THE RUBBER PAD.
Various forms of rubber pads, rubber shoes, rope shoes, fiber shoes, and other contrivances to diminish shock and prevent slipping on the hard and slippery pavements of our large cities are in use in different parts of the world. In Germany the rope shoe (a malleable-iron shoe with a groove in its ground surface in which lies a piece of tarred rope) is extensively used with most gratifying results. It is cheap, durable, easily applied, and effective.
In the large cities of England and the United States rubber pads are extensively used. They are rather expensive, but are quite efficient in preventing slipping on polished and gummy pavements, though not so effective on ice. Figure 11 is an illustration of one of the best of many rubber pads. The rubber is stitched and cemented to a leather sole and is secured by the nails of a three-quarter shoe. Such a pad will usually last as long as two shoes. They may be used continuously, not only without injury to the hoof, but to its great benefit. The belief, unsupported by evidence, that rubber pads "draw the feet" keeps many from using them. A human foot encased in a rubber boot may eventually be blistered by the sweat poured upon the surface of the skin and held there by the impervious rubber till decomposition takes place with the formation of irritating fatty acids; but there is no basis for an analogy in the hoof of a horse.
[Illustration: FIG. 11.--Left fore hoof of regular form shod with a rubber pad and "three-quarter" shoe. (Ground surface.)]
[Illustration: FIG. 12.--A narrow right fore hoof of the base-wide (toe-wide) standing position, shod with a plain "dropped-crease" shoe to prevent the toe cutting (interfering). The dotted line at the inner toe indicates the edge of the wall which was rasped away in order to narrow the hoof along the striking section. Note the inward bevel of the shoe at this point, the dropped crease, the distribution of the nails, the long "full" inner branch, and the short "close" outer branch.]
OTHER SPECIAL FORMS.
Some drawings, designed to illustrate shoeing in connection with "interfering" and "forging," and other special conditions, are shown in figures 13 to 18.
[Illustration: FIG. 13.--Hoof surface of a right hind shoe to prevent interfering. The inner branch has no nail holes and is fitted and beveled under the hoof. Note the number and position of the nail holes, the clip on the outer side wall, and the narrowness and bend of the inner branch.]
[Illustration: FIG. 14.--Ground surface of shoe shown in the previous figure. The inner, nailless branch has the thickness of the outer branch plus its calk, so that the inner and outer quarters of the hoof are equidistant from the ground.]
[Illustration: FIG. 15.--Side view of a fore hoof shod so as to quicken the "breaking over" (quicken the action) in a "forger." Note the short shoe, heel calks inclined forward, and the rolled toe.]
[Illustration: FIG. 16.--Side view of a short-toed hind hoof of a forger, shod to slow the action and to prevent injury to the fore heels by the toe of the hind shoe. Note the elevation of the short toe by means of a toe calk and the projection of the toe beyond the shoe. When such a hoof has grown more toe, the toe calk can be dispensed with and the shoe set farther forward.]
[Illustration: FIG. 17.--A toe-weight shoe to increase the length of stride of fore feet. The nails are placed too far back, and the shoe has no characteristic form but the weight is properly placed.]
[Illustration: FIG. 18.--Most common form of punched heel-weight shoe to induce high action in fore feet. The profile of the shoe shows a "roll"
at the toe and "swelled" heels. The weight is well placed, but "rolling"
the toe and raising the heels lower action. The shoe would be much more effective if of uniform thickness and with no roll at the toe.]