devil calls them 'unprofitable devices,' and recommends that the shoes with sponges (from the French éponge, the heel portion of the shoe thickened) only be used; if it is necessary to teach a horse to lift his feet, he should be shod heavily while at the school, and afterwards with light shoes.
'In Germany and "highe Almany," the "smythes" do make the shoes with a swelling welt round about the shoe, which being as high as the heads of the nails, or higher, saves the nails from wear.' These shoes Blundevil praises for lasting, having used them in these countries on very stony ground, and he mentions that Fiaschi also lauds them; though he advises that the wealt be indented, having sharp pointed teeth like a saw, and that the sponges behind be as thick as the welt; and that the welt be of a tough hard temper, for fear of wearing too fast. 'With these kind of shoes they use in Italy to shoe such Barbary horses, jennets, and Turks, as are appointed to run for the best game at some public triumph, or any other private wager.
'Some that use to pass the mountains where smiths are not readily to be found, to shoe a horse if need be, do carry about with them certain shoes made with vyces, wherewith they make the shoe fast to the horse's foot without help of hammer or nails. Notwithstanding, such shoes are more for the show than for any good use or commodity. For though it save the horse's foot from stones, yet it so pincheth his hoof, as he goeth with pain, and perhaps doth his hoof more hurt than the stones would do.'
He advises the jointed shoe to be applied in such
