Brrr. its cold outside and a snow storm called for. But
i got to thinking about the 1716 trek in Va. to open up the west and cross the
Blue Ridge by the Knights of the Golden Horseshoe and Lt. Gov. Alexander
Spotswood. Living down near the ocean and the tidewater area they didn't
use shoes as they didn't need them in the sand. It was only when they
decided to cross the Mountains that they needed them and applied them.
Upon their return they called themselves the KoTGH and supposedly gave out
miniature golden jewel-encrusted horseshoes as momentos of the trip. When
i first came to Luray in 1974 and rode the mountains, not knowing what endurance
was but just riding for the adventure i only had fronts and never shod in
the rear or had a problem at all on these notorious rocks,sometimes riding 30
miles over mountains. I am not an opponent of barefootin and would welcome
any knowledge about alternative hoof care and practices. Sure, there
are times when shoeing is needed and should be done. But the horses feet
Darolyn showed me were some of the best balanced and trimmed feet i have
ever seen. And, that makes me a leaning proponent.
tOMs
