system of horse shoeing herein advocated, and the shoe offered by us to accompany it and accomplish its purpose, are the result of years of patient study of nature, and actual experiment; and that although we have had to contend with ignorance and interest on the part of the farriers, and indifference and prejudice on the part of owners of horses, we have finally succeeded in interesting the most practical and capable men in America, England, and France in the matter; and, at the time of this publication, thousands of horses, engaged in the most arduous labors of equine life upon railways, express wagons, transfer companies, and other similar difficult positions are traveling upon our shoes, their labors lightened by its assistance, their feet preserved in a natural, healthy state, and their lives prolonged to the profit of their owners and the advancement of that cause one of the evidences of the progress of our age in true enlightenment which has for its beneficent object the prevention of cruelty to the dumb and helpless companions of our toil.

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.

The first application of the Goodenough shoe is almost invariably to the feet of horses suffering from some one of the forms of foot disease, induced by the unnatural method of shoeing. Our system is intended for sound horses, to supply the necessary protection to the feet, and to keep them in a healthy condition. Our rules for shoeing, embodied in our circular of instructions, are applicable to sound horses, and disease must be provided for as exceptional.

Men are careless and, as a rule, unobservant; they go on in the old way until the horse flinches in action or stands "pointing" in dumb appeal to his owner, telling with mute but touching eloquence of his tight ironed, feverish foot, the dead frog, and the insidious disease, soon to destroy the free action characteristic of health. It is when this evidence brings the truth home to him that the neglectful master, eager to relieve the animal, tries our system. To such masters we must say, do not expect that the imprudence and neglect of years can be remedied in an instant. The age of miracles long ago passed away. We do not propose to cure by formula, or bell and book. There is no "laying on of hands" no magical touch of an enchanter's wand.