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[RC] HEIDI'S BAREFOOT POST - Ridecamp Guest

Please Reply to: MELANIE SCHALLOCK MLS3003@xxxxxxx or ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Well, as a first-time RideCamp poster, I come with heart in hand (and a feeling 
I should be a good "ducker")to reply to one of Heidi's "barefoot" posts.  If I 
understood her correctly, the post stated much time, effort, and commitment 
would go into keeping your horse barefoot, and the reward would be a horse 
capable of only "light" performance.

I can hardly agree with her more on the former statement; the latter, however, 
I found to be a rather incredible (or uncredible) statement.  I was trained in 
performance barefoot trimming by Pete Ramey, a foremost barefoot trimmer in the 
SE and auther of "Making Natural Hoofcare Work for You."  His experience, 
alone, contradicts your feeling that a barefoot horse is only suited for 
"light" performance.  Pete was formerly a traditional farrier who owned his own 
rental barn in the mountains of N. GA. (20-30 head).

I know of my OWN personal knowledge these horses worked hours EVERY DAY on some 
of the rockiest trails I have ever seen (and I've been on LOTS).  The trails in 
our area are oftentimes more like dried-up creekbeds than trails.  The story of 
these remarkable horses and the carriage horse who worked every day on ASPHALT 
sans-shoes (completely sound and healthy)can be read on his web site, 
hoofrehab.com.

But, closer to home, my own barefoot horse is one tough little trail horse who 
competes quite successfully in CTR(don't know if my record is online, as I 
don't believe NATRC is quite that sophisticated, but if so, please look it up). 
It took LOTS of commitment to get her there, as she was shod for approx 12 
years, but she can now traverse these rugged E. TN hills like a tank.  There 
are MANY other personal-knowledge examples I could give, but length dictates 
otherwise.

Hoof boots?  Occasionally, if the trail is exceptionally bad or I'm not 
familiar with the conditions.  "Barefoot failure" because I use hoof boots 
occasionally?  I don't know.  Seems to me a horse who only needs a little 
rubber on the bottom for protection now and again is still better off than one 
who needs metal (and sometimes metal AND rubber).  JMO.

Melanie Schallock (ducking as I hit "Post")
Mare 'O Gold Farm
Chuckey, TN


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