,—in a horse, is the bone extending from the knee to the fetlock-joint. This bone should be uniform, firm and compact, well proportioned to the length of the fore-arm above, and the pastern below; if too long for either, or both, the symmetry is totally lost; and hence a general objection to horses whose legs are too long for the CARCASE, which is a defect readily observed; and indifferent judges are always prepared to say, such a horse has "too much day-light under him."
SHAPE and MAKE
.—The "shape and make" of horses offered for sale, is such an eternal echo, whether at the public hammer, or by private contract, from one end of the kingdom to the other, that it is natural to conceive, no sporting subject can be more completely understood; but as there are eternally younger branches coming forward, and monied noviciates paying for practical experience in the art of DEALING, such extensive rules are introduced, to inculcate the absolute necessity for circumspection in BUYING, under the head Horse, that not a single line of utility can be added upon the subject.
SHARK
—was the most capital horse of his time; bred by Mr. Pigott, foaled in 1771, got by Marsk, dam by Snap, out of the dam of Warwickshire Wag. This horse was proved, next to Childers and Eclipse, to have been possessed of more speed than any horse ever bred or produced in the kingdom. He beat all his cotemporaries at every distance, (long or short,) clearly demonstrating his superiority, whether they run for speed, or run for bottom. His distinct winnings are too remote from the present time to enumerate individually, but they amounted in the aggregate to a GOLD CUP value 123 guineas, eleven hogsheads of claret, and the astonishing sum of 20,000 guineas, in plates, matches, sweepstakes, forfeits, and bets. When no horse in England could be found to start against him, he was taken to America as a STALLION, although it was publicly affirmed, 10,000 guineas were offered for him before his departure; admitting which to be the fact, it could have been done with no other motive than to render him a private STALLION for the mares of those only who subscribed to the aggregate.
SHOEING of HORSES
,—which for time immemorial remained in its almost original state, has for the last fourteen years become an object of importance and general investigation. What for a century before was never thought worthy a moment's consideration, but by those whose professional province it was to FORM the SHOES, and set them on, is at length found worthy the fashionable and condescending inspection of NOBLEMEN, GENTLEMEN, the polished groom, and the illiterate stable-boy. This change is well known to have originated in the publication of "Taplin's Stable Directory" 1789; which, from its unprecedented popularity, passed through TWELVE editions in the short space of four years. To the appearance of this work, upon a subject so long neglected, are the public indebted for the much-wanted veterinarian improvement which has since taken place; as well as for the constantly increasing influx of veterinary writers, who, speculating upon the success of the original reformer, have obtruded upon the world such an infinity of imitations, and such a profusion of what they have thought improvements, that the discerning part of the public (plainly perceiving the deceptive imbecility of such attempts) rendered them abortive; a multiplicity of books having been announced upon veterinary subjects within the last seven years, which have been immediately buried in oblivion, without a sale sufficient to pay even for the paper upon which the works were printed.
The rage for an improvement in the system of farriery which Taplin's books had induced, extended to almost every part of the kingdom, and necessitous adventurers became vulcanian speculators in every direction. Various new, important and infallible plans of SHOEING were hypothetically introduced amongst the infant crop of newly-sown veterinarians; one avowed himself an advocate for long shoes; another, for short shoes; a third, for high shoes; a fourth, for low shoes, and thin heels; a fifth, for half shoes; and a still more sagacious groupe of THEORETICIANS, for no shoes at all!!! To the great credit of the nation, and the strenuous endeavours of investigating individuals, this fashionable thirst of folly, this infatuating furor, seems now in a great degree to have subsided, and affords reason to believe, as well as to hope, the veterinary mania has (at least in this respect) attained its CRISIS; and that the only rational, safe, and judicious mode now in general use, will be no more attacked by the wild and chimerical speculations of those, whose want of professional skill and scientific information must ever render their schemes abortive.
That gentlemen will dedicate part of their time to examine the internal structure of the foot, the anatomical formation and junction of the bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilages, and membranes, is not to be expected; but that they will, upon the principle of self-defence, be careful to understand enough of the EXTERIOR, to check occasionally the rude hand of the injudicious or inconsiderate operator, is readily to be believed. The operative act of shoeing, in its general sense, as appertaining to the making of the shoe, the insertion of the nails, and the external finish of the foot, are too well known, and publicly performed, to require the most trifling description. Although one general data, or fixed rule, is laid down, by which all good and sound-footed horses should be shod without an exception, (proportioning the form, size, substance and weight of the shoe to the use of the horse,) yet there are occasional deviations, which cannot consistently be avoided, but must be prudently submitted to, when diseases of the foot, or injuries to the hoof, render them truly necessary. Hoofs, it is well known, are not all alike, nor are the same hoofs always in the same state; some are preserved so by unremitting care, and strict attention; others are permitted to get into decay, and to become diseased by a want of both. The OPERATIVE FARRIER has his different distinctions and denominations for the various kinds of hoof which come under his hand; as the sound, strong, firm, black hoof, which is generally perfect, and seldom either defective or diseased; the rough and brittle hoof, which is mostly wide and weak, requiring nightly stopping at the bottom, and oiling round the top; the long, flat and shelly hoof, which runs all to toe, and leaves nothing at the heel; the crooked or rather horny hoof, which, from a defect in radical moisture, grows into a wrinkled rigidity, that almost sets both the RASP and BUTTERIS at defiance. There are also others so thin, wide, and expanded above, and the outer sole so prominent on each side the frog below, that such are called fleshy-footed, and require a shoe of peculiar formation, as well as much extra care in setting it on. Some hoofs are so contracted with heat, and narrowed at the heel, (particularly if the frogs are wasted by thrush and corrosion,) that when turned, the vacuum bears the appearance of intentional excavation.
Under this accumulation of considerations, some conditional variations must be admitted, from the fixed and proper rules to be laid down, although the fundamental principle should still be the same; and, notwithstanding the superfluous and destructive freedom of the drawing-knife and butteris, are frequently, and with great justice, condemned; yet they must sometimes be brought into moderate use: but those who render them subservient to the purposes required, should invariably retain it in memory, that more may be injudiciously destroyed in five minutes, than can possibly be restored in TEN months. The entire ART of SHOEING may be reduced to a very concise description, and consists in paring the foot (when it is necessary) with judgment, tenderness, and safety; to form the shoe with good, substantial, sound, Swedish iron, of a shape and make hereafter to be described; in selecting nails of a proper size, length, or strength, equally adapted to the shape of the foot, and the weight of the shoe; and, lastly, to the very critical task of driving them properly, clinching them firmly, and finishing the foot neatly.