Walking horses

[Mad as a ferret]

Whats your views on some of the practices the Tenessee walking horse trainers use on their horses feet?

[Tim Hutton]

It's nowhere near as bad as it use to be...

[Mad as a ferret]

So what are farriers doing to make life better for them? if anything? or is it a case of the man who pays the bills calls the tune?

I just don't see how a farrier can justify this kind of practice.

http://www.walkinonranch.com/1000Words.html

[Mike Ferrara]

Originally Posted by Mad as a ferret

So what are farriers doing to make life better for them? if anything? or is it a case of the man who pays the bills calls the tune?

I just don't see how a farrier can justify this kind of practice.

http://www.walkinonranch.com/1000Words.html

I think there is something missing from the story. I don't currently shoe any TWH but I shoe other long footed horses. Sometimes a horse will lose a shoe and some foot with it. The foot that breaks lose is dead and weak and I've never seen or even heard of it resulting in injury. You just have to start over with a short foot.

Additionally, I am not aware of any data that demonstrates a higher incidence of work related injury in these breeds and disciplines than in any other. In fact, I think there are more injuries in speed and jumping horses.

Since you presented a question that appears based on an assumption without presenting any data to support that assumption, I'll answer the question with a question. Why should we have to justify it?

[Joey Aczon]

Mike, I think that there is a huge difference in the saddlebred packages that you work with and the "padded horse" packages. These horses really are freaks, and when they throw one of these packages it's usually really ugly.

I personally don't think that there is any justification for it and I refuse to do it. I won't shoe a horse for any class that they can use a chain, these horses are too often sored, and if they get busted by the DQP for soreing the owner, trainer, rider, and farrier can all be held liable depending on the situation. Alot of the horses in a TWH show ring are sored anyhow, and I'm very peticular about the types that I will work for.

[Mike Ferrara]

Originally Posted by Joey Aczon

Mike, I think that there is a huge difference in the saddlebred packages that you work with and the "padded horse" packages. These horses really are freaks, and when they throw one of these packages it's usually really ugly.
I personally don't think that there is any justification for it and I refuse to do it. I won't shoe a horse for any class that they can use a chain, these horses are too often sored, and if they get busted by the DQP for soreing the owner, trainer, rider, and farrier can all be held liable depending on the situation. Alot of the horses in a TWH show ring are sored anyhow, and I'm very peticular about the types that I will work for.

Soring is another matter and I've never worked on horses that were sored.