Posted by Dave Purves Cf on March 18, 2004 at 12:12:30:
In Reply to: Re: like to hear experience with removeable boots, glue on ... posted by TW Couch on March 18, 2004 at 07:52:03:
: I do not know if all the events the TB's did had perfect footing, they competed all season but were told they would have to shoe to join the Young Riders champinship team, they declined to shoe - It is odd that they were qualified and successful barefoot and then told they had to shoe -
: we do LD endurance and have not had any problems with traction - but are not jumping 3', just up and down hills / mountain areas, quite slimey sometimes and popping over the occasional log or downed tree. We leave a little bar in the rear depending.
: TE
: : : : Why are youwoumissing out? Are you concerned about traction? Check out the prelim event horse article on www.naturalhorsetrim.com These guys are very successful and were chosen for a championship team at the end of the season.
: : : : TE
: : : :
: : : : : For cross country jumping.
: : : : : I have an aged th'bred with under run heels. I am working with my vet and shoer. The horse is doing well barefoot, every couple of days, I rasp a little toe trying to help adjust his breakover, and keep rouging the point of the heel to keep the growth from running under. After several months, his hoof is really healthy, he is growing more upright heel. Since the ground is still nice and moist i'd like to stay with this program, but I'm missing out on my cross country jumping. EZ boots work fine on the trail, but I don't know anyone who has actually jumped 3to 3'6" in them. So, real experience with field jumping please. thx in advance ca.
: : : A friend of mine works on a horse that competed in a local 2 day horse trial and won her division barefoot. Now keeping in mind the the course conditions were great but it can be done. As far as easy boots go I don't know of anything like easy boots that are safe for cross country. Glue on shoes in most cases are much more expensive and not as great as most people think, they can be hard to keep on you usually have to reset them more often and the glue actually traps any fugus that may be in the hoof at the time. If your horse must have shoes to compete I would recommend an eventer rim shoe that fits PERFECTLY that way your farrier can drive the nails high enough that they are in solid hoofwall and that way you could probably get away with only using two nails per branch. I would also recommend using clipped shoes but you must make sure the shoes fit PERFECTLY and the clips are properly burnt into the hoof. If this happens then if your horse should happen to pull a shoe the clips and nails will slide right off usually not pulling any hoofwall off with them. I would not recommend drilling and tapping for studs because the added torque of the studs may be to much for only two nails per branch. My bigges piece of advice would be to be patient and let the horses feet come around to a normal capsule before you start using him/her to much. Taking off and especially landing over a jump can put a tremendous amount of stress on the hoof and leg and could certainly slow down your progress with the feet if your not careful.
: : : hope this helps
: : : Dave
:
: : I was at the DeBroke Championship event that the TB in the naturalhorsetrim.com article mentions. I must say that the footing there was perfect. No mud (we had almost 2 months of no rain) and no rocky areas. The sod was dry, but not hard, with excellent traction. I saw about 5 horses who were shod in front and barefoot behind (mostly Beginner Novice horses). There were 150 horses there, so I'm sure I didn't see them all. Probably most of these horses could have competed that weekend without the need for shoes and studs for traction, but how would a barefoot horse fare in slippy, slimy mud and other less than perfect footings? What if you are one of the first to run the course and have nice sod to gallop across, or if you are toward the end and have to run up the torn up and muddied sod? I personally wouldn't want to take a fall over a jump because of lack of traction that could have been prevented. When competing, you might not know the condition of the footing at a particular course, and you are at the mercy of the weather, also.
: : I am a Dressage rider and am learning to jump, and will be going to an Eventing clinic in a few months. I am also a farrier, so I notice horse's feet at events, shows, and clinics.
: : Malinda
If you want to know what happens to horses even with shoes and traction devices in slippery and muddy conditions just look at the result of the Rolex two years ago I can't remember the name of the horse but unfortunatly he did not make it. I was there and watched it happen. Not a pretty sight. Thats why the last six or seven horses scratched. I'm not making a case for barefoot only on the contrary I think properly applied shoes with proper traction is a key to survival and safety especially when conditions are less then perfect.
Dave