Re: [IceHorses] Shoes or Not
2008/6/15 Judy Ryder [EMAIL PROTECTED]: A short video: http://listen-to-your-horse.blogspot.com/2008/06/shoes-or-not.html Funny you should post that link. My farrier and I were discussing how she's noticing in her relatively new practise that the horses she trims are needing fewer and fewer trims per year. My horses have not been trimmed since February, and everyone's feet were still perfect. The only one developing a bit of a flare was little old Kria. I believe I finally have my horses feet in a state where they are receiving a balanced trim, and are growing out more correctly, and are somehow looking after themselves as far as wearing properly. If circumstances or terrain warranted a shoe...I would now feel confident enough in my horses feet to allow a shoe to be placed on them. I was never confident enough in the trims they were receiving to even consider that before. I couldnt' imagine putting a shoe on top of a bad trim. Anyway, they don't need shoes...their hoof capsules are cupping up nicely, and their soles seem to be protecting them just fine. Wanda
Re: [IceHorses] Shoes or Not
http://listen-to-your-horse.blogspot.com/2008/06/shoes-or-not.html My horses have been barefoot for a long time - so long that I don't know exactly when - 17-18 years, maybe? Whatever, my horses went barefoot many years before barefoot guru Pete Ramey even took up farriery, so it wasn't like an epiphany when I decided to stop shoeing my horses - I didn't do it because it was trendy. I did it with the full support of my farrier, even his recommendation, because we thought it best for our horses. I did it over a period of months, one horse at a time. Anyway, even though I have a long record of horses being successfully barefoot, I get irritated when I see videos that call conventional shoeing a crippling tradition. There are horses who benefit from shoes, even if it's only for a short period. It doesn't have to be an either/or decision, nor should it be. Karen Thomas, NC
Re: [IceHorses] Shoes or Not
I get irritated when I see videos that call conventional shoeing a crippling tradition. There are horses who benefit from shoes, even if it's only for a short period. It doesn't have to be an either/or decision, nor should it be. Ah, thank goodness for the voice of reason. My farrier did not want to shoe Tosca. He said her feet were rock hard and he had never had to put shoes on an Icelandic. Two rotations later and lots of miles on trail, he thought I should have had the shoes about two weeks earlier. Hunter and Tosca are shod. Twist and Yrsa are not. Twist will never be used enough to need shoes and I'm not sure about Yrsa. Nancy
