Be 6eeeeer
OOOO!
EVOLUTION
of the forse Shue.
Porseshoring without Nails ,
US
Horseshoeing with Nails
So es Sie cle Sa ae ate O10 ae 0) 0) elo Eo ele Sots tet It tht tt DOL ORR OR ORO LOOis
tion with a good article to sell should put it before the world in some rational or effective way. They may have the nu- cleus of a fortune at their com- mand; yet, if they keep it to themselves long enough, and not let the world know about it, they will sooner or later
An individual or corpora- — | be sold out by the sheriff.
EVOLUTION
OF THE
HORSE. SHOE
HORSESHOEING WITHOUT NAILS vs.
HORSESHOEING WITH NAILS
BY
“
H!) D. SHAIFFER
PUBLISHED BY NATIONAL NAILLESS HORSE SHOE COMPANY PHILADELPHIA. ">.>
Publisher
i4 NOVIYI2
PREFACE.
The inventor and patentee of the SHAJFFER NAILLESS HORSESHOE has spent many years of his life and a large fortune in perfecting a horseshoe that fastens rigidly to the hoof without using nails, preserving the hoof of the horse as nearly as possible in its normal condition, which will tend to improving the condition of the horse in general.
He has studied the best authorities on the horse and its ills, dwelling chiefly on the anatomy of the foot; having had all the facilities possible to assist him in his study, has been the owner and breeder of horses for many years, with the decided advantage of being the proprietor of several large horse-shoeing shops in many parts of the country, enabling him to study the many systems and modes of shoeing horses. In his extensive travels throughout the United States, South America and elsewhere, he noticed particularly the different ways many smiths shoe horses, and the result of close observation established the fact that the majority of horseshoers were ignorant of the anatomy of the foot of the horse, and nailed the shoe to it as if they were attaching an iron band to a post.
The principal object of this pamphlet is to awaken the horse owners to the necessity of adopting a horseshoe that requires no nails to securely attach it to the hoof, selecting a shoeing smith who thoroughly understands the anatomy of the horse’s foot and who will not cut away a live and growing substance, which is the principal cause cf permanently crippling many valuable horses.
If this pamphlet should awaken the horse owner to the fact that his horse is valuable property, a valuable machine wearing away by improper lubrication of the gearing (the foot by improper shoeing), then it has served its purpose and in the future the best and noblect of all animals will be given more consideration and provided with better footwear, freeing them from pain and insuring them longer life, then they will be more able to serve man’s purpose.
HA. Des Date: 1912.
H. D. SHAIFFER
INVENTOR AND PATENTEE
(ole Siigl= SHAIFFER NAILLESS HORSE SHOE
The man who has a little mind Is always to his horse unkind; But he who to his horse is kind, Is sure to have a noble mind.
Prof. O. C. Marsh found in the rocks of Fort Bridge, Wyo., the evidences of the first stages of the prehistoric horse, a little animal whose skeleton shows a height of eleven inches. Higher types have been found in the region of the Great Plains.
Professor Osborn, of Columbia University, says: “The his- tory of the horse in America is a subject in which we should feel considerable national pride, because it is highly probable that the direct ancestry of this noble animal came from America before the race became extinct, and that the horse is, therefore, one of the gifts of America to the world.”
On all the earth no animal is compelled to work like the horse. There is none his equal in help and usefulness. Practically he is man’s exclusive slave, willingly performing excessive drudgery uncomplainingly yet, faithful to the end. His usefulness is un- limited. The millions of human beings are indebted to him for their actual substance and sustance. The whole world is indebted to him for expediting the physician to the bedside in birth and in
5
Intelligence. iy Kindness
Antiquity of Horse.
Humanity
Horse’s Debtor.
Horse Abused Shamefully By Inhuman Monsters.
Nailing
on Shoes Intended as Temporary Method Only.
sickness. The friends of the dead are his debtors, for he carries
all to the grave and seemingly joins in the mourning for the de- 4
parted.
Without him we would be unable to speedily reach homes and buriness houses when they are in flames. He enables us to save much valuable goods which otherwise would be destroyed. It is he who cheerfully hauls all material to place for the erection of palaces, cottages and all large business structures scores of stories in height. It is he and he alone we are indebted to for the many miles of railroads which are built across continents, that carry grain to feed humanity. We are obliged to him for the cultiva- tion of both natural and artificial nature, such as parks and beau- tiful lawns, and also the tilling of the soil to grow the wherewithal to feed humanity.
For this unselfish (beyond human labor), and almost beyond”
human devotion, this noble animal is actually repaid with diabol- ical cruelty and inhuman neglect by his caretakers. His treatment by the majority of his owners is inhuman, base and inexcusable, more so, because the poor, faithful, dumb animal has no means of defense, no voice to call out for succor, hence, no chance for immediate aid. He cheerfully goes at a terrific speed long dis- tance, almost beyond endurance for the amusement of his driver and often winning enormous sums in competitive racing for his owner. cial privileged classes, he often wears equipments, both in harness, covering and shoeing, which perhaps covers a painful sore or a lacerated body; he is forced to pull excessive loads up steep hills, straining every fibre in his body to his utmost, at the same time being plied with whip by a monster in the guise of a human being, while barely able to perform the task required, suffering mutely the torture of pain untold, because he is dumb and cannot cry out, “Give me one drop of water to cool my burning tongue and remove my harness and shoes, for my pain is almost unendurable.” Then at last, perhaps, his life is exacted that his carcass may be used as meat to satisfy the hunger of many.
King Solomon admired the horse, and many poets and writers have celebrated him in romance, poetry and song. In fact, he is the only dumb animal that has ever received such encomium. We may not have the wisdom of Solomon, but we have sympathy, for sympathy like a bright light, prompts us to succor the human being and distressed animals as evolution produces the means. The primary means to lessen the torture of the horse that will
6
During special carnivals and eventful frolics of the spe-
help kim in performing his task with less drudgery and pain; is to abolish altogether the cruel, method of driving nails into his hoofs. Nailing a shoe to the horse’s hoof was intended only for a temporary method, as science had not suggested a line of im- provement and the brain of man was in an embryotic state, but the time has come when the majority of humanity will readily agree with the governments of nations, which are responsible for the saying: “Driving nails into a horse’s hoof is to be deplored as a necessary evil, and will be allowed to continue until evolution produces a mode to abolish it, then it will be branded as a crime and will be punishable according to laws to fit.” IT IS NOW A CRIME.
Some 2000 years B. C. horses and asses were shod by humane methods, the shoes were made from a pliable material, and even far into the seventeenth century A. D. the same system was adopted. The unscientific and barbarous system of attaching shoes to the horse’s hoof with nails is a modern invention, as one can glean from the following accounts by ancient writers and historians.
Xenophon, the celebrated Athenian historian and general, 371 B. C., records in his work, “after defeating the Persians, who attempted to oppose him, that he captured many chariots and strong Sumpter-asses, heavily laden, all having been shod with fibre and spartium, ready to pursue the Greek army.”
Aristotle in his writing, 346 B. C., mentions that “horses were shod with fibre or spartium.”
Cd
Pliny the Elder, 23 A. D., gives an account of “mules and asses being shod with spartium and ofttimes reinforced with raw- hide.”
Suetonuis and Dion Cassius, historians, both give an account how the licentious and debauched ruler of Rome, Emperor Nero, on his triumphant return from Greece in 62 A. D., all his sumpter mules were shod with silver plates, and all the mules of his morganatic wife, Pompoza Sabina (one of the most dissolute women of Imperial Rome) were shod with gold plates, held to the bottom of the mule’s hoofs by rawhide made from the skin of her pet leopards.
NI
How the Ancients Protected the Hoof.
Tied Silver and Gold Plates to Mule’s Hoofs.
Romans Tied Iron Shoe to Horse’s Hoof.
Arabs Used
Woven Shoes.
Chinese and Japanese Used Basket Shoes.
It is then reasonable to assume that this mode of shoeing was universal, in fact, not only in ancient Greece but in the entire old world.
It was ‘the custom of the Romans to practice their chariot races in the early morning, about sunrise, starting from an eastern point and racing towards the West. The Roman rabble congre- gated on the eastern hills sometimes miles distant from the races and amused themselves by counting the number of reflections within a certain time which the sun made on the polished surface of the plates tied to the bottom of the horses’ or mules’ hoofs. By this means they calculated the speed made by the horses and made wagers on the presumable winner.
It is evident that Homer witnessed many of these races from a far-off distance, as he mentions in his writing, “Brazen Footed Steeds.” Not as some would have it in a metaphysical way, but horses and mules were actually shod with plates made of gold,
silver, bronze or brass, tied to their hoofs around the pastern with —
thongs of bamboo or raw-hide.
Pollux also mentions “horses shod with fibre or leather.”
In support of the assertion that it was the universal method to tie some kind of a shoe to the hoofs of horses for protection to them, we have an account of the Arabs using a woven shoe from
various materials, such as rawhide, willow twigs and bamboo. To ~
them is attributed the saying: “No foot, no horse.”’ To this same authority, we owe all that we most value in horses, speed, endur- ance, disposition and elegance of form. The thoroughbred, fast- est horse in the world in running, was evolved directly from Arabian blood, as also our trotters, though by a less direct route, plays an equally important part.
We find many writers who say: “It has always been the cus- tom of the Chinese and Japanese to use shoes on their horses’ hoofs made of bamboo or rice straw, sometimes reinforced with raw-hide (being made similar to a basket on the early constructed hippo-sandal) and when going on a journey, they carried several shoes with them, so that when one was worn out, they applied an- other immediately.’ To these two nations, the horse was always considered a precious animal, and both nations up to this period
8
_——— eS Se le ae,
refuse to imitate people of this and other countries to any great extent in attaching iron shoes to horses’ feet by means of nails. In fact, they have always condemned our modern way of driving nails into the hoof.
The Iceland peasant shoes his pony with sheep’s horn.
In the upper Oxus Valley, horseshoes are made of antlers of the mountain deer, fastened with horn pins.
Horses in the Soudan wear socks-of camel skin.
It appears that the semi-barbarous people of the earth have always held the horse in high esteem worthy of his hire and need- ful of protection and attached shoes to his hoofs humanely, for his protection and comfort. It seems they were first to set the example of the proper and human method of fastening on shoes to horses’ hoofs, but the civilized race, even in this advanced age, refuses to continue the method, but have resorted to a cruel, unscientific one.
