ridecamp@endurance.net: Re: world racing plates

Re: world racing plates

Jerry & Susan Milam (jdmilam@fwb.gulf.net)
Thu, 05 Jun 1997 05:48:14 -0700

Shoafy@aol.com wrote:
>
> Howdy campers. I want to ask you guys a question. I have shoes pulled now for
> a rest but when I shoe again at the end of July, I am thinking of trying the
> World Racing Plates. I am thinking the light aluminum, smaller nail holes,
> sqaure toe and toe grip would all be helpful to the hoof, joints and way of
> going. Any experience or opinions out there? Also, I just read on the list
> someone say that when they switched to aluminum shoes they started having
> suspensory problems. I don't get it. What's the take on that?
> Thanks in advance for the info!
>
> Donna in Altoona

Donna,

The take on the aluminum shoes is 1) they aren't as strong or supportive
to the heel portion of the hoof as a steel shoe. 2)They also don't last
as long.

These aluminum shoes weren't designed to give a horse protection for
25-50-100 miles of continuous pounding. They are racing shoes for
relatively short distances.

As I can guess, you are in Florida. So am I. You need a shoe that will
give some support for the heel and kind of have a snoeshoe effect in the
deep sand. I started my rookie year off in steel rim shoes and after our
first race switched to alum polo plates...no support at all. Then we did
Lake City, which was half under water and that's where we noticed a
lamness starting.

My farrier and vet made a supportive shoe to help support his heels in
front by starting with a rim shoe and adding a straight bar across the
back of the heel..really a modified eggbar. The straight bar kept the
bar under the heel bulbs and not sticking out so there would be less
chance of overstepping and pulling the shoe off.

The shoes have worked well in his recovery. We've gone back to a rim
shoe for the summer.

My personal experience in our sand has been. Stay away from aluminum
shoes. They don't give the support we distance riders need.

Susan & Sabian, The Fly Bye in training

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