[RC] Barefoot vs. shoes - peanut2@xxxxxxxAnother thing to remember is there are always going to be new members joining the groups who have not seen the old "rehashed" discussions that people feel passionately about such as going barefoot or electrolytes etc. So, it is new and interesting for some of us and all related to endurance riding. And there is often new research, or developement or experiences to be shared so just searching the arcives isn't always the "best" way to lean about "rehashed" subjects. It IS appreciated though if everyone can be respectful of eveyone elses opinion. So, I am going to post my own experience with barefoot. Hit the delete key if you are not interested. I have a QH mare I have been competing for 8 yrs. Mostly in CTR's. She is 16 yrs. old and I've had her from a baby. Her feet have never grown fast enough to let me go barefoot with heavy riding and I had always put shoes on her year round. She had narrow, shelly feet that broke up and didn't hold a shoe well. 3 yrs. ago I started leaving her barefoot for neary 6 months each year. Her feet still grow too slow so I've had to use boots for longer rides but ..... , what I now have is a horse with a nice looking rounder foot with healthy hoof walls. I hate messing with boots all the time so 6 mo. with shoes and 6 mo without is the compromise. Now, my mule has nice feet and they grow MUCH faster then my horses feet. So, I plan to pull her shoes this fall and see how it goes. If all goes well, great. If not, she will get shoes again in the spring. Trial and error for each individual equine. Cindy R. in Maine -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web.com ? Enhanced email for the mobile individual based on Microsoft® Exchange - http://link.mail2web.com/Personal/EnhancedEmail =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 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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