>>>>Now that Sally is a farrier, if someone calls for work...I ask them what disipline of riding do you do with your horse. That is more important.....not bnecause we would do something weird or different, but because we do not carry shoes for Sliding....or TB race plates...we carry a range of products, but I would not want to show up at a place only to find we do not carry that...nor is it where we want to go in our buisness......
But what you describe is nothing related to the BREED the horse is, but is about the way the horse is USED. And one might also say that the disciplines you mention are not exactly normal, everyday pursuits for average owners. And, that the only reason those horses might (and I emphasize MIGHT) need different shoes, is because they are being used in relatively extreme ways... My question initially was to bring attention to a statement that bothers me....that somehow Icelandic's need "special farriers." I think the original quote was simply from Nancy, answering some question about farriers with "Icelandic experience" in a certain area. I didn't get the impression that Nancy was promoting special farriers for Icelandic's, so don't think I'm picking on you, Nancy. I'm not. I thought we were mostly past the belief that somehow, Icelandic's need "special" trims and special shoes just because they are Icelandic's, but the sight of that long hoof at the recent World Championships, the one with the hunk ripped out, makes me think we need to restate it all along. We don't need farriers with "Icelandic experience", whatever that means. We need good, educated farriers with "GOOD experience", who are concerned with the horse's long-term soundness and conformation - just like we need for any of our horses. Karen Thomas, NC
