Re: tripping

[Maggie Mieske <mmieske@netonecom.net>]

Thanks for the response.  We consult that website all the time but are still not sure we
understand the 4 point trim... there are no photos or illustrations.  We are finding in this
area that many of the farriers have literally chopped off the heels... a lot of the horses
are lame as a result... we don't know why this is so prevalent and the previous farriers
have never explained their reasoning to the owners for doing this... that is why we were
curious if it was a trend or attempt at the 4 point trim.  I am truly talking NO heel on
some of these horses, not just bringing it back.  Some of the angles have been so low, the
horses are walking on the bulbs of their heels... my husband has been doing this since "75
and this fall has gone back into it fulltime (he has been trucking for the last few years
and it really screwed up his circulatory health!) and has never seen this trend to no
heels.  We are curious about the 4 point and are both attending the Bluegrass symposium in
February to get "up" on things... I think they are having a lecture or demo on this trim...
I am curious though, what people's experiences have been with it.  Our concern has been that
although this may be a "natural" trim for a horse in the wild, the fact that we ride and
work our horses for various reasons in ways that they would never experience in the wild,
how useful and practical is it for the performance horse?  Just a point that we are trying
to get a focus on...  we appreciate your thoughts and suggestions and I will probably keep
track of these posts to report our findings to our clients in our newsletter.  Thanks again!

Maggie
P.S.  I will also contact Karen if I ever get done wading through mails and replies, etc.
That'll teach me to be gone for a day!  BTW, do you ride endurance with these 4 point trims?

TStampke wrote:

> I would suggest that you check out http://www.horseshoes.com
>
> it has tons of farrier info, and explains the 4 point trim in great
> detail...it does not mean "chopping off the heels" but bringing the
> heels back...I can't explain it nearly as well as the articles on the
> page tho :)
>
> we have 4 pointed our horses for several years now, and have had
> wonderful results....I believe Karen Chaton also did an informal survey
> on average heel length and said that most were 3/8 of an inch or
> less....this was from top level riders.... you could email her for
> details...karen@chaton.gardnerville.nv.us
>
> hope this helps,
>
> Tracy
>
>
> Maggie Mieske wrote:
> >
> > Though I am sure this will start a flood of controversy and differing opinions, I am
> > curious for a couple of reasons to find out how distance riders trim/shoe their
> > horses...  For one, I am riding endurance and I want my horse to stay sound (which I
> > admit he has thanks to my wizard farrier/husband) and two, because we see so MANY
> > chopped off heels on horses (not endurance horses!) out there (is this the new
> > "natural/4 point trim" that is becoming so popular?).  I should clarify that my horse
> > has low angles and we are trimming/shoeing/feeding to build up his hoof and angles...
> > he is a stumbler (mostly because he's lazy and especially if he's "following" other
> > horses- on his own he can bull his way through downed branches, rocks, trees, you name
> > it and never miss a beat!).  Our distance riding friends have agreed with our goal of
> > upping his angles (which now only go 50 to 52 degrees) and have suggested wedge pads
> > for next year to improve that angle.  I want to say that I agree with Ann's
> > statement...
> > "As far as horses go, the thing to remember is to find balance -- the TRUE
> > shoulder, pastern, coffin bone angles should match.... trouble is in
> > finding a farrier who WILL find that balance and stick with it....  Also, I
> > like a horse fit as full as possible in the heel area -- if the breakover
> > is balanced, there is little likelihood that the horse will forge....
> > provided the rider is in balance!!"
> >
> > So, do I dare ask for thoughts and suggestions on this?  Partly to improve my horse's
> > performance next year and partly to help my farrier/husband in his endeavor to improve
> > his farriery.  Thanks!
> > Maggie