XLVIII. TOE WEIGHT SHOES.
A toeweight shoe is used with good results on front feet to increase the fold of the knee, more height and reach. This shoe can be used with a square, round, beveled or sharp toe, or with a grab toe calk as the case calls for. If your horse is inclined to mix and needs weight to go good gaited, the sharp toe or one with a grab on it is best. To shorten the stride, shorten the toes of feet and square or bevel the toes of the shoe but do not lower the heel any. By increasing the weight of this shoe and raising the heels you can increase the height of the front action to your liking. To lengthen the stride in using this shoe, lower quarters and heels of the front feet to an angle of 48 to 50 degrees and use the plain toeweight shoe or one with a grab on it. This toeweight shoe is the best to use on a trotter that is hitching, hopping or running behind, and when carrying one hind leg between the front ones. Bevel this shoe from a little to the outside center of toe around the inside to the quarter or near the heel with a small heel calk. This shoe must be from one to two ounces more than twice the weight of the shoe carried on the perfect gaited leg. If the good gaited leg is carrying a six-ounce shoe this faulty gaited leg or foot will have to carry 13 ounces, not less, to change the line of action, 14 ounces will be better than 12 ounces, but the hind foot will have to be the lowest on the inside, if anything, as it was a high inside of foot that first started the trouble. A horse that is hitching should not be speeded until the action or gait of the faulty leg has been balanced, for it is so easily done. A driver who will try and drive the hitching out of a horse with the lines and whip is just as much unbalanced as is the dumb animal.