My broodmares are out on natural terrain 24/7, and other than an occasional
fix-it trim (yes, we do eyeball them regularly) they have not needed much in the
way of trimming for the 6 YEARS that we've been here...."
I suspect that this is an example of the wide variation in horse hoof wear
dependent upon the activity level and even more importantly the abrasive nature
of their environment.
Our present place is rocky, in the sense that there are round granite rocks
of every size whenever you try to dig a hole. Because we have good water
rights, we also have abundant grass. Our unshod stock does need
trimming. Right now they are out on a 14 A hayfield, during the
summer they rotate between 4 A pastures.
I remember a story, by a noted horseman whose name escapes me. He
stated that when he was a boy and everything was done with horses, he never saw
a shod horse. This included draft horses pulling beer wagons, buggy
horses, and ridden horses. He then said that he had grown up on Cape Cod,
Mass. It was then obvious why. That area is 90% pure white
sand and 10% crushed sea shells.
My take away is: Be sure to carefully define the environment before
you make a hoof care statement.
Ed
Ed & Wendy Hauser 2994 Mittower
Road Victor, MT 59875
