Re: Re: barefoot competition completions

["Heidi Smith" <heidi@sagehillcmk.com>]

Denise, EZ boots count as hoof protection, just as shoes do.  If she is
wearing EZ boots at rides, she is not doing the rides barefoot.  No problem
with that--in fact, kudos to you for using them when you need to.  And many
horses have done a lot of miles over the years in EZ boots.  :-)  And that's
the point--the horse DOES need some form of foot protection if the level of
use causes more wear than there is growth.

Heidi

> Another barefoot horse stats:  i'm
> Denise Johnson AERC # 15278, my horse
> AM Clem Tomarrow (kizzy) has completed 2 out
> of 2 completely barefoot 50s.  The first one on
> 9/1/01 and the second one on 10/6/01.
> (also attempted a 50 in Jan/01 but pulled do
> to loosing EZ boots left and right).
> Both rides had minimal rocks and some road miles.
> Kizzy has been barefoot for a year, and sound
> throughout the year.   Yes, this isn't very
> many miles:-)  but it is a start!  Yes, i trim
> myself (no particular style).  Yes, i'll use
> EZs for rocky training or rides.   What i
> liked best about keeping Kizzy barefoot is:
> 353 days of the year she was barefoot and
> 12 days she had EZs on.  She definitely
> could have done more rides-just wasn't in
> my cards for 2001.