The anatomy of the horse’s foot was not thoroughly studied or understood until about the seventeenth century, during the reign of Pope Urban VIII, by Cesar Fiachi. To this Italian the credit is due of being the first inventor and manufacturer of iron horseshoes to be fastened to the hoof of the horse, requiring ten nails to firmly attach it. Although many improvements have been made along this specific line, the principle is the same, the only thing accomplished was reducing the number of nails to seven or eight, and materially reducing the weight of the shoe. Since that time many inventions have been made, and many ideas have been suggested of a horseshoe without nails. But as these novelties emanated from the brains of persons lacking in technical knowl- edge, much was found impractical and useless. Hence, the prac- tice of driving nails into the hoof has been continued solely be- cause all former inventions proposing to do away with nails have been wanting in practical value.
Semi- Barbarous Tribes Set Example to Civilized Race.
When Nails
Were First Used.
Nailing on Shoes is. Crude as
the Sandal and Shortens the Horse’s Life.
“For want of a nail the shoe is lost; for want of a shoe the horse is lost; for want of a horse the rider is lost.”
So runs the ancient saw we have all heard in our childhood. It serves to show the necessity of a horseshoe that has no nails and, therefore, cannot be lost by inop- portune casting.
Men first wore shoes when they felt the need of some more ade- quate protection than was afforded by the toughened skin of the sole; and the horse was accorded a like protection, when through lack of it his utility was impaired, his health threatened and his life shortened. But the parallel runs no further; for while with the man, the sandal, with its insufficient protective powers and its harsh thongs that injured the sensitive skin, gave way to a more rational and comfortable footgear, the shoe of the horse is still nailed to his feet in a clumsy and dangerous fashion, impeding his freedom of motion, causing lameness, discomfort, pain, misery
‘and diseases of all kinds, as well as materially reducing the years
of his usefulness and premature death by tetany. When a nail is driven into a horse’s hoof, he suffers misery and pain that few people are capable of realizing, besides, it is the beginning of all deformities which render him practically useless, saps his vitality, reduces his energy, all which tend towards shortening his life. It is said that the average life of the horse is about twenty-five years, yet we have many accounts of horses living thirty and forty years. In many cases of old age in horses it has been found that nails have never been driven into their hoofs. A conclusion may be drawn from this statement.
The ordinary person standing by seeing the operation of driving nails into the horse’s hoof, can hardly fail to realize its
ie)
crudeness. They may not be immediately impressed with any suffering of the animal, but nevertheless, it is a most painful one, there being no proof nor even assurance against the bruising and the wounding of the inward foot, even though apparently well done in its crude way, the operation in the long run is bound to injuriously affect the structure and normal growth of the hoof. The application of a red-hot iron placed in contact with the hoof is absolutely criminal; it is the most barbarous, uncalled-for and inhuman cruelty that can or ever will be perpetrated, and a smith performing such a diabolical operation should be ostracized to a colony of incurable lepers. No tongue or pen is capable of describing the pain the animal endures during this murderous operation. It causes the hoof to immediately become fragile and brittle, allowing all natural moisture to escape, and many diseases follow not only of the hoof, but of the entire body. For many years different methods have been adopted to protect the hoof in a more humane way, and by means of nails and of late years it is claimed almost anything is preferable than nailing the shoe to the hoof.
Nailing a rigid and inelastic metal shoe to a living, elastic and constantly growing hoof has long been deplored as an evil. Nearly forty years ago a writer on the subject said: “The ordi- nary system of horse-shoeing is crude and irrational, and is the main cause of most lameness and of the majority of falls in rid- _ ing and driving. Chief amongst its faults are the attempts to fit the foot to the shoe, instead of the shoe to the foot, and the wholesale cutting and rasping of the hoof and consequent injury to the several parts of the foot.”
Attempts have been repeatedly made to remedy the evil from a humanitarian as well as a business and lucrative
reason. It 1s said a fortune awaited the lucky one solving the problem, far greater than those which.resulted from the discovery of the mowing machine, the self-binder, gas- oline engines, windmills, barbed wire, telephone, automo- bils and hundreds of other modern innovations. All simple enough after some bright genius had invented them.
LBL
Driving Nails Into a Horse’s Hoof Painful.
Authority Condemns Nailing
on Shoes.
Fortune Awaits Solver
of Problem,
Little Progress Made in the Art.
Length of Time Shoes Should Remain On.
Number of Nails.
Centuries ago, before man was willing to be humane, he conceived the idea of the crude and clumsy means of attaching a rigid and inelastic piece of metal to a living, elastic and constantly growing hoof. Since that time he has made very little progress toward the betterment of the method. His time has been taken up in the race to win position and prestige in business, war, poli- tics, religion and the social world. Hence he neglected to devise any improvements or simple means that would alleviate the misery and suffering of the indispensable beast of burden.
If we must continue shoeing horses by driving nails into their hoofs, then the shoes ought never to be permitted to remain on longer than a period of ten to fourteen days at a time, never longer. When removed, they should remain off for a period at least from twenty-four to forty-eight hours, before replacing, allowing the horses’ feet to rest, heal and freely expand. This would alleviate much of the suffering he endured before he is again tortured by driving nails into his hoofs.
During the reign of Edward III it required ten nails to at- tach a horseshoe to the hoof. To-day it requires six or seven, with the assistance of three tips, one on the front and one on each side of the shoe. The hoof cut away to receive them, which in itself is liable to ruin the hoof badly.
I love the hoss from hoof to head, From head to hoof and tal to mane. I love the hoss, as I have said; From head to hoof and_ back again. James Whitcomb Riley.
During the nineteenth century there have been many attempts made to invent a horseshoe that could be fastened to the hoof without driving nails into it. It is surprising, however, that up to this time these efforts have failed to establish a practical, easy method of attaching a practical shoe to the hoof. Not until the twentieth century were any of these attempts productive of a practical, much-needed and beneficial horseshoe. There are rea- sons for this, as humanity is progressing onward to a better plane of condition and realizes that the horse is deteriorating, due to a lack of interest in his welfare, comforts and requirements, and the index on the dial of time presages his ultimate nonentity, unless something is done quickly to stop or prevent the diseases which are fast deciminating him. These ‘conditions can only be attained by minimizing or abolishing entirely the evil of driving nails into its hoof. The man who owns a horse should realize its value and protect it from inhuman cruelty and ignorant drivers besides, provide for it that which it cannot provide for itself. The intelligent man or even the man with ordinary intelligence, who neglects or refuses to supply the horse with that which is bene- ficial to its proper existence, ought to be branded as cowardly and inhuman, and placed below the savage.
Few horse-men or horse-lovers realize the untold agony that the horse suffers, contracted by the improper mode of shoeing. It is staggering the gigantic amount of work the horse is com- pelled to perform (yet impaired in health) on account of the abnormalities of the hoofs which many owners invariably do not understand but little of. Were they awakened to these facts, it might be the means of actuating them to a humane method of shoeing and a proper method of treatment so as to relieve the horse of its continual suffering, if not obviating it entirely. Most every owner of a horse means well, but are ignorantly careless, and invariably unacquainted with the way in which most of their drivers treat their horses. Besides; they do not know that the majority of smiths who shoe their horses are cruel, bloody butchers. cutting, burning and rasping away a live hoof until the
eS)
Love for the Horse.
Many Failed, Due to Lack of Interest
Horse Owners Ignorant
of Treatment of
Their
Horses.
The
Hoof a Living Organism,
The Foot
Explained.
poor dumb animal is in actual distress. It might be well if the owners would some time attend to the shoeing of the horses them- selves, giving orders that no hot iron be applied to the hoof, or the rasping away of the outside wall, or allow any of the sole to he cut away, or the frog to be pared in any manner whatever. This would follow the strict orders and establish rules of the United States Government, to all horseshoers employed by them
Nature has provided a cushion on the bottom of the coffin bone to assist in breaking the jar when a horse is trotting or run- ning, or stepping on any hard substance that centralizes itself on the middle of the hoof. Surrounding these bones is what we call the lainar, connected with the Katofalous or horny external hoof. This external hoof is porous and absorbs the moisture of the air, especially the oxygen which feeds it and passes on into the inter- nal foot. This external hoof is dove-tailed, as it were, with a cor- responding dove-tail of lines up and down, making a thorough con- nection with the laminar. One depends upon the other. Like the foundation of a large building, if you take a few bricks away here and there from the base of the structure, the walls may at any moment topple over. Just so with the horse’s hoof. If you file the outside of the hoof, or cut it away in any unnatural manner, you cause the moisture to escape, prevent the taking in of the oxygen of the air, inflammation follows, nature ceases to work, the foot becomes dry, feverish and inflamed, and the result is the same as when there is no rain or dew upon the grass—it is bound to dry up.
The horny substance at the bottom of the hoof should be leveled so as to receive the shoe and no more, whether it be nailed on or attached without nails, as the horse’s hoof is a living organ- ism, not a dead, inexpansive horn. It grows and expands, and the shoe should be removed every two or three weeks. Speaking of the hoof—I mean the horny substance surrounding the inward foot—that is insensitive to a degree, yet it is the part which the smith has most to do with, and which he should not cut away. The foot inside is composed of the coffin navicular and lower pastern, three in number, surrounded as it were with myriads of fibres similar to the roots of a rubber plant. Whenever the horny substance is cut away at the toe, sides or heel, the sensitive foot becomes inflamed and pain ensues.
The hock joint corresponds to the human ankle, the point of the hock being the heel bone. In front of the joint within the horny covering of the hoof is the coffin bone, the navicular
14
and the cornet bone. Above and outside of the hoof is the longer pastern bone and the two small sessamoid bones at the back of the fetlock. Next above is the cannon bone and two small splint bones. The same are found in the hind feet, but have different names. ‘The principal bones to be dealt with are the cornet, the navicular and the coffin, and the joints they form in contacting with one another. These joints must all move freely, perfectly smoth in their action and unin- terfered with by surrounding tis- sues or abnormal conditions. The moisture necessary to keep the foot in a healthy condition is what we call joint oil or “syn- ovia,” secreted by, relative membranes. The myriads of blood vessels which resemble the roots of a rubber plant are continually active, bringing new and taking away used blood. These parts are all alive and capable of feeling. In fact, in a great degree sensitive. After nails are once driven into the hoof, these parts become inflamed and.the foot becomes like a living fire and the pain causes the horse to suffer untold agony.
