Re: Re: Hooves

["Duncan Fletcher" <dfletche@gte.net>]

They are probably more slippery on rock than a steel shoe and they will
certainly not last for endurance riding. But the breakover point is
substantially further back than a traditional square toe, and for some
situations that is a benefit. I currently have them on 2 horses with low
heel problems. As the riding increases towards summer, we will probably go
back to squared toed steel - having a foot of swiss cheese from frequent
shoeings is not great either. Although a steel version of the NBS is
supposed to be in the works - if that happens, we will evaluate it.

My horses do not break over exactly in front - in fact considerably off. The
shape of the NBS shoe actually allows a horse to use its natural breakover
point, and mine do. The front bevel of a new shoe is not totally square.

Rather interesting sidenote to this. My farrier and I attended a clinic by
Gene Ovnicheck. I went for the general overview, and heard some things that
made some sense. I left with a single question, and that was is it really
possible to identify the toe calus (a key reference point for trimming under
that school). My farrier attended a hands on clinic with horses the next
day. He brought a customer and his horse and pulled it from the clinic.
Every single horse had its heels jacked up considerably with the rails that
Gene's company sells. And he was not able to see the toe calus on every
horse.

Duncan Fletcher
dfletche@gte.net


----- Original Message -----
From: Maggie Mieske <mmieske@netonecom.net>
To: hn.heather <hn.heather@wanadoo.fr>; <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Sent: Friday, February 04, 2000 6:09 AM
Subject: RC: Re: Hooves


> Heather,
> We, too, feel that there are some sound principles in the natural balance
> method and it's not really all that new...farriers have been squaring the
> toe and setting the shoe back long before the "natural balance" term was
> coined.  Our objection is to the NBS shoes, especially for endurance
> horses!  We feel they are ultimately dangerous..they are very slippery in
> some situations.  Your farrier can use the same principles shaping a steel
> shoe...we recommend the St. Croix Eventers (they have a natural bevel so
he
> doesn't even have to roll the toe...matching a rolled toe plus shoe can be
> frustrating) and we like the clips simply because it helps stabilize the
> shoe.  He may need to fire up his forge if he has one to shape them
> squarely (it is simply easier that way) but can be shaped cold, too.  I
> think we simply have to get Nelson busy out here (the stallion needs
> shoes!) and get him to shoeing a horse this way and take pictures actually
> showing what it is he does so people have a better idea what it looks like
> step by step.  As someone said (another farrier, I think) this NBS  shoe
> forces breakover exactly in the front...what if the horses "normal"
> breakover (they are all individuals!) isn't exactly to the front?  Could
> create some unhealthy torque and twisting somewhere...perhaps cause the
> swelling you are seeing?  This is just conjecture on my part but I think
> it's possible.  Stay tuned and keep in touch.  I am curious to know how
> things go for your horses.
>
>
> Maggie Mieske