no shoes

[guest@endurance.net]

Douglas quixrace@sierratel.com
I live and ride about two hours north of LA in the Piute Mountains, an
area of mainly decomposed granite and rocks near the PCT.  I pulled the
shoes from my Arab mare and my Appy about four years ago and both now have
feet like iron, with zero problems.  I inspect feet daily, learned how to
maintain their feet myself, and again, no problems have developed.  Both
horses are pastured 365 days on 90 acres of decomposed granite 24/7 with
daily alfalfa pellet feeding of about one-third of their daily
requirements, and regularly give me 25 - 35 mile days, going from 3200
feet to 6000 and back.

I have done one AERC 30 at Tar Springs a few years ago (with shoes on the
mare) and want to start again in 2002, starting with 25/30's and working
up.

My question is this - what is the current regulation on horses with no
shoes at AERC events ?  Will we be restricted or barred from any rides at
the 25/30 mile or 50 mile level ?  Regulations aside, what is the current
thinking on barefoot horses ?

I really don't want to shoe either horse as their feet are just beautiful,
and they are very happy, never showing any indication of tender feet.
When I'm on the trail, if the ground looks rougher than I would want to
run on in soft shoes, I walk them.  They are used to rough terrain, shale,
and small rocks, such as fire roads and the PCT.  Both are great at
picking their way around rocks on the trot or at a walk.

What's the scoop ?