What to the ordinary observer appears to be a solid sub- stance is in reality a thin, porous shell. It matters not what kind of a shoe you put on your horse’s foot, if nails are used to fasten it on, you cannot prevent the foot from losing joint oil, and all other natural moisture will escape through the incision made by the nail. This is also true when the rasp is applied to the out- side of the hoof. When the moisture escapes the foot becomes dry, hard and brittle. It is then subject to quarter cracks and dry rot. The hard frog becomes sore, bruised and contracted, and corns inevitably result. In this condition the hoof is prac- tically dead, yet the inner foot diseased and the horse always in great pain. The frog of the foot should never be cut away, as it sheds off about twice a year. The sole sheds in like manner, and ought never to be touched with a knife, but allow to slough away naturally. Without a sound hoof you can have no good horse, in spite of all other advantages. It should be allowed free- dom and expansion, so that circulation and moisture is not ar- rested, thereby permitting the hoof to retain its natural condition.
Most every person will admit that the driving of nails into the hoof of the horse is frequently the cause of crippling many
15
Hoof Sheds
No Knife Should Be Used.
valuable animals. Horses’ hoofs are no more alike than the human feet are alike. In some hoofs the laminar lies closer to the surface than in others, hence there is no way of ascertaining on the living horse the exact thickness of the horny shell of the
Driving hoof so as to guide the smith in his driving nails into it. Then Nails Into since no exact knowledge is possible, the most (so-called) expert the Hoof horseshoer may drive a nail into the “quick” and permanently Contrary ruin the horse. Nature never intended that nails should be eo Natit: driven into the horse’s hoofs any more than they should be driven.
into the human fingers and toes; the tissue is the same, and should have the same treatment, such as trimming off at different inter- vals of about two or three weeks apart and no more. A horse’s hoof in its natural condition is tough, pliable and elastic, and will bend to a certain extent, but will not break. It has a rich ground or slate color in appearance, a sure indication of a healthy, grow- ing condition. It is entirely ewrong to burn and file any portion of the hoof away as shown in Figure 14. Any invention that prevents this wrong must be of immense value.
Authority on the subject of horseshoeing by driving nails Diseases | into their hoof says: “Ninety per cent. of the diseases of the horse are traceable to shoeing. There are more horses lame
Be | through this cause than from all other causes combined. Driving ; a nail into the hoof involves the danger of it running into or _ pressing the sensitive part of the foot every time one is driven. Another fault that our present system involves is cramping the hoof so that it cannot expand naturally and grow to its normal shape. Fifty per cent. of our horses suffer from contracted hoofs from this cause alone. When we come to consider the danger of the system as at present practiced, you wonder that it has lasted so long.”
; : Man is continually searching for and studying some new Science science, and yet we wonder why he has passed by and never of Horse- stopped to consider the much neglected science of horse-shoeing. shoeing Is it because it is a science that requires more skill than any of Neglected. the others? A philosopher once said: “For a man to be happy
there were just two things for him to do: first, to love God; sec- ond, to satisfy his necessities.” If we would make the horse con- tented in his kingdom, there are just two things we should do: | first, feed him well; and next, shoe him with NAJILLESS shoes,’ which is the only proper way. rs
so
a
_ When the great Creator saw fit to place the horse here to assist man in making use of the ground, to facilitate commercial
16
industry, to shift the laborious work from man’s shoulder to that of the beast, and also as a means of pleasure to man, He did not intend that the horses’ feet should be protected from injury BY THE NAILING OF AN IRON TO HIS HOOF, OR THE AT- TACHING OF ANY DEVICE BY MEANS OF NAILS. ITé He had, He would have surely constructed the horse’s hoof in such a manner so as to receive the nails without injury, or pain, or misery, or any other impairment of health.
All things were created right. There is nothing in Nature which shows that the Divine Creator made a mis- take in its creation or construction. When deformity is found in Nature, we can rest assured that the cause is
due to man’s ignorance, failure or neglect. Therefore there is no common sense argument which can be offered to prove that driving nails into the hoof of the horse does not injure his feet and impair his health.
This is the age of progress, in which intelligence is governing our actions and deeds. To imitate the methods of the savage is a sign of ignorance and should be tagged as a vile disease. Laws are made defining criminal conditions, still there is much space to circumscribe. Every intelligent man trusts that the day is not far distant when the Legislatures of the several States will enact laws making it a crime to drive nails into the hoof of a horse.
An eminent veterinarian asserts that “fully 90 per cent. of diseases to which horseflesh is heir, can be traced to the driving of nails into the hoof.” The question that confronts the horse owner of the present day is, “How are they to combat the grow- ing evils of driving nails into horses’ hoofs?’ The answer is: By shoeing the horse with the up-to-date method, with NAIL- Bos HORSESHOBS
It has been almost universally believed that a Nailless Horse- shoe was an ignis fatuus, yet for the last fifty years much money and ingenuity has been expended in the endeavor to invent a practical and humane one. Many reasons were advanced why it
17
Divine Creator Made No Mistake.
Ignorance a Vile Disease. Should Be Classed Criminal.
Cause of Ninety Per Cent. of Diseases.
Inventors Afraid to Bind the Hoof.
Twentieth Century Nailless Shoe.
Adjusting the Nailless to Hoof.
could not be accomplished. One reason was that there were al- most as many sizes and shapes of hoofs as there are horses, which is in a sense true. Another reason was on account of hoof expansion, which is absolutely erreneous—the hoof only expands at the hard and soft frog, rearward and downward. It was also claimed that any material binding on the hoof would cause fric- tion and create inflammation and subsequent contracted heel. But no experiments had been made to determine the extent of pres- sure to prove the claim and for these reasons and many others, inventors were afraid to bind the hoof in the entire.
Nailing shoes to the horse’s hoof was the only method we knew until the Twentieth Century, when H. D. Shaiffer, of Phil- adelphia, Pa., after some twenty years of almost constant experi- ment and study, perfected a PRACTICAL, EFFICIENT, ECONOMICAL and HUMANE Nailless Horseshoe and suc- ceeded in obtaining letter patents in the United States and the foreign countries on the only PERFECT NAILLESS HORSE- SHOE that was ever put in iron. Prior to this, all other efforts to perfect a practical one had been abortive. The shoe has long ago passed the domain of experiment and has been tested under every conceivable, practical condition and has responded to every test and is going into rapidly increased use. Its success is due entirely to the fact that the inventor has made it practically a life study, following on lines of the same, principle as the shoe worn by man. The Nailless Shoe is so constructed that it does not cramp or bind the hoof in any way. It serves only as a mat- rix, a protective covering, permitting the hoof to expand natur- ally while the horse is forced to travel over all kinds of artificial roads, in dangerous and rocky places. It is made entirely on scientific principles to conform to any hoof. It enables the horse to perform his duty better, free from torture, inconvenience and disease and will add to his years of service and usefulness, and besides, it obviates all former disadvantages of the nail-on-shoe.
As the hoof enters the shoe, the flanges are then conformed to the hoof in all its natura! lines, bends and recesses, and when locked in front and in the rear, it is rigid on the hoof. The inside base or flange is exactly slanted as the under part of the horse’s hoof. It has the decided advantage when the horse is not work- entire, and while rigidly on the hoof allows natural expansion. It is so simple that anyone can attach it in almost a moment’s time, in any place and under almost any circumstance without the use of any special tools, and without burning or cutting away the hoof and performs the same function as the upper flange in the ing, the shoes may be removed as easily as man can remove his
18
own when his day’s work is done. Its perfect practicability and utility cannot be Biicoveried and the day is not far distant when every horse in this country will be wearing Nailless Horseshoes. Then, and only then, will the majority of horse owners realize that the life of a horse is lengthened and his usefulness greatly increased.
The accompanying illustrations show plainer than words what an entirely new idea the Shaiffer Nailless Horseshoe is. So simple and practical, the wonder is that it was not thought of before. Every owner of a horse—every man who knows any- thing about a horse—will at once see the enormous advantage it has over the crude and ancient nail-to-the-hoof-shoe. All prick- ing and burning is absolutely obviated, which is impossible with the ordinary shoe when nailed to the hoof. Its hold is much firmer than under the old system, and can be adjusted so as to bring quarter cracks and wire cuts together and hold them firm for an indefinite period until granulation takes place, without the least detriment to the hoof or pain to the horse. The pressure is transverse, hence, the lateral cartilage and planter cushion are not affected thereby. It is a sure cure for contracted hoofs—a perfect foot-leveler. It does not burn the foot. It keeps the foot cool. It preserves the hoof and protects it from damage. A horse can attain greater speed if shod with this Nailless Horse- shoe. It has an automatic expansion. Lastly, it is strong and durable. A great blessing and an absolute necessity.
After a few months’ wearing of the Shaiffer Nailless Horse- shoe, the hard, brittle, shriveled-up hoof of a horse will take on the natural conditions. All the pores of the outward shell will breathe naturally and the hoof will be tough and elastic. The once old drone of a horse will appear to have a new life, and it will become possible and easy to keep him in a good physical condition. Stones cannot be wedged in the frog, nor can snow and clay ball. The shoes can be removed any minute in the day or night without going miles to a shoeing shop, and the horse turned out on the paddock bare-foot, benefiting his feet and al- lowing them to rest. The shoe is neat in appearance and pre- serves the symmetry of limb. It will permit two or three weeks’ growth of the hoof before its removal is required, but the inven- tor advocates its removal while the horse is standing in the stable or when not in use.
It will enable the horse to step out more freely and safely. Thus his speed, usefulness and comfort are increased. Experi-
19
The Nailless a Blessing.
When to Remove the Nailless.
Diseases Avoided.
Horse Will Have Confidence.
Come to Stay.
ence has proven (though costing but a trifle more than the ordi- nary shoe) it wears considerably longer, thus reducing the final cost.
The Nailless Shoe can be fitted to any normal or abnormal hoof, no matter whether affected with hoof rot, split hoofs, quar- ter cracks or corns, without trimming the foot in any way, ex- cept to level the over-growth shell around the bottom of the hoof. The hoof is allowed its natural expansion and contraction. Hence, all diseases caused by the old mode of shoeing are avoided.
