Ridecamp: [RC] barefoot endurance--long

I leave my horses barefoot most of the time. They get shoes for rides and if
they are being used for lessons on trail more than once or twice a week. We
have quite a bit of gravel road, here, and it is the sharp limestone gravel.

Last week, I had to move my horses from where they have been pastured to
home. My truck was in the shop, so we had to do it the old-fashioned way.
David and I each rode one and led one and then two followed behind, loose.
In order to stay off of the road, we were planning on following an old trail
across some neighbor property to the gravel road that goes near our house.

Unbeknownst to us, they had fenced that property and we were already too far
to turn around (the alternative was a busy paved road), so we followed the
creek bed for about a mile and a half. The total ride was 1/2 mile of trail,
1/4 mile of creekbed, 1/4 mile paved road, 1 mile gravel driveway, 11/2 mile
creekbed, 1 1/2 mile gravel road. Total five miles.

Secret, my barefooted saddlebred mare, was so footsore after the creekbed
that I switched my saddle onto another horse and led her. Her feet were
little nubs when we got home. She would not have been able to do an
endurance ride without shoes if it was anything more than dirt trails.

I agree that barefoot is more natural, but sometimes you need hoof
protection. Easyboots are great for a spare, but they can hurt, too. I
accidently got one on too tight and left a very fit gelding grade three lame
until the boot came off.

No one way is always 100% right. I prefer to leave mine barefoot when I can.
It is cheaper than shoeing. But sometimes, some horses, in some conditions
need shoes.

Maggie Pritchard
Ohio


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