Re: RC: That 3/8" of steel - to Karen

[Tim Worden <strohs4me@yahoo.com>]

VERY well put Barb!!!  The first and second time this
"to shoe or not to shoe" topic kept going, I pretty
much deleted any email with the subject about it.  To
put it lightly, it's felt like the ol' beat the dead
horse type issue.....still does and I'm sorry to add
to it.   For some reason I was lead to read your
message and respond to it instead of just deleting it.
 I'll leave it to how people feel on the issue, since
it's their horses.  I think there's far worse horse
treatment issues to be addressed than this. 
Personally, my competing horses WILL have shoes all
the way around.  Currently as my wife and I condition,
we only put shoes on the front or our mares.  By
Lucie's ride in Feb, they will have 4wheel drive.  I
can say that this topic has made Ridecamp very active.
 Though I do feel people taking it way to serious. 
Which I think calls for Howard to post something
really funny;)

Tim

P.S. I haven't been one to just sit down and read a
book.  But I just read Monty Roberts: The Man Who
Listens To Horses".  What a great book.  I could not
put it down.  Then I read The Horse Whisperer.  Great
book also, but I like how the movie ended better than
the book did.

--- "Barbara B. Peck" <bpeck@together.net> wrote:
> Karen:
> 
>   In a perfect world, with a perfect barefoot hoof,
> with walls exactly the right
> height above a full balanced sole:  
> The rolled wall, and about 1/8th inch of the sole
> next to the wall is supportive.  The
> sole, at full thickness, together with the frog and
> bars help with circulation and suspension. The hoof
> does indeed flex, and there may also even be some
> "verticle"
> flex included it what is normally called hoof
> mechanism.
> 
>   Wear that wall too short, get a foot sore horse,
> and there'll be more to worry about than
> just "hoof mechanism".
>   
> Bob made the point, that the footing changes from
> ride to ride, and the horse has to be
> able to handle all types of footing... I think
> you'll find that barefoot horses can do rides if the
> footing is forgiving (I don't think too many argue
> that)... 
> Robyns horse did very well barefoot (by her
> accounts) untill Silver
> State, which was just too rocky..
> 
>   Yes, sharp or crushed rocks can bruise shod horses
> (bare) soles just as they would a totally barefoot
> horse (hense the use of pads and easyboots on some
> rides).
> I don't think anyone arguing that either.
> 
> 
>     The answer to your main question is pretty
> straightforward:
> On a well shod horse, that 3/8" of steel keeps the
> wall from chipping, and wearing 
> to sole level or shorter.  Yes, they are not as
> perfect as mother nature's natural hoof, 
> but steel is harder than wall.
>     And yes, they may alter hoof mechanism to some
> degree (that degree being quite arguable) or the
> horses way of going (sometimes they
> actually improve it-  beleive it or not)... BUT
> everything we ask of horses affects them
> to some degree.
>        If a steel shoe is worn to half it's
> thickness in 4 weeks, 
> do you think that the natural wall would hold up (or
> grow) to match the same wear as steel?
> I think you'll find that out for yourself, when you
> put the miles on in competition.
> 
> The shoes are supportive and protective equipment..
> just like any other (saddle/pad,etc) and the object
> is to get as perfect a fit as you can.
> 
> Barb
> 


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