Re: Barefoot Endurance?

["Lynette" <helgeson@ndak.net>]

Let me tell you about my 4 white footed, soft hoofed horse. We could never
ride him even moderately without shoes. I would pull his shoes for the
winter, but in the spring as soon as I started putting some miles on him, I
would have to put on shoes or there would not be enough left to nail shoes
on. We had problems with fine cracks on his feet and he would throw a shoe
easily.

Another problem and this was a bigger one, was he also had a chronic back
problem. I tried different saddles, different bits, tried to improve my
riding, and it got worse. To the point where he was unridable, laid his ears
back as soon as you hit the saddle. Did not want to be caught, would throw
himself around to avoid being saddled, and would not stand still to be
mounted and hated to be ridden. This was an purebred high % crabbet Arab
that I knew would do well in endurance. Good recoveries, stayed cool, good
head, no leg problems. But with his back and his feet there was no way I
could do endurance with him.

A member of this list, I believe it was Jerald Thiesse, (thank a lot
Jerald), told me that his back problems might be from his back feet being
trimmed wrong. He suggest that I check into the natural trim. I found an
natural trimmer in ND who had studied under Lyle "Bergy" Bergeleen. This
farrier had also trained under Pat Parelli, so he not only knew how to do
the natural trim, but also knew the natural way to handle horses, (which
work well since we had just purchased two horses that would not let anyone
pick up their feet.)

Well to make a long story short, this crabbet chestnut Arab is running
barefoot, with a lot more miles then he ever has been ridden, his hooves are
harder, the hoof wall is stronger, and he has a lot better growth. Plus, no
more sore back!!!
His attitude has improved 100%. And he is the horse that my husband run LD
this past summer, (which I might add he BC on) and could have easily done
50's with. I am going to do 50's with him this next summer. And we have not
had to put another shoe on him since we started with the natural trim. Plus
all 10 of my horses have better and stronger hooves. Believe me I am sold on
this trim and going barefoot on my horses.

Also, if anyone is interested in knowing the details on how this trim cured
my horse's sore back problem, let me know, and I will go into detail. But I
figure this email has gotten long enough!

Lynette Helgeson
In ND where the terrain varies.
> I have a mare that we have never had shoes on.. she has feet like iron...
> when we started really working her here in AZ her feet started getting
> shorter and shorter untill she started to get gimpy... we had to shoe her
for
> the first time .. I don't see how my 4 white footed horse could be rode
> without shoes!  My horses are all out 24/7
> Blessings Mona
>
>
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