A horse wearing this Nailless Shoe will have more confi- dence in its own ability to trot, run or jump, owing to the cer- tainty of its having a better footing.
Above are but a few of its many advantages. There are a number of scientific reasons which only a veterina- rian can appreciate. The Nailless Shoe viewed from every point presents such a preponderance of superiority over the old kind, that it is bound eventually to super- sede the old style nailed-to-the-hoof shoe altogether. The simplicity of the arrangement leaves nothing to be de- sired and should recommend it for universal adoption.
The cut shows the SHAIFFER NAILLESS HORSESHOE on the hoof and the adjusting slot in rear.
Figure 2 shows the top flange with the screws in place in the front and rear
lugs; it also shows the toe calixs inserted in the dove- tail on one side, with the dove-tailed locking swivel tiveted to the toe’ calk. The screws at rear, as shown, are inserted down through the upper part of
20
the shoe into the heel calk; the two extending arms at the rear are adjusting guides; the left one has a rivet passing through it into
Fig. 3.
the right extension, which regu- lates the pressure by screwing the long screw into the two rear ex- tending lugs.
In drawing the shoe together in the rear, it glides upward; neither the upper nor lower flanges bind or exert any pressure on the rear sides of hoof, the shoe serving as a rest for the horse’s hoof and allows expan- sion and contraction.
Figure 3 shows the bottom of the shoe with the toe and heel calks in place and the shoe drawn together partly. It also shows the under flange, which conforms to the convex surface of the hoof.
The inside of the base of shoe is convex. ° Snow and mud cannot ball, as with the ordinary nailed-on shoe.
Figure 4 shows the heel calks, made of steel, sharp for winter use. The dove-tail to be inserted into recess at rear end of shoe,
shown in Figure 3.
Fig. 4.
Figure 5 shows the toe calks with dove-tailed swivels in centre; these are for the purpose of allowing the shoe to extend and take up in the rear, being made to correspond with all styles of heel calks. The calks are made sharp and flat. For trotting and road _ horses the flat steel calks or plates which are almost flush with the base of the shoe, are needed only. These wear very slowly. For use in winter, calks are sharp and made of steel, and will last from three to four weeks before new ones are needed. Instead of paying $2 or $3 for new shoes, as with the nailed-on shoe, it is only necessary to remove the calks and insert others costing but a trifle. Steel
Pail
Advantages of Knife Edge Calks.
Moderate Pressure on the
Sole Good.
calks and plates are used in the aluminum shoe.
When the ground becomes slippery or icy, the knife-edged steel calks can be inserted in a few minutes. When they are worn down they can be replaced, their cost being but a trifle and the annoyance of waiting five or six hours at the horseshoeing shop to have shoes sharpened and reset is done away with.
Figure 6 shows the plate used on the Shaiffer Nailless Horseshoes, both for trot- ting and road horses. On the trotting shoes the plates are thinner than those on the work- ing horse’s shoes. The hole in the centre is where the screw passes down through the + : rear end of the shoe, as explained in Fig- Fig. 6. line: 23
e
There is a corresponding dove-tail in the rear of the shoe, permitting the heel calks to be inserted easily.
Figures 7 and 8 show the screws used in the rear and front of the Shaiffer Nail- less Horseshoe, with the holes in the head for the purpose of inserting a nail to tighten or untighten the screw and also to insert a cotter pin, to prevent the screw from turning or becoming loose. The screws are made from Bessemere steel, although these screws look small, experi- ence has shown that they serve the purpose intended.
Fig. 7.
AAI ey
One great fault of the nailed-on shoe is, that it has from 14 to 18 inches of bear- ing surface, yet the hoof rests on about 2% to 3% inches of surface only, as the Fig. 8. shoe is made to slope down- wards toward the center from about 3-16 of an inch from the top outward edge. It is not made to conform to the concave nature of the hoof. The Shaiffer Nailless Horseshoe is so constructed
22
that it permits the wall of the hoof to rest on the shoe as also
the sole, almost equalizing the pressure or tread. A moderate pressure on the sole of the hoof is good, as it follows the natural intent.
If you are the owner of a valuable horse, it is necessary to see that proper care is taken of his feet. It is impossible to conceive the enormous advantage gained by this Nailless Shoe. The vital question of importance to all horse owners is, “what shali I do to lighten the burden of my horses and make life apparently an easy one for them?’ Answer: Stop driving nails into their hoofs, as the most vital and important part of the horse is his feet. Of all beasts in the animal kingdom, that which is most valuable to man is the horse, he costs money, and _ big money, so it behooves every owner to use every advantage to preserve its hoofs as natural as possible.
1. It can be taken off every time a horse is put into the stable or pasture allowing his feet to rest.
2. It does away with cutting, rasping and burning.
8. It permits natural expansion and contraction of the foot.
4. It is cheaper, as it wears longer, as it is only necessary to re- new the calks every four to six weeks, the shoe itself lasting indefi- nitely if kept equipped with calks.
5. Quarter cracks and wire cuts can be held in place permitting granulation and a cure effected.
6. Flat or sharp calks may be inserted when needed.
7. Snow cannot ball on the foot. With sharp calks a horse can easily pull a load on icy ground.
8. It is the only humane shoe ever invented. The horse can travel with greater ease. It also increases knee action.
9. A burning sensation to the hoof of the horse is the common
result from the ordinary method of nailing shoes to the hoof due en- tirely to holding the shoe against the lower surface of the hoof in a
23
Vital Question.
Advantages of the Nailless
Reviewed.
No Normal Size Hoofs.
Grease is an Injury.
rigid manner. Such a condition is avoided when the horse wears the Shaiffer Nailless Horseshoe, which allows free expansion and contrac- tion of the hoof while in this shoe, hence producing a circulation of air between the shoe and the bottom of the hoof, assuring the keeping of the foot cool and in a good condition.
There are only a few horses today having normal size hoofs, the reason is plain, as the majority of horseshoers fit the hoof to the shoe, necessarily cutting away part of the hoof every time they nail on a shoe. It is one of the greatest injuries that could be done to the hoof, as the hoof above the base line should never be touched with a knife or a rasp, as it opens the pores of the horny substance and allows the moisture to escape, which is nec-. essary to keep the hoof in a healthy condition. It is one of the causes of the foot becoming dry, hard and contracted.
> Pe
It is also absolutely wrong to apply grease to the horse’s hoof, as it closes the pores and pre- vents the oxygen of the air from feeding the horny substance or hoof and thereby arrest the growth of the hoof.
The following cuts will enable one to see at a glance a few of the damages done by nailing the shoe to the hoof.
Figure 9 shows a badly contract- ed foot, caused by the neglect or wil- ful ignorance of the horse owner, in allowing the shoe to remain on the hoof for several weeks before re- moving it, when the shoe should have been removed every two or three weeks.
Figure 10 shows the bold instrument of torture to the horse.
24
Figure 11 shows one of the many victims of the damaging nails, thousands of them are scattered throughout the land. This condition is due from the starting point, that of driving nails into a live and growing hoof by unskilled horseshoers. This pic- ture is deserving of deep thought by the horse owners of this country. It is not an unusual sight, but unfortunately few peo- ple stop to examine and inquire into the reason of such a condi- tion of the poor, miserable horse when seen in this condition, whether this is through lack of humane principle or sympathy is not determined.
No man need ever feel that his time and intellect is wasted in studying and investigating modern improve-
ments for the use of any dumb animal that Nature has given for his use.
It is safe to predict that in the very near future the Humane So- cieties throughout the land will dwell largely on the subject of nailing shoes to the horse’s hoof, and the result will be that Legislatures will be asked to pass a law compelling the adoption of Nailless Horseshoes.
25
Many Horseshoers
Incompetent.
Nz, wWew Idea.
There are entirely too many cruelties and injuries caused by the pres- ent defect of horseshoeing, and they are pretty well understood by the general public and do not require a lengthy argument at this time.
Figure 12 shows a horse’s hoof with a _ shoe nailed on. The part cut away is for the purpose of showing the impos- sibility of nailing a shoe to the hoof of a horse without injury to the laminar and causing in- flammation and pain. ,
Experience in the past warrants the assertion that out of every 100 horseshoers not over ten know how and where to drive a nail into the horse’s hoof that the least injury might result and certainly no two of the remaining ten shoe horses alike or even understand the anatomy of the foot. There is no subject of more importance to the horseowner than that of horseshoeing. A little serious thought will awaken them out of their slumber and then they will wonder why the driving of nails into the horse’s hoof has continued so long. If not on a basis of humanity, then surely on a basis of business. If horses were shod humanely two thousand years before the Christian era with Nailless Horseshoes, as described in the proceedings of this pamphlet, and in fact covering a period of over three thousand years, why have the modern people changed to a worse method and kept it up so long?
Fig. 12.
It is said that there is nothing new under the sun and the Shaiffer Nailless Horseshoe is no new idea practically. The prin- ciple is the same as used by the ancients, only they made theirs from a different material. If a Nailless Shoe suited the purpose for over three thousand years, why would it not suit the purpose now ?
There are many diseases of the hoof which are the result of driving nails into it. Many are vital and for which no reason is
26
given and especially is this true of navicular disease, which is caused by the shoe remaining on the hoof for a longer period than from two or three weeks, holding the foot in a rigid posi- tion. The nail passing through the wall of the foot, pressing on the laminar tissue, prevents natural circulation and tends to con- tract the coffin bone, thereby producing an unnatural pressure on the navicular or pivot bone in the horse’s hoof, which is the cen- ter of life to the horse’s foot. The tendons are concentrated here, and not a few are extremely delicate, so that an unnatural pres- sure on the laminar will inflame the sockets and cause various forms of disease, the primary being navicular disease of the hoof. This danger is entirely avoided by the use of the Shaiffer Nail- less Horseshoe.
There is still another cause of navicular disease—an ‘excess of moisture. A horse standing in a stable where it is always wet (the hard and soft frog are elastic and porous) the ammonia and Ope Cause nitre eats rapidly its way into the foot, corroding the lateral f cartilage, causing the entire sole of the base of the foot to become @ tender, and when the horse steps on any hard substance, the Navicular pressure is directly on the navicular-coffin and excites inflamma- Disease. tion, thereby producing navicular disease. It can readily be seen that the two forerunners of navicular disease are effected in two ways—one by unnatural pressure causing dryness and inflamma- tion, the other by tearing away the main pillow of support and causing an unnatural expansion and abnormal foot, which also terminates in navicular disease of the hoof.
