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Re: [RC] Boa Boots over shoes? - Don HustonHi April,I have ridden on our asphalt road with 4 different horses shod with steel on all 4 hooves. The hot rod with lots of impulsion slipped all over, very dangerous. The spooky mare was fine until she came to the scary trash can, almost went down. The oldster was walking home on a hot day, 90's, new asphalt, started slipping some, stopped on his own and slowly all 4 hooves slid out, he went straight down onto his chest and I stepped off. Five terrible, scrabbling, slipping, skin and saddle scrapping minutes later he managed to stay up long enough to get off the asphalt. I thought he tore out all four legs but he was fine. The big quiet lumox just moved along fine but I will never go on new smooth asphalt again. This private road asphalt had no chipped rock seal coat, just smooth black asphalt. Most county roads here put chip-seal on them and that gives your horse much more traction. Four years ago I took all my horses barefoot. I ride 50's in Old Macs. I ride this same road in Macs and the difference is amazing, no slipping at all at a nice easy trot. This road is basically level with a short uphill to the pens. I would definitely not try to train on asphalt without boots on all 4. Steel on asphalt is just too slippery IMHO. Here are some shoes with a rubber type surface that might give better traction on asphalt http://www.smoothwalker.com/. Years ago I used carbide-coated horseshoe nails for traction per the next link. This next link also has some good tips about getting more traction and longer wear using steel shoes with borium welded on http://www.thelongridersguild.com/Hooves-1.htm Good Luck, Don Huston At 05:17 PM 2/19/2006 Sunday, you wrote: Well, I haven't gotten much information. Several people contacted me privately and suggested to use the shoulder (there is no shoulder on the hill stretch of the road) or to try Bosana boots.
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