s not
tender under pressure with the hands or moderate compression with
pincers. The coronet is soft and elastic at all points and does not
project beyond the surface of the wall. The wall (fig. 8) is straight
from coronet to ground, so that a straightedge laid against the wall
from coronet to ground parallel to the direction of the horn tubes will
touch at every point. The wall should be covered with the outer
varnishlike layer (periople) and should show no cracks or clefts. Every
hoof shows "ring formation," but the rings should not be strongly marked
and should always run parallel to the coronary band. Strongly marked
ring-formation over the entire wall is an evidence of a weak hoof, but
when limited to a part of the wall is evidence of previous local
inflammation. The bulbs of the heels should be full, rounded, and of
equal height. The sole (fig. 1) should be well hollowed out, the white
line solid, the frog well developed, the middle cleft of the frog broad
and shallow, the spaces between the bars and the frog wide and shallow,
the bars straight from the buttress toward the point of the frog, and
the buttresses themselves so far apart as not to press against the
branches of the frog. A hoof can not be considered healthy if it
presents reddish discolored horn, cracks in the wall, white line, bars,
or frog, thrush of the frog, contraction or displacement of the heels.
The lateral cartilages should yield readily to finger pressure.

[Illustration: FIG. 2.--Pair of fore feet of regular form in regular
standing position.]

VARIOUS FORMS OF HOOFS.

As among a thousand human faces no two are alike, so among an equal
number of horses no two have hoofs exactly alike. A little study of
different forms soon shows us, however, that the form of every hoof is
dependent in great measure on the direction of the two pastern bones as
viewed from in front or behind, or from one side; and that all hoofs
fall into three classes when we view them from in front and three
classes when we observe them in profile. Inasmuch as the form of every
foot determines the peculiarities of the shoe that is best adapted to
it, no one who is ignorant of, or who disregards the natural form of, a
hoof can hope to understand physiological shoeing.

[Illustration: FIG. 3.--Pair of fore feet of base-wide form in toe-wide
standing position.]

FORMS OF FEET VIEWED FROM IN FRONT AND IN PROFILE.

Whether a horse's feet be observed from in front or fr