Figure 13 shows a sectional view of the wall of the hoof split and | broken away, which was caused by the constant re- shoeing and the driving of nails. There is no founda- tion left for a nail to be driven into the hoof to hold on the shoe, hence a horse with a hoof like the one in Figure 13 would be useless for an_ indefinite period or perhaps perma- nently.
Pig, 13.
The Shaiffer Nailless Horseshoe can readily be put on the
2/
hoof shown in Figure 13 and it will protect the broken part of the hoof while a new growth is taking place and grows to tts. proper shape. It will protect the lower outward surface from | coming in contact with stones and other objects while the horse
is walking or trotting.
Fig. 14.
A Veteri- narian Should
Fig. 14 shows an improper shaped hoof, the way the major- ity of horseshoers rasp away the hoof so as to conform to the shoe that they have nailed on. It is noticeable that the horse is. deprived of a solid hoof and not having enough of hoof to pro-. tect the inward foot he necessar- | ily has not foundation. This is. a form of cruelty by itself. Common sense should teach any human being that this cutting away of the hoof is wrong and the (so-called) horseshoer who: does it (and they are many) should be put out of business by law.
A veterinarian may know the formation of the foot of the
equine, but he can have no direct knowledge of how to place a shoe or drive a nail unless he has had ample practice. It would
Be a Qualified be ridiculous for him to attempt to draft a reason for a disease Horse Shoer. of the hoof or foot without first having a practical knowledge of
shoeing.
Figure 15 shows a_ natural
In Wild State Horse is Hardy.
shaped hoof, a condition which no horseshoer should change un- der any circumstances. What is natural is right, and when Nature is destroyed in the least, deform- ity results or sickness ensues and many diseases follow.
The horse is by nature a hardy animal, and sickness is seldom, tf ever, known in his wild condt- tion. Diseases of the hoof are rare. The writer has never seen any disease of the foot. (except the over-growth of the hoof), m the numerous wild horses caught and examined by him in Color- ado, Texas and South America.
28
Ae Z I MN
aes i \ \
He has not limited himself to these, but has taken particular pains to examine horses, ranging in age from two to ten years, in sev- eral parts of various States of the Union, that have never worn @ shoe, and found but few of them had seldom, if ever been sick.
Prominent patent authority have given satisfactory opinions as to the novelty and validity of the patents. Mr. Shaiffer has studied horseshoeing from a scientific as well as mechanical stand- point. He has been the proprietor of several smith shops and devoted his spare time in studying the horse and its foot, and is considered to be one of the most expert scientific horseshoers of the day.
The SHAIFFER NAILLESS SHOE, after the most severe and exhaustive trials, extending over a period of several years, has been pronounced by eminent veterinary and other competent authorities to be the safest, most durable, neatest and most humane shoe ever devised for
the horse, and that the shoes can be adapted to every kind and shape of the horse’s hoof, and that it is the first NAILLESS HORSESHOE invented that is practical. It requires no skill to put them on or take them off, making it possible to remove shoes at night or whenever desired.
Figure 17, showing an oval piece of leather or rubber, com- monly called a horseshoe pad, but its proper name is a poulticing or suction pad, an air excluder, a sweating pad, an uncalled-for cruelty to the horse. A pad which covers the entire sole of a horse’s hoof is unscientific, injurious, unhealthy. It is only used because of its profitableness to the manufacturer and horseshoer. It is a well-known scientific fact that when a person wears rubber boots the air is excluded from the foot and an excessive perspiration takes place, weakening the system, and if allowed to remain on for several days, the feet become tender, and it is almost impossible to walk with- out agony. The same conditions follow when a horse is shod with rubber pads. They exclude the oxy- gen of the air that Nature intended should penetrate the sole through Fig. 17. the pores to keep the hoof tough,
29
Opinion of Prominent Authority.
The Nailless Giving Satisfaction.
Nailless Wears
Long Time.
A Saving to Farmers.
No More Waiting.
pliable and healthy, but if the air is excluded from the foot by means of pads or otherwise, the foot becomes tender and inflamed and will continue so until the pads are removed, and then owing to the tender condition of the hoof it is almost impossible for the horse to walk even on dirt or any soft substance for several days, until the foot becomes hardened through the process of Nature. It is only a matter of a short time when horse-owners will realize the important deception that pads prevent a horse from slipping and protect his foot from injury, and then the Cruelty will step in and make it a crime to attach pads covering the entire sole of the horse’s hoof.
The SHAIFFER NAILLESS HORSESHOE requires no pad covering the entire sole of the hoof. Take every point in consideration of the present mode of shoeing horses, there is not one point good, every one is decidedly bad; while every point of a NAILLESS HORSESHOE is advantageously good.
By the old method of nailing on shoes, a horse that is used continually on hard roads should be shod about every two weeks, costing on the average about $4.20 per month.
A set of the SHAIFFER NAILLESS HORSESHOES wear almost indefinitely, because the wearing part—the toe and heel calks—can be replaced so easily, and at such a trifling cost as to reduce shoeing bills at least 90 per cent. The average cost of toe and heel calks is about 50 cents a set for four shoes, and with ordinary wear these will last from a month to six weeks, perhaps longer.
Farmers in particular will appreciate the matter of saving in their shoeing bills. A horse is better without shoes for work in the field or on loose ground. He needs shoes only on stone roads, or when driven “to town.” It will not take much calcula- t1on to show what one set for each farm horse will save.
Every one knows the annoyance and often actual loss in not. being able to use a horse on icy roads, unless rough-shod. The rush at the blacksmith shop often means a day’s wait for your horse’s turn to be “rough-shod.” Perhaps the next day the thaw
30
sets in, and in a day or two the shoes are dull again, then comes another cold spell with another expense of rough-shoeing.
With a set of SHAJFFER NAILLESS HORSESHOES yau can curtail all of this expense by simply having an extra set of sharp calks, which your stable boy can insert in a few minutes and take them out also, replacing them with flat calks whenever a thaw sets in. When the sharp calks become dull, others can be purchased at a very low figure. This whole process is as con- venient as it would be changing from shoes to rubber boots when the weather requires.
Think of the advantage to farmers and horse-owners living in isolated districts, miles away from any place where horseshoes can be obtained and possibly still further away from any horse- shoer.
All horses in use must have some kind of a shoe to protect their hoofs, and it wiil pay every horse-owner to use the NAIL- LESS HORSESHOES so as to relieve them of all pains and aches. Although they cannot express their gratitude for the humane change, they will show it by hauling heavy loads with greater ease, and will more intelligently and willingly perform that which is required of them.
There can be no controversy but that the NAIJL- LESS HORESHOE is the beginning of a new era for the horse and will be the beginning of better horses, and
that every horse-owner will quickly realize the great ad- vantage of the horse which wears a shoe that requires no nails to attach it to the hoof, as over one that wears a nail-on shoe.
We are accustomed to the necessity of steam and electric cars, electric lights, telephones, telegraph, and innumerable other modern inventions. Farmers could now no longer get along with old-fashioned methods. The mowing machine has superseded
a
Easy to Insert
and Remove Calks.
Advantages to Farmers and Others Living Near Horseshoeing Shop.
Hauling Heavy Loads With Greater Ease.
New Era for the Horse.
Up-To- Date Method.
the scythe; the self-binder the cradle, the trolley the stage coach. Think of the wonderful changes that have been made by these conception of the great good the SHAIFFER NAILLESS newer and better ways of doing things and you will have a partial - HORSESHOE will do both man and beast, for it is just as sure to take the place of the present crude method of the nail-on shoe as the electric light has taken the place of the candle.
THE FOLLOWING IS A STORY OF HOW THE NAILLESS HORSESHOE WAS INVENTED AS TOLD BY THE INVENTOR.
When I was in Leadville, Colo., in the early eighties, I first con- ceived the idea of inventing a horseshoe without nails.
A friend of mine owned a large horse-shoeing shop, employing about forty horseshoers, working night and day, which was necessary in those years, as at that time there was no way of getting goods into Leadville other than by “freighting” with horses and mules, from Denver, Cheyenne and Colorado Springs. Many horses and mules were used constantly for this purpose.
One day while I was in the shop talking to the proprietor John Quinn, a man brought a valuable horse in and asked if he could nail a couple of shoes on his front hoofs and guarantee them to stay on, for at least a short period. Quinn made an examination of the front hoofs and saw that both of them were split badly, having been pre- viously entangled in a barbed wire fence. Quinn said that he could not drive a nail into its hoofs while they were in that condition. The man replied, saying: “I will give you $100 if you will shoe that horse in any way—so that I can travel him on the mountain roads. I don’t care how you do it.”
The offer was an attractive one and after a moment’s hesita- tion, Quinn turned to me and said: “Shaiffer, can’t you invent some way to attach shoes to that horse’s hoof and make $100 between us?”
Instantly it occurred to me that by attaching a flange to the ordinary style of shoe and by using small screws, we might be able to securely attach the shoes to the hoofs.
There were many dead horses lying all over Leadville, so I re- moved the hoofs from several of them so as to judge the thickness of the horny substance so as to enable me to calculate the length of the screws required to be inserted, without injury to the foot itself. I then proceeded to attach the shoes with very high flanges made from copper to that live horse’s hoofs, using quite a number of screws, 1-4
32
of an inch apart. After considerable labor we succeeded in shoeing the horse satisfactorily to its owner and received the $100.
I saw the need at once of a Nailless Horseshoe. Instances were of daily occurrence where a shoe could not be attached to a hoof by nailing it on, and many valuable animals were either turned loose or killed, as in the rocky mountains no horse can travel any distance without shoes unless in very exceptional cases. Screwing on a shoe to the hoof, as we did with that horse, is very dangerous, tedious and so costly that it can only be done in rare cases. Moreover, it ruins the horse’s hoofs beside, it will not last for any length of time.
I spent a great deal of time studying the anatomy of the horse’s hoof and in my studies I had read of the methods employed by the ancient Greeks and Romans, Japanese and Chinese, securing shoes to their horses’ hoofs with bamboo, rice straw or raw-hide. Along these lines my thoughts were centred.
