RE: RE: barefoot on the WRRT

["Tracey Ritter" <Tracey_Ritter@yahoo.com>]

Hey, Maggie -

Well, I wasn't advocating that they be ridden over gravel til sore or
crippled!  However, horses get sore from all sorts of things, poor saddle
fit, muscle pulls from experiencing uneven terrain, etc... all things that
happen, despite our best efforts.

There is a difference between a horse picking his way over terrain and being
"ouchy" over gravel, but sometimes it's hard to tell when you're astride.
Being choosy doesn't mean he's sore, doesn't mean he's not, either.
However, the conditioning I have been doing has been extremely gradual and
slow so that I don't intentionally push him until he's sore. That would be
extremely self-defeating, as I want him as ridable at 25 as he is now at 5.
No bruises or abcesses to date.  Not one.  He did have a horrible pasture
accident that tore his tendons on his right rear pastern 2 1/2 years ago,
but not rock or gravel related (an old cracked concrete culvert that his
foot fell through while playing "The Black Stallion" in his pasture!).  But,
he *is* currently powering forward over all the terrain he's come across
without any problems to date (knock on wood!... Ouch!).

Like Darolyn, I hope to post my experiences - both positive and negative -
so that I may be a source of reliable information when others have questions
about it.  I have heard of Darolyn's efforts, and I applaud her, as she has
the visibility in this sport that we don't yet.  But, I have spent a great
amount of time, effort and money to make sure that I am as educated as I can
be before attempting this... I cannot afford to replace my gelding, as he is
truly one of a kind (rock hard feet and all!).  So, thank you again for the
opportunity to set forth my experiences and I thank you for input that I
value highly... that's how we learn, right?!

Kindest Regards,

Tracey Ritter
Portland, OR


>But I have never let Malik wear
>his feet to the point he might get sore...why would I do that to him?  To
>see if he will get sore?  It's unrealistic to try to ride a horse barefoot
>over a long distance and figure you can just slap easyboots on them (or
have
>shoes put on later) if they do get sore.  They can do more than just be
>sore...they can injure themselves.  They can end up with stone bruising
that
>could lead to an abscess.  If they become lame and are pulled, easyboots
>won't bail you out then either.

-----Original Message-----
From: Maggie Mieske [mailto:mmieske@netonecom.net]
Sent: Sunday, September 23, 2001 8:00 PM
To: Tracey_Ritter@yahoo.com; Dot Wiggins; PNER LIST
Cc: ride camp
Subject: Re: RE: barefoot on the WRRT

I remember that Darolyn Butler has been doing some barefoot riding and
before I went off list earlier this year, she had documented her experiences
and shared them with this list.  I bet those posts are in the archives and
might please Tracey as Darolyn is definitely an advocate of going barefoot
though I do believe she knows all her horses and what they can and cannot
tolerate and has a definite program in mind when she decides to convert them
to going barefoot.  And Tracey, I would like to add that you are lucky with
your Peruvian...I have never seen one that didn't have rock hard feet.  So,
your guy definitely has an advantage over some other breeds.  OTOH, I don't
know of any Thoroughbred that could even walk across the street barefoot!
OK, maybe that's extreme but I have seen very few that didn't need shoes if
they were doing any serious work or conditioning.  These are simply my
personal observations and thoughts on the subject which is what makes RC so
wonderful...we can agree to disagree.  :)
Maggie
P.S.  Since horses' feet are our livelihood, it is inevitable that it is
something I think about a lot.  :)