If you have a horse that forges, you worry about
heelbulb injuries constantly. If Old Macs were permitted in CTR's I wouldn't
have gotten pulled at Oak Openings one year. They do act like bell boots.
If they are permitted, then injuries below the
pastern should be ignored for scoring on the other horses in the ride.
This would be a good time to tell all the ECTRA
riders/drivers going to the convention that I have asked to speak to the board
about allowing old macs. If you can't make it to the convention please
write or e-mail a board member. We need everyone to raise their voices
to allow these. I realize the coronet band is the magic line drawn in
the sand but these boots help many riders keep their horses barefoot most of
the time. They use the area around the coronet band to hold the boot on
instead of squeezing the hoof the way easy boots do. How many of us have
gotten points off for injuries at the coronet band. I have competed
pretty darn close to 6000 miles and I never have. These boots are
permitted in AERC just not ECTRA. So write or better yet come to the
convention and go to the board meeting.