Later on while I was traveling through South America, on horse- back, from Rio de Jeneiro, through the various South American Re- publics, my horse frequently lost a shoe, and as the roads and trails through South America are of a hard granite formation, when a horse casts its shoe it had to be abandoned, unless the shoe could be at- tached to the hoof immediately. A very short travel without a shoe on the hoof would completely ruin the horse, laming him indefinitely.
On my return to the United States, and while traveling in the mountains, I met freighters, prospectors and miners every day, some having one or two horses that had cast a shoe, and to help them out, I replaced the shoe temporarily by using part of a gunny sack and wire, placing the wire through the nail holes in the shoe and wrap- ping the gunny sack around the hoof and the fetlock, then twisting the wire around the hoof from different angles. The gunny sack pre- vented the wire cutting into the fetlock. As these freighters met others along the route, they drew their attention to this temporary made of replacing the cast shoe and I found later that it became a custom with most all freighters and mountain travelers.
It is a well-known fact that all freighters on mountain roads. must carry their feed for the horses and mules, such as baled hay, oats or shell corn, and this is where they obtained gunny sacks and wire for the purpose mentioned.
I was oftentimes compelled to tie shoes to my horse’s hoofs with wire; although a little tedious, I made a very successful job of it. It always served my purpose splendidly and I frequently traveled hundreds of miles with shoes held in place by wire and found that he traveled farther and held up better than when shoes were nailed to his hoofs. Many a time I had all the four hoofs shod in this manner.
33
(Be,
I attributed it to the fact that normal expansion and contrac- tion was able to take place.
This temporary method was so satisfactory that upon my return to the United States I resolved to perfect some permanent arrange- ment of attaching shoes to the hoofs of horses without the use of nails. I established a chain of horse-shoeing shops in a number of western towns and there I had ample opportunity to experiment on hundreds of hoofs.
I met with considerable discouragement. Many people who saw my experiment insisting that I could no more invent a Nailless Horse- shoe than I could solve the problem of Perpetual Motion. I acquired the reputation as a crank, a visionary, and many other epithets not at all complimentary, but I avoided trouble and stuck to it—just as every man must do who wants to succeed in an undertaking. Foundry men told me repeatedly that the shoe could not be made by casting in sand
send. successfully.
So it devolved upon me to make the first sand mould for the shoe which was done successfully, and all future doubts on that point were swept away. I paid considerably over $50 for the casting and making of one shoe, this on several occasions. I expended $3500 for a set or dies to make the shoes from drop forgings as also to expedite the making of them in large quantities, and after waiting almost a year for the dies to be finished and after one or two shoes were forged out I abandoned the dies as the castings were too heavy and the cost of finishing too great.
In all these eighteen years I have never experienced a moment of discourasement although I expended from my own private fortune over $100 000.00 in perfecting the Nailless Horseshoe. and I now feel that the time and money were not snent wronely. as it is now PHR- FECTED. Some of the men who tried most to discoursace me have kent in touch with me all these vears and thev were the first to whom I sent shoes for trial. For the last several vears thev have heen using them on their horses and een’t sav enoush in their favor.
J admit that I have often times heen qnizzed hv the man who savs he is from Missouri. hut. havine the analitw of the Texian the “stiektoitiveness.” and knowing full well that it is nat ca much in catchin= on, but settine 9a firm erin and hold on that makes a snueeess of evervthine. so T Inll their nerve to rest bv telline them the story of the first railroad. as follows:
When the steam locomotive was invented and it was proposed to build the lines throughout England, the matter came before Par-
34
liament. Very few of the members believed it would succeed, and the inventors were called “fools,” “visionaries,” ete. One of the members of Parliament wrote a lengthy essay on the subject and he absolutely proved (on paper) that aheavy body on wheels, if put upon tracks, would remain stationery, while the wheels’ would simply buzz around on the rails. Nevertheless, when the tracks were laid, and the cars put upon them, and the wheels began to revolve, lo and behold, the cars DID move, and traffic by means of steam loco- motion was a success.
So it doesn’t always do to demonstrate an invention as impossible—simply on paper. Both the locomotive and the NAILLESS HORSESHOE are PERFECTED today and both are meeting the wants of thousands of people and horses throughout the land. It all goes to show that a certain amount of opposition is often a great help, “as all kites rise better against the wind than with it.”
In 1890 the horse census of the world showed a horse popu- lation of 68,000,000. Europe, 37,000,000; Asia, 4,500,000 ; Africa, 1,060,000; Australia, 2,000,000; United States, 23,000,000.
In 1911, the equine population of the world was 114,200,000. Canada, 24,000,000; Central America, 28,000,000; South America, 10,000,000; Austria-Hungary, 4,200,000; European and Russia, 23,600,000; United States, nearly 36,000,000, including horses and mules in cities and towns.
Burns O. Severson, a member of the University of Wisconsin, describes the progress of the horse through history, always serving his master—Man. The most valuable agricultural product in the United States today is the horse. According to the United States Bureau of Statistics we have in this country 36,000,000 horses and mules with an estimated value of $4,525,000,000. This is $1,025,000 000 more in value than all our cattle, sheep and hogs combined, or $750,- 000,000 more than our annual crops of corn, wheat, oats, barley and rye. In view of this enormous value it may be of interest to consider the development and influence of this most domesticated of animals. One is amazed at the close association of the horse with the history of our country. Columbus on his second voyage introduced it into the West Indies. De Soto, on his journey to the Mississippi, brought the Spanish horse. These animals abandoned by De Soto are the progenitors of the wild horses of the Southwest. The horse was also
a0
Equine Census 1890 and 1911.
Equine Valuation.
Increase in Ten Years.
Authority Quoted.
Automobile Necessary to Help the Horse.
imported with the founding of the colonies. From these ancestors have developed the countless numbers in our land today.
The increase in the horse population in the last ten years is over 10,000,000 horses having an estimated value of over $1,000,000,000.
Dr. Alexander, of the University of Wisconsin, one of America’s greatest authorities on the horse, under whose guid- ance Wisconsin has been the first state to assume the control of horse breeding, and who was instrumental in having a bill passed by the Legislature in 1905 that an enrollment of all sires by the college of agriculture a requirement of law—the law has already had a satisfactory effect in Wisconsin, and has formed the basis of similar laws enacted in some sixteen other states—says: “Some people say the automobile will drive the horse out of existence and that for agricultural pur- poses other forms of motive power will be used. The automo- bile truck has not proven a perfect practical success on the streets of our great cities. Imagine for a moment the com- mercial centers of this nation to be cut off from the horse for merely a day. Think of the millions of tons of freight and baggage that would be delayed. To the average farmer the horse will remain the cheapest and most efficient motor power, for the reason that the horse is an every-ready and proficient worker in ali the exigencies of farm life.”
The fact that the automobile and bicycle is in existence to- day or will increase to-morrow does not indicate that the horse is gradually becoming extinct or a thing of the past; far from it. Were there no automobiles or bicycles, at the present rate of the increase in population both in business and agriculture, we would not have near a sufficient number of horses to supply the demand even for city purposes, as every year there are thousands of new businesses starting up, all of which require horses to assist in them. The fact would be a greater scarcity in horses than there are to-day and a good horse would bring a price almost that of an automobile. Every year there are thousands upon thousands of acres of land taken up by the younger generation, employing thousands upon thousands of workmen to assist them in its culti- vation. This land is tilled to raise breadstuffs for the ever-increas-
36
ing population, which is dependent upon farm products for their substance.
Wherever the automobile is predominant, the horse has been taken to the agricultural section. The facts are that horses are at a low ebb compared to the rate of increase in the human population in the United States and else- where, and many more are needed to supply the demand,
but their production is not sufficient to fill the require- ments. Hence the prices of horses have advanced and are much higher today than ever before. Besides the horses used in the tilling of land, there are also over 1,000,000 yoke of oxen.
This would indicate that the horse is safe. There is no con- troversy but that he is safe and will remain king to the end of time. Instead of a horseless age, as some would have us believe, there is a continual cry for ageless horses each year. There has been an increase in factories to manufacture more horseshoes, horseshoe pads and NAILLESS HORSESHOES, all of which is proof that the popularity of the horse is not on the decrease, but on the increase.
Railroads, business houses, every new form of farm machin- ery, demand the use of more horses to do the increasing work. To supply the requirements of increasing business for the increas- ing population, the automobiles and all forms of traction vehicles are necessary to help the horse out. Ye prophesiers of the horse- less age, “laugh,” but do it quietly, and remember, “He laughs best who laughs last,’ as statistics herein decide who can laugh the loudest, heartiest and longest. When the horse is banished from the farm and from the streets of our cities, the great volume of business must cease and all activity will come to a standstill and the millions of freight trains will be nothing but junk, rusting on the sidetracks, as the Millennium will then be here.
Much sympathy should be shown the blind man, the crippled person, the unfortunate, in the sense that the majority consider
37
Oxen Used.
The Horse Is Safe.
No Horseless Age.
Horse vs. Automobile.
No Horses
Out of Commission
Until the
End of Time.
To Develop Horse’s Latent Power.
unfortunate. But the heart bleeds and every fibre in the body should ache in sympathy for the man who says that the automo- bile will drive out the horse. There is a vast difference between animate and inanimate substance. The same dividing line as there is between the living and the dead, between the strenuous, determined and always to be relied upon, never-give-up spirit of
the horse, which elicits a wonderful, almost superhuman feeling of esteem, and the inanimate automobile, which, in comparison
to the horse, is simply a toy. For instance, take a clock made by the most prominent artisan, handed down for many generations, after its many mechanical parts are worn out and it stops forever, you will not hear the slightest murmur of regret from the owner. It is thrown away into the rubbish heap and never more thought of. Yet, when a faithful horse dies there is lamenting and dis- tress in that same household as if the animal were a spiritual kin to thein.
Neither the steam engine or the trolley car, nor the automobile, except in their particular vocation, have put any horses out of commission; nor will they to the end of time. As the steam engine, the trolley car and the auto-
mobiles are merely the inanimate slave to the horse. assisting him as the population anc the acquirements of the human increase.
Every man and woman possesses a latent power, that can be developed if they are not physically incapacitated. It is true of the horse as well, his latent power lies dormant but can be developed if he is restored to his natural condition of health, but so long as it continues his latent power cannot be developed. But if we abolish the method of driving nails into his hoofs it will be astonishing how easily his latent power can be developed and how quickly his earning capacity will be increased, then his value cannot be over-estimated, and he will thrive, do more work and do it more easily. Consequently he will be able to earn more for his owner, hence, increase in value.
