This message is from: Erin Yanish <vistaridgefa...@yahoo.com> ' My feeling on shoes is only if needed. We only put shoes on our fjords if we are driving them on tar frequently. Our experience was that our fjords were pretty durable on most any surface except tar and cement. This is when we drive and ride our fjords 4-6 days a week on this type of surface. Some others may find this to never be a problem for thier fjords, which is great. I suggest trying without and if you start seeing some wear and tear you can always go back. The key to any horses hooves are that they get a balanced trim. Ask questons of your farrier, know why they are trimming them the way they are. There are many opinions on shoes or no shoes. If a horses hoof is holding up just fine (no chips, sand cracks etc.) there is no need to put them on. An honest farrier will be up front if they are required. Another good thing to watch for is if your farrier does hot shoeing. Hot shoeing is when they use an anvil and forge to shape each shoe to the specific hoof. If they are just taking a cold shoe and nailing it on I would question the reason why. The closest example I have would be if you were a size nine and someone told you to go 5 weeks wearing a size seven. You are going to be painful. Proper hoof care is crucial to any horse, get references on any farrier you would like to try. We do run our draft horses all year round with shoes. The reason being is that they are in constant contact with hard surfaces. In the winter we use borium on the bottoms for traction and pads to prevent "balls of snow" We will go barefoot anytime they are not giving rides. For the most part they are always out and about. Feel free to contact if you have any questions, I do not consider my self an expert, but my husband is a farrier. He went to school for it and has had to deal with numerous and unique cases of hoof care. He has also worked tight with hoof experts and apprenticed under knowledgable farriers. Anyone can claim to be great because they have worked as a farrier for 20 years, but have they had any situations that force them to learn? Erin Yanish www.vistaridgefarms.com --- On Sat, 12/13/08, Kristie Strange <gibsong...@gamewood.net> wrote:
From: Kristie Strange <gibsong...@gamewood.net> Subject: pulling shoes To: fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com Date: Saturday, December 13, 2008, 7:33 AM This message is from: "Kristie Strange" <gibsong...@gamewood.net> I had my four year old's shoes pulled this week (she was only shod on the front). We're going to try it for the winter, in case it snows, I really want to ride in the snow without worrying about iceballs in her feet. But if she does well, I may consider leaving her barefoot. Anybody have barefoot success with regular riding (trails, gravel, and such)? Thanks! -Kristie Strange Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
