This message is from: Jean Ernest <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Alison, we use rim snow pads which leave the bottom of the foot open. the
"HUF-GRIP" brand ia rim pad with a hollow tube which sets just inside of
the shoe and it is attached to the flat portion which fits between the shoe
and the hoof to hold it in place...nailed on along with the shoe. These
work very well to pop the snow out, and also afford more traction than the
full pads. Winter shoes have borium on them to give some traction.
Putting the proper amount of borium in the right place is an art and many
farriers in the warmer states/provinces don't have much experience with it.
We don't want too much "stick" but enough to keep from slipping on ice.
My two geldings have shoes on in the winter: Old Bjarne because he had lot
of trouble with his feet when he had a bad shoulder infection and we have
worked hard to get them in shape...His heels break down and get under-run
without shoes and he is tender footed. Bjorken, My 15-2 hand gelding has
rather flat feet that flare and his heels also tend to break down. Besides
I like to ride him in the winter and it is much safer with the borium shoes
and pads in our 6 months of snow and ice.
The two mares, Stella and Anvil's Adel have wonderful feet, very well
shaped a nice domed sole and don't generally need shoes. I have put shoes
on Stella but I may never shoe Adel. (Mary, they have Line's wonderful
feet!) However, they do get snowballs in some snow conditions and I have to
hack the snow out with the claw side of a claw hammer. Another advantage
of the Borium and Rim Pads!
The rim pads, unfortunately, would not last long if the horses ran on
gravel or dry hard ground. This is the reason I generally wait until snow
falls in October before putting the borium and rim pads on them. So altho
this system works great up here in my conditions it might not be as good in
your conditions...It all depends on the conditions where you are. The rim
pads we used this year are still good from last year. The newer ones that
are the translucent plastic seem to hold up better than the black neoprene
or rubber ones we used before.
BTW, what does everybody pay for shoeing? My farrier does a regular
shoeing (summer plates, no pads, no special clips,etc.) for $50 and trims
for $25. Hi will come out and remove shoes that get bent, etc and replace
them for no cost. He reset the winter borium shoes and pads also for $50
but has to charge extra when he makes a new pair of borium shoes and
provides new pads. A set of 4 pads will cost $35 so new borium shoes and a
new set of pads will run me about $100 per horse. The pads generally last
the whole winter, maybe two, and the shoes usually last through two
winters. He sometimes has to apply a little more borium and adjust the
shape. Also, when the nail holes wear too big he will have to make a new
shoe. Mine will require new borium shoes the next time, but this setting
may last until spring..Their hooves grow very little this time of year and
we don't run on pavement.
I hope this explains our winter shoeing system...I'm sure it varies from
place to place due to different conditions.
Alison, I'm wondering why they had to pull the shoes on that horse that was
down..why not just knock out the snow balls to get him up?
Jean in balmy Fairbanks, Alaska, another +25F degree day...Shirt sleeve
weather!
At 12:55 PM 1/21/2000 -0700, you wrote:
>This message is from: Alison Barr <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>
>I was always told that the reason not to shoe in the winter was that
>they get really bad snowballs. I heard (second hand) about a horse that
> god bad enough snowballs that he lay down and wouldn't get up until
>they pulled his shoes.
>For those thinking of relieving the problem using pads, remember that
>the hoof can't breathe,
Jean Ernest
Fairbanks, Alaska
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
