used to give the hoof a smart and clean appearance. Instead of that, as soon as the horse is brought out, if broken straws from the stall are not adhering to it (generally the case), in less than ten minutes it is covered with dust, which adheres to it, and stops all chance of circulation of air, which is so necessary to the well-being of the foot. The hoof is naturally porous; and if coated with grease the circulation of air is stopped, and the foot naturally injured, and there is a great probability of engendering disease.’ These quotations are taken from the paper mentioned, in its issues of January 17 and 31, 1880.
Some months since a contemporary stated: ‘We hear that a new horseshoe has been adopted by the North Metropolitan Tramways Company since they commenced to keep their own horses. The stud of the company numbers over 2,000 animals; and, with the view of easing the laborious travelling of the horses over stony roads, the new patent horseshoe of Mr. A. Seeley, of the United States, has been tried. This shoe weighs 1¼lb., or less than half the usual weight’ (The Charlier three-quarter shoe weighs five ounces).’ It is fastened on when cold, and, being without “clips” or calks, the frog, or centre of the horse’s foot, is allowed to rest firmly on the ground. The cost of shoeing under the new system is about ninepence, instead of one shilling, a week per horse.’
The Seeley Company now refer in their prospectus to tramway and other companies in the chief towns in England as to their success in working
