Re: Horses needing shoes?

AKogler <akogler@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On Oct 22, 10:18 pm, JC Dill <jcdill.li...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I don't.



I have to wonder. I think about it alot..and cant come up with a
physiological reason why high performance cant be done barefoot..and
yet, it seems weird to me still. I had such a hard time wrapping my
head around being barefoot and jumping particularly seemed so weird
bf. But I cant come ujp with any reasons why it would be more
beneficial to the foot to have the shoe to land on.

Well, its interesting, and time will tell, and I hope vets and
researchers keep doing their thing. The more we know the better off
our horses will be.

Ab

Traction is a big reason at least for jumpers and eventers (I don't
know enough about high performance Western sports to comment
on them.) The simple, plain truth is that if you are competing in
a 100,000 Grand Prix, you want every advantage to win. If a set
of studs saves you a rail or lets you shave a turn, then you're
going to use them.

I know you can now get removeable studs for Easy Boots, which
is cool, but I have jumped horses in Easy Boots and MHO, I
feel they make the horse clumsier with his feet. Which is not
what you want with a jumper. Maybe the new designs are
better.

I personally believe most show hunters could live and perform
barefoot; they perform on manicured surfaces for the most
part and "hunter trips" don't require much in the way of
traction. The problem is the management/lifestyle. The
vast majority of these horses spend weeks "on the road"
living in tent stalls. If they are lucky they get short turnout
in little pens. But most of the tmie, they are confined. It
just doesn't link up very well with management practices
advocated by the barefooters.

BTW, the horse who was sore while transitioning to
barefoot (his feet were a *mess*) is now sound and
able to WTC/Jump 2'6" or so in a stonedust arena.
His feet look great; better than they ever have. I
would leave him barefoot as long as possible; he does
have ability as a jumper but he's a baby and Level 4
is a way off for him.

Sue
svleopold@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Boots instead of shoes - opinions?
    ... There is no reason that a horse that is barefoot and doing fine on the flat and on trails needs shoes for low-level jumping, unless you start jumping AND the horse starts to show problems with hoof soreness, which is not common. ... When I was a farrier I had many clients who kept their horses barefoot and jumped at lower levels, ...
    (rec.equestrian)
  • Re: Barehoof 360 B.C.
    ... These discussions about transitioning to barefoot are always puzzling ... I am not sure whether it is a difference in horses or in work ... My last farrier didn't even do shoes. ... Is there a reason so many of you shoe? ...
    (rec.equestrian)
  • Re: And now by sheer coincidence... a barefoot anecdote
    ... You are doing what you want with your horses and your ... horses in a way that requires shoes" or "if you want to apply inflexible ... steel plates and numb your horses feet" ... I really resisted going barefoot. ...
    (rec.equestrian)
  • Re: And now by sheer coincidence... a barefoot anecdote
    ... You are doing what you want with your horses and your ... horses in a way that requires shoes" or "if you want to apply inflexible ... steel plates and numb your horses feet" ... I really resisted going barefoot. ...
    (rec.equestrian)
  • Re: Taking a Cue from JJ
    ... He found the bucket in which I had made the mash for Sonny. ... He got it stuck on his face! ... I just know that if we had a bunch more horses, ... Having 1 barefoot horsey is incredible around here. ...
    (rec.equestrian)