38
THE HORSE AND THE AUTO.
One day a horse saw an automobile, Stuck deep in the mud with a broken wheel, As he approached he heaved a sigh,
And was greatly startled on hearing the cry; “Say, friend horse, will you help me out?” The horse replied: “Without a doubt,
I’ll help you out if you will say
That I’m the master here today.”
The auto replied: “I’ll surely say
As swiftly journeying on my way,
The same old story will be told
That you are worth your weight in gold.” The horse pulled out the automobile,
Stuck deep in the mud with its broken wheel, And as he started on his way,
Unto the auto he thus did say:
“Dear friend auto, pray tell your boss,
A motor ear is not worth a hoss,
You can’t move when you get stuck Without my help as you haven’t the pluck, I never get stuck out on the road,
I’m always sure to deliver my load.
The reason I help you plainly see, ° Because I need your help for me.
If my owner gets sick on any day,
I take him home as I know the way.
If your’s gets sick, you’re in suspense And must lay on the road in ditch or fence, In speeding along, on plain or hill,
Your precious cargo ofttimes you kill. Airships and autos are all of them dross Compared in value to a good old hoss.
39
“The Colt Important Beginning.
A noted stockman said: “I don’t know how I ever got along be- fore I began using the Shaiffer Nailless Horseshoes on my horses. I do not know what I would do if I could not get them, as they have been a great advantage to me and I am sure to the horses also; they have saved me much time and money and my horses are all doing better in many ways. They do not show any fatigue as they formerly did when I had them shod with the nail-on-shoe, beside; I have never had any of them go lame, as was frequently the case when I had them shod with nail-on-shoes. The Shaiffer Nailless Horseshoes serve not only all purposes of the grown horse but of the colt as well, that have never had a nail driven into its hoofs, which is the important beginning. I was astonished to notice how rapidly my horses took on flesh and how much better they did in many ways. In fact they are all greatly changed since I abolished the driving of nails into the hoof. The first time I saw the Shaiffer Shoe I said it was the shoe we horsemen had hoped for. I did not seek the opinion of anyone as the simplicity and arrangement of the shoe immediately impressed upon my mind its usefulness and value. I believe, as all intelligent men should, that with its introduction it will be the beginning of a new era for the horse. I have often said since I have been using the shoes, and I repeat, that the Shaiffer Nailless Horseshoe is the only kind of shoe that should be used on a horse, and no matter what the price is, they are the cheapest in the long run, and every person owning a horse should use them on their horses and stop driving nails into their hoofs as I have done.”
He saw what the scientific world has long expected, a simple, practical NAILLESS HORSESHOE. Consid- ering its humane principles alone, it is of immense im- portance® From the view of economy, much time and money can be saved, in fact, when its true value is fully realized, it will rightly be termed “THE WORLD’S
EIGHTH WONDER.”
The higher and greater spiritual education we possess, the greater sympathy we show towards dumb animals, and we are blessed accordingly. The savage is devoid of sympathy, hence we do not ask that he reflects. in sympathy’s cause.
Observe a horse standing idle; how he shifts from one foot to the other; he throws one foot out and rests on the other,
40 |
Observe how he turns his head to one side, his expression seems to imply that he is in agony. When it dawns upon you that his actions are caused from pain due to the nails that are driven into his hoofs, have you no sympathy for him? Every horse-owner ought to realize that there is an esteemable debt due to their horse, and should take every opportunity of repaying him for the great service he is rendering from day to day. They should be the first to assist in the conservation of the horse, by immediately abolish- ing the method of nailing on shoes, and equip him with NAJL- LESS HORSESHOES to protect his hoofs from injury.
There are many things which we cannot do, many which we ~ do not even attempt, but we are doing all we can to induce the horse owner to contribute his little mite towards the comfort of his friend, the horse. We are importuning the horse-lover to adopt what we have long been advocating, the shoeing of horses by a rational, human, scientific and up-to-date method, with NAILLESS HORSESHOES. We deride the stingy owner, we abuse the brutal driver, we pity the non-believer, we appeal to every intelligent man and woman to assist us in revolutionizing the present mode of horse-shoeing by recommending a NAIL- LESS HORSESHOE, no matter what design or make, because it is the only way that horses should be shod. We appeal to every Humane Society throughout the world, which is doing noble work towards lessening abuse of the animal, to contribute their influence towards establishing laws to abolish attaching shoes to the horse’s hoof by means of nails. If the situation is thor- oughly analyzed, the idea will suggest itself to the mind for this change, and good results are sure to be obtained.
Driving nails into their hoofs is bad shoeing, and is the be- ginning of making a vicious horse. A vicious horse sometimes makes a brutal driver, and also makes a brutal driver more brutal. Horses shod with NAILLESS HORSESHOES will eliminate the cruel and brutal driver, as he will have no excuse to treat his horse badly. Large express companies in the United States and abroad claim that “bad shoeing” is the cause of horses slipping and falling, by which nine-tenths of their injuries result.
Authority says: Eliminate pricking, burning and cutting away of the vital part of the hoof and ninety per cent. of horses will be able to do more work than formerly, and, besides, it will be encouraging to the horse because his labor is robbed of the most tedious and miserable feature, and his owner will get out of him a great deal more.
AI
Pity.
Recommend . Nailless to all.
Shun a Bungler.
Sixty per cent. of the horses have had their hoofs cut away by some so-called horseshoer, so that they are hardly able to travel. Horses weighing 1200 to 1400 pounds ought to have a hoof measuring from 6 to 7 inches across the centre, and from 7% to 8% from toe to heel, but one can see every moment in the day in any large city thousands of horses of the above men- tioned weights with their hoofs trimmed down to 3% to 5 inches across the centre and 4 to 5 inches from toe to heel. Why should this be allowed in this civilized age, where so much is being done in other respects. Shun the smith who cuts your horse’s hoof away, as he has no more knowledge in regard to the anatomy of the horse’s hoof than he has of the inhabitants on the planet Mars.
The person that treats his horse kindly and approves and uses every humane method of care for him, is surely a practical humanitarian, and his public and private life must be exemplary, as helping the defenseless, be they human or brute, is a divine command, therefore a practical religion. “It goes without say- ing” the humane man is good to dumb animals and is always on the lookout for something that will benefit them. The humane person requires no argument to be convinced that it is wrong, absolutely wrong to apply any kind of a shoe to a horse’s hoof by means of nails, and that it is right, absolutely right, to shoe horses with serviceable shoes that require no nails to attach them to the hoof.
The subject of NAILLESS HORSESHOES ought to be of special interest to every horse owner. The com- fort of the horse ought to be his first thoughts, for per- haps tomorrow his horse may be crippled or have con- tracted a disease which unfits him for use, or worst of all, to die with lockjaw, all of which are brought on by the effects of nails driven into his hoof.
Who will deny that the horse is an essential business partner to his owner, and no man in business of any consequence can get along without him; in fact, there is hardly any business nowadays that does not require the horse’s assistance.
42
Nine-tenths of every business is composed of 75 per cent. horse and 25 per cent. man. There is no contro- versy but that this is absolutely true of farming, and every farmer ought to be the first to take steps to do away with the driving of nails into the horse’s hoof, so as to have better horses and better service. Strictly speaking, every person who can afford a horse can afford every up-to-date device for its protection and especially he can afford to shoe him with the most perfect shoes without nails, the SHAIFFER NAILLESS HORSE- SHOE.
No one is asked to lay down their life for the horse, though many a horse’s life has been sacrificed for human greed, to pro- vide the horse with the vital necessities for his comfort is a small act of kindness which we owe him for his life of usefulness and faithfulness. Treat your horse well and you will leave a lasting impression upon the community, you will leave a greater monu- ment than any ever erected over a Czar, signifying a perpetual reputation of a qualified humanitarian; then the great Creator who saw fit to create both man and beast, one for the other, will at last pronounce the benediction, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant, thou hast indeed: been kind to the dumb as I would have thee, and your reward shall be much. Amen.”
The condition of the hoofs of the majority of horses in cities and towns are appalling, having been burnt, rasped and cut away until they are about two-thirds of their natural size. How can it be expected that the horse can do a proper day’s work in his crippled condition. Ye learned veterinarians, who make your claims of having been reared and fostered in the sanctum sanc- torum of some noted Alma Mater, in this or some other country, what has your learning profited you? Where is your pride, where is your wisdom, where is your humanity? Does not the constant misery which the horse is suffering day by day, which you can plainly see if you stop long enough to observe him, awaken you to a sense of your duty? Can you sit contented by your own hearth knowing that inhuman and unscientific methods are being employed hourly, daily and yearly sapping the founda- tion of the health of the horse, and which if allowed to continue much longer will be the means of his utter annihilation? Why is it that you do not take steps for his conservation by making efforts to stop this known cruelty in the name of humanity? Isn’t it strange that all your learning has not given you ere this a wisdom’s mark? “Tis true that you have been told much, yet you have profited so little by it.
43
Horse Owners Are Awaking.
Horseshoers Are Approving.
Your learning is naught but a bit of rot, Your genius just the same.
Humanity less your wisdom is not The kind to win you fame.
You are asked to appeal to the reasoning faculty of the horse owner, in which you come in contact with, in your service to the horse and interest them in adopting means and devices of attach- ing horseshoes to the horses’ hoofs without driving nails into them.
Sad, very sad, that the horse-owner and horse-lover do not demand a more common sense method than the one in vogue, that of nailing shoes to the horse’s hoof which they know in their own mind is wrong. You are appealed to, to make a determined stand and assist in enacting laws to stop this modern barbarism.
The idea of shoeing horses without nails has never been claim_ ed to be impossible in a literal sense, but owing to a lack of dis- interestedness, there has been a delay, but now that it has been accomplished it will fastly take the place of the nail-on-shoe, be- cause of its vastly humane principle and its tremendous economical saving. It will rapidly gain a worldwide reputation of being the essential means toward better horses.
