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RE: [RC] [RC] [RC] Would you keep him barefoot? - terry banister

Yea, Howard!
Pete Ramey's ("Making Natural Hoofcare Work for You" ) string of barefoot rental horses are doing fine in the rocky, mountainous trails of Georgia :-)

<html><P><IMG height=12 src="http://graphics.hotmail.com/emsmiled.gif"; width=12>&nbsp;Happy Trails!</P>
<P>Terry</P>
<DIV></DIV></html>


&gt;From: &quot;Howard Bramhall&quot; &lt;howard9732@xxxxxxx&gt;
&gt;To: kcrazzmatazz@xxxxxxxxxxx, ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
&gt;Subject: RE: [RC]   [RC] Would you keep him barefoot?
&gt;Date: Fri, 30 Apr 2004 10:27:42 -0400
&gt;
&gt;I'm not sure of the ride you're going to attempt this, but, unless
&gt;it's in the mountains or has an inordinate amount of rocks, I'd go
&gt;for it.  Especially since you're doing a 25.  It can be done.  I did
&gt;50 milers for a year on 3 horses and never had any trouble.  Of
&gt;course, that's mostly in Florida and Southern Georgia, where you
&gt;really can get away with such a thing.
&gt;
&gt;Your husband sounds like a farrier in training.  Get him to check
&gt;out this site:
&gt;
&gt;http://www.barefoothorse.com/
&gt;
&gt;It got me started doing my own horses.  I now do my own shoes but
&gt;that's only because I have a dream of living in the mountains of
&gt;western NC/eastern TN (I have a dream).  My horses are mostly
&gt;barefoot except for the ones I take out of state to ride on those
&gt;mountain trails.
&gt;
&gt;If your husband has (or gets) the basics down he can come in real
&gt;handy during your ride in case you notice some chipping or breaking
&gt;off.  Fix it early and it won't become a serous problem.  As far as
&gt;those vertical cracks go, if they're near the heel, you want to file
&gt;the area down from the crack to the back, to take the weight off the
&gt;crack.  Make that part of the hoof less weight bearing.
&gt;
&gt;Don't let anyone talk you out of this if this is really what you
&gt;want to do.  It can be done without easy boots (hard to find when
&gt;you lose one), Big Macs or any of those other additions which take
&gt;away the whole concept of going bare.  Dare to go bare and you'll
&gt;never look back (unless she's really cute).
&gt;
&gt;cya,
&gt;Howard
&gt;
&gt;
&gt;&gt;From: &quot;Karen Casemier&quot; &lt;kcrazzmatazz@xxxxxxxxxxx&gt;
&gt;&gt;To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
&gt;&gt;Subject: [RC]   Would you keep him barefoot?
&gt;&gt;Date: Thu, 29 Apr 2004 16:45:52 -0400
&gt;&gt;
&gt;&gt;Kind of hesitant to post this, because I don't want to get into one
&gt;&gt;of those religious barefoot wars, but here it goes.
&gt;&gt;
&gt;&gt;My husband has a 5 YO QH gelding. We've had him about a year. When
&gt;&gt;we got him, his feet were in absolutely horrible shape - very much
&gt;&gt;long toe/low heel, shelly, unhealthy frog, you name it.
&gt;&gt;
&gt;&gt;We pulled his shoes (that were about 2 sizes to small and look like
&gt;&gt;they had been on him for six months), gave him a good trim, and
&gt;&gt;just let him be. We've continued to have him trimmed every six
&gt;&gt;weeks, and my husband occasionally gives him a trim in between the
&gt;&gt;farrier visits if it looks like the hoof wall is getting too long.
&gt;&gt;
&gt;&gt;Now, I wouldn't say he has great feet, but his hooves look 100
&gt;&gt;times better than they did when we got him. We have been riding him
&gt;&gt;out at Ionia State Park several times, and there are some quite
&gt;&gt;rocky areas (but they are scattered - not consistent), and he's
&gt;&gt;never come up sore.
&gt;&gt;
&gt;&gt;We are keeping my mare barefoot this season at the recommendations
&gt;&gt;of both my farrier and our vet - she has incredibly strong feet and
&gt;&gt;a tough sole (and she can hold an EZ boot well, so if worse comes
&gt;&gt;to worse I have a pair I can throw on her front feet). Now we are
&gt;&gt;trying to decide if we put some shoes on the gelding, or just see
&gt;&gt;if he can continue barefoot since things have been looking so much
&gt;&gt;better for him.
&gt;&gt;
&gt;&gt;Our first ride is just a little 15 miler - a clinic put on by
&gt;&gt;Maggie Mieske in a couple of weeks. I'm sure Maggie can chime in
&gt;&gt;regarding the course conditions, but the flyer recommends shoes. In
&gt;&gt;addition, there will be other rides for this guy, but nothing over
&gt;&gt;25 miles for this season.
&gt;&gt;
&gt;&gt;I have no problem putting a pair of shoes on this guy if it is
&gt;&gt;necessary - but I'm so happy with how his feet are doing barefoot
&gt;&gt;that I'd love to keep him that way if possible. The only real
&gt;&gt;concern is some vertical cracks - but these are not initiated from
&gt;&gt;the floor of the hoof wall, but rather seem to start in the middle
&gt;&gt;or up near the coronet band (but not all the way up there). I don't
&gt;&gt;think he'd hold EZ boots on very well, but Old Macs or Boa boots
&gt;&gt;might be an option.
&gt;&gt;
&gt;&gt;Opinions?
&gt;&gt;
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