Sounds to me (and Nelson) like you know what you want and
it works for you. It doesn't matter how your farrier thinks it LOOKS if it
is getting the job done and your horse obviously needs that extra support.
Doing this helps give lots of horses support. However, it doesn't look
"nice" or "neat". Most folks won't care and some horses don't need it but
a lot do (as long as they aren't chronic shoe pullers!). It is certainly
an accepted practice and there is nothing wrong with it at all. If it
ain't broke, don't fix it!!! :)
Just curious how most people have the shoes
fitted to their horses' hooves. When I was in horseshoeing school (um,
about 25 years ago, and no I never pursued it past the class) we were taught
to leave _at least_ "the thickness of a dime" of shoe sticking out
sideways past the hoof wall on the quarter and heel area, and at least 1/8"
out behind the heels. The theory being for more support.
My current farrier, who I really
like, thinks I am crazy to make him do this, keeps crabbing about how it
looks really ugly, I am the only customer he's ever had who asks for it,
and he just can't understand how my horse doesn't step on that bit of shoe and
pull them off :-D (He never has.) The bit sticking out behind the
heels is great for keeping that Easyboot strap securely in place when I
use them :-)
The one time I wasn't paying attention and he
formed the shoes tight to the hoof wall, literally within a few days after
shoeing my horse's heels started growing over the sides of the shoes.
Yes, I called and had him come out and redo them.
I'm open to any shoeing comments except barefoot
:-D My horse has very thin-walled, brittle hooves and if I leave shoes
off his quarters and heels immediately break off completely. He's
very tenderfooted, and our area in the dry season is very hard and rocky --
not nice rounded river pebbles, but 2-3" and up jagged-edged rocks. I
have to do most of my riding on "dirt" roads loaded with these rocks and I
usually Easyboot him at least in front.
