Re: barefoot

[Janice Taylor <JANUSTUDIO@compuserve.com>]

>Heel support is also important when you start shoeing ---- farriers are
often
hesitant to leave much heel on the front shoe because they're afraid the
horse
will step on the heel with the hind foot.  If the horse is properly
conformed,
which it probably is to be able to withstand endurance, and if the front
toes
are squared off so as not to interfere with the breakover point, the horse
shouldn't pull the front shoes<
My farrier likes to shoe like this for the reasons you mention, however, my
horse will pull off his front shoes imediately, I mean in a day or two if
shod like this.  He even once pulled off both fronts within 10min.s while I
was riding him.  Very unpleasant experience.  So now, I get him shod
without any shoe showing under the heal in the front and the problem went
away, I just have to shoe more frequently.<sigh>  I'm wondering if there is
anything else I can be doing to improve his way of going so he doesn't do
this.  He even forged some this fall and cut the ball of his front foot, so
he isn't reaching up at the proper time or something isn't right.  BTW he
is a Paint and has a wonderful long  stride, but he goes really low.  I had
this same problem with a couple of Arabs before, so could it be something
I'm doing as I ride?
Thanks,
Jan