Re: barefoot

["Terry Barrall and Felix Rodriguez" <losvagos@navicom.com>]

thanks, Michelle, this was my point, simply stated.

Terry B.


>> True, but......having seen a barefoot horse road founder in Arizona a few
>> years back, I don't take this whole subject lightly at all.
>
>Hi Beverly,
>
>I understand the compassion for the road foundered horse.  The road founder
>I have experienced was shod - a gorgeous little Al-Marah bred mare last
year
>that was at my vets clinic that had been over-ridden in the rocks.  Do we
>know that shoes will save a horse from excess shock from surfaces they were
>not conditioned for, whether shod or unshod (not an argumentative question,
>I really would like to know)?
>
>I am not defending every individual's decision that their horse can go
>without shoes, obviously, people make mistakes in judgement on this issue
as
>well.  But I'd like to be able to decide for myself what level of hoof
>protection my horse requires for a particular ride.  Just like I have the
>right to pick my training & conditioning methods, feed, electrolytes,
>saddle, bit, etc.- all of which can be equally beneficial or detrimental to
>my horse's health.
>
>While I don't chose to compete without hoof protection on my horse, there
>are a few horses in my region that are barefooted and have wonderful feet
>and finish sound.  I don't think anyone should take that option away from
>them.
>
>Happy trails, lady - send us some of that good California rain, please!
>
>Michelle
>(Colorado)