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Re: [RC] [RC] how many endurance riders shoe and trim their own horses? - Karen Sullivan----- Original Message ----- From: "Deanna German" <finishis2win@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> I recently made the switch to a real barefoot trim simply because the farriers here -- I moved 2 years ago -- are seriously lacking. Deanna, I have been barefoot with one horse since last June, and the other since last fall. My farrier was just excellent, but I did have worries about concussion from steel shoes on hard ground...plus the niggling decisions on who to shoe all winter so I can ride; who to barefoot all winter (then CAN'T ride)...etc. I started with my mustang mare; then the semi retired Arab of my daughters, then finally my solid riding horse. With the help of Linda Cowles, (www.healthyhoof.com) who did the initial several trims and got me started, I started researching all this, studying hoof anatomy; went to a Ramey clinic and hoof disection, and jumped on in. I So I'm going to give it a try. I plan to boot if the footing is vastly different from here. I have seen very, very good results with my own horses. The mustang is doing most everything barefoot. She has great feet, size 2-3...very well balanced. The Arab mare was a mess, very narrow, forward foot; underun heels, and very long toes...despite farrier always taking back toes... she was trippy and jolty.....shoes came off in August and she was uncomfortable at first, even out to pasture...(my farrier mostly left sole alone)....but she had 7 years in shoes, and any time we tried before to pull shoes, she was very ouchy. After going through the winter, keeping up with the trimming- pretty basic stuffl keeping heels back, keeping hoof wall rolled; we have come out into summer with a horse I can't believe is barefoot....did a rocky 2 hour ride other day, totally barefoot...she was comfortable, and her feet are starting to change shape...and best of all.....tripping has gone away and her gaits are smoother. The other mare is perhaps having a slower time to transition; but the her shoes came off last..... I have been using boots to transition, and will continue to use them on very long or rocky rides....these are the easyboot epics... I also love doing the filing myself (not hard, and I am age 50)...the other thing you then realize is you can't go 6 or 8 weeks between trims like you get in the habit with farriers...I usually do touch ups every 2 weeks and can catch any chips before they start...but not seeing them any more I was deaf and stubborn to even considering barefoot...did not believe you could do it in my county and thoguht these "barefoot whacko's" were blind to their horses discomfort...I have beeen prepared to slap shoes back on if I felt I was being unfair to my horses....so far I don;t think I will need to. Anyway, I had to see Linda;s horse, and her friends, after some hard riding barefoot...I could not believe how good the hoof looked; the horse was comfortable, etc. THAT was what opened my eyes. Better shut up before I start to sound like barefoot fanatic! Linda's website has just tons on info and links.... Karen Deanna =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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