Discussing the need of an efficient, humane and proper shoe for horses, that can easily and readily be attached to the hoof with- out driving nails into it, within the reach of every person who owns a horse—in fact, as popular as the horse itself. A promi- nent veterinarian said: “The horse owners and horse lovers are gradually becoming aroused to the defects of the method in vogue of shoeing horses by driving nails into their hoofs. The public is also beginning to see at last how it is possible to conserve the horse. They demand that the barbarous treatment of driving nails into a live and growing substance be done away with altogether, hence it is assisting to arouse the horse owner to realize the defects of the old method—methods that impose upon not only the horse, but its owner and which has been the cause of decimating the horse the world over—as no appreciable efforts were made to improve the shoeing methods within the last fifty years.”
The rapid progress of the SHAIJFFER NAILLESS HORSESHOE—its remarkable simplicity, convenience and econ- omy has proved as startling to the old-time horseshoer, as it is gratifying to the horse owners now enjoying the advantages of this humanitarian device. A few years ago when it was declared that within a short period that the horse owner would soon be awakened to a realization that the horse would be much benefited by wearing the NAILLESS HORSESHOE—the old-time horse- shoers ridiculed the statement. But, few years has hardly passed
44
around, when the SHAJFFER NAILLESS HORSESHOE has gone far beyond expectation—and the old-time horseshoers that scoffed most at it then sees day by day NAJLLESS HORSE- SHOES gradually becoming in demand.
It will be necessary for the manufacturers of NAILLESS HORSESHOES to extend their plant to supply the large demand which is daily growing, because the shoe is becoming popular with the horse owner and with the public in general, which is a sure indication that it is in favor of Nailless Horseshoes and will be at all times.
This demand of the general humane public is merely the be- ginning and presages that the progress of Nailless Horseshoes is an assured thing, as the public is becoming thoroughly aroused to the value of them as an incomparable device. Horse owners and horse lovers are now more earnestly and actively expressing their opinion of the benefits and comforts of the Nailless Horseshoe— which has so splendidly demonstrated its humane and economical importance.
Several years ago it was fairly easy for the old-time horse- shoers and the non-progressive persons to create prejudice and interpose obstacles, for then the horse owner and the horse driver did not really know what the Nailless Horseshoe was and could do, but they were willing to be shown.
Now as they have seen for themselves they understand and appreciate and are acting from humanitarian interest and are recommending horse owners to adopt the NAILLESS plan of shoeing horses. The opposition by various persons representing class interests through curious tactics have prevented the N AIJL- LESS HORSESHOE from gaining a firm foothold in its in- ception. But in spite of this and the friends of the old bar- barous system of shoeing the horse, the NAILLESS HORSE- SHOE manufacturers have gone along serenely and quietly with- out fear or favor of any objectionable combination, laying its plans and foundation for one of the largest businesses in the world, and this is being done in the face of all opposition when many selfish interests have essayed to hinder its progress, and today has accomplished its purpose and has gained many thou- sand believers in this remarkable new way of shoeing horses.
Public-spirited citizens are beginning to realize the opposi- tion to the NAJLLESS HORSESHOE, as the inspiration of greed working against humane interest and benefits of the most popular, interesting and beneficial animal to mankind—that is why the humane spirit is being aroused by the public and why they are throwing their influence on the side of a better mode of horseshoeing and why they are aiding in the dissemination of the NAILLESS HORSESHOE by voicing its humanitarian prin- ciple.
45
Manufacturers Defeat Curious Tactics.
Humane Principle Popular.
Independent of Horseshoer.
Constant Driving Nails Bad for
kKace Horses.
The manufacturers of the Nailless Horseshoes is thereby enabled to win the good will of many horseshoers who were bias and opposed to the shoe in the beginning, and by whom they can hasten its adoption in many villages and settlements throughout the country.
THE NAILLESS HORSESHOE has the most remarkable advantage over the old method, as by its use any kind of a lame horse can be shod without detriment to the hoof or to the horse in general. It is little trouble to adjust the shoe to any kind of a hoof, by man, woman or child, in a few moments’ time; therefore, its economic principle of saving time, brawn and strength will be recognized by all who have occasion to see and use them on their horses, and besides the horse owner and horse driver will be entirely independent of the so-called horseshoer that is, the man whoeburns the hoof, cuts and files it away and drives the nail into a live and growing substance, a thing which should never have been permitted in the beginning, but being once started was hard to break away from, on account of there being no other method in vogue instead of the evil.
Utilizing this independent privilege of applying the shoe to the horse’s hoof and removing the same at any time you see fit or whenever it is expedient to do so—the building up of the horse from a lame and aching beast to that of a natural one gives to the horse owner a service inestimable, and especially will this system of shoeing be advantageous to the owner of race horses who do not want their high-priced animals crippled by driving nails into their hoofs, as by the constant reshoeing of their horses almost every hour of the day by that barbarous and clumsy method, shortens its life and increases its misery, hence, the horse owner is quickly awakening and is finding out what advantage the NAILLESS HORSESHOE is and is eager to have it take the place of the defective and expensive mode of driving nails into the hoof.
In introducing the NAILLESS HORSESHOE several years ago it was also necessary to count on the men from Texas, or in other words, where conditions were most favorable, in commu- aities where people were vastly humane and who were ever ready to recognize its use and benefit to the horse, these people know well its good points and have voiced its humane and economical service ever since. .
The more the horse owner uses the Nailless, the less pa- tience has he with the waiting, expensive and defective method now in use, and the more eager is he to have this economical, humane shoe in general service among all owners of horses. Many horse owners and horse Icvers north, south, east and west, have written the inventor of the Nailless Horseshoes that they are ready to welcome the NAJLLESS, that he can count on their support when they go their way, they know that there is a wide field to supply and await its coming impatiently.
The widespread desire by the horse owner is as- serting itseli—they are awakening to the wrong that has been done to the horse and the necessity of a NAIL- LESS SHOE that can be put on and taken off whenever it is necessary without any labor or any special tool. The
splendid indorsements of many who have used it in the past have given much energy to a popuiar sentiment. The progressive moment of the NAJILLESS HORSE- SHOE is at hand, this is specially indicative by the en- thusiasm among horse owners and their friends.
We plan to start a chain of shops so as to meet all the re- quirements of our customers where our Nailless Horseshoes will be attached to the hoof by skilled horseshoers and see that the horse’s hoof is properly taken care of. Special arrangements will be made with horseshoers wishing to handle our shoe and help in its adoption by attaching ull shoes purchased by their customers free of charge, thus making them and us independent of the manufacturers of the nail-on-shoe.
Few can understand the many obstacles and prejudice which the manufacturers of the Nailless horseshoe had to contend with in introducing the shoe to the public. But they have gained the confidence in these few years of the general humane person and hope to continue in gaining confidence of others until the tocsin is sounded to the north, south, east and west, until at last the Nailless Horseshoe is used on every horse in the land.
Mr. Alfonso Wilson, a large plantation owner in Mississippi, writes thus: “Knowing that the hardest work in establishing a great and new invention and especially a humanitarian one as the Nailless Horseshoe is in getting a satisfactory start, yet I believe as each year closes that you will have won many horse owners and horse lovers to the idea of shoeing horses with shoes that require no nails to attach them to the hoofs. I have every rea- son to believe that when once you get your commercial stride that the demand for Nailless Horseshoes will increase a thousand fold each year. I predict that within a few years millions of horses will be wearing Nailless Horseshoes because I know from practical experience there is only one way of attaching a shoe to the hoof of a horse that is right, and that is without nails and by the principle that composes the SHAIFFER invention.” Many have seen the Nailless Horseshoes on my horses and everybody here in the South who has seen them thinks well of it and are anxious to see it prove a perfect success. I believe our Govern- ment ought to make the patents perpetual when perfected beyond further improvement. You ought to plan to establish distribut- ing agencies throughout the entire country @° i have energetic hustlers to invade the enemy’s camp by building breastworks if need be, every foot of the way, until you have routed the old, in- human, barbarous way of shoeing horses by driving nails into
Plan to Help.
Remarkable Letter
of
Advice from
a Southerner.
their hoofs. You should establish agencies on every firing line that you can get a foothold on because the Nailless Horseshoe is remarkably convenient and its humane principle as well as its economical saving will greatly increase its popular and general use, as the matter. of maintenance will be inexpensive and there will be a saving of time and a saving of a good horse as well, and again, your uniform price to all consumers of the shoe is a great thing just as the Government has a uniform rate of postage for all parts of the country. Remember that every important inven- tion has been made a success only by hard struggle, so stick to the task, but I believe your task is over and you have won the race. Do not desist in spreading broadcast the message that the Nail- less Horseshoe has been devised and is manufactured, but do so in clear and simple word so that both he who studies and he who runs may read and understand and be convinced.
ADDITION TO THE HORSE’S PRAYER.
Now, O my Master, after all I have asked of thee, I shall forego all these things, if you will only provide me with SUITABLE FOOT- WEAR to protect my feet from injury without driving nails into them.
Seemingly, I am well, yet it is not so; for in my mute misery, I cannot convey to thee the excruciating pain which pervades me, and the continual suffering I am compelled to en- dure at all time due entirely to the sinful mode of shoeing my feet.
If I am lax in performing the duties re- quired of me, it is entirely due to the ailments of my body, caused by the cruel method of in- cessantly burning, rasping and driving nails into my hoofs.
Again I ask of thee; please, Master, pro- vide me with shoes convenient for me, abolish the barbarous, cruel and diabolical method of driving nails into my hoofs, then, all the ail- ments which I am subject to, and the mute suffering which I have endured and all forms of diseases which have been my lot in the past, will be no more.
Then, I shal] \ ve your purpose better, as my life will be of ce \ ,arative comfort, and, the great Creator, who 12,5 designed me for your will and pleasure, wili »2ward you accordingly.
Opportunity is like a wild horse that can only be mounted on a jump.
Get your foot in the stir- rup and then you’re master of the situation.
i V ~ oe > ee ee
@ ARY OF Plinth i ue
ae
ee 2 863 794
A good horse or a good mule is the backbone of every farm and every business, the better the horse, the better the farm and the better the business, but how are we going to have good horses without good shoeing,—how are we going to have good shoeing unless by
abolishing the crude and inhuman method of driving nails into the horse’s hoof and per- manently adopting the humane and pro- gressive method of attaching shoes to the horse’s hoof that requires no nails to do so.—H. D. Ss.
NATIONAL NAILLESS HORSESHOE CO.
ale Philadelphia, Pa. le ele gle sh . Ga _ Sle
-(G
nist Ss st TARAS