Re: RC: Re: Re: barefoot

["Nancy Mitts" <mitts_n@hotmail.com>]

I'm going to answer 3 at once here!
No Michelle, a barefoot horse isn't automatically inhumane. When managing a 
ride, one has no idea the experience level of those who show up. I happen to 
know that the trails where we condition & I put on a ride would be extremely 
difficult, if not impossible to ride on very far or fast without hoof 
protection. I see a lot of gimpy horses out there where we conditon. (Not 
endurance riders)We rode our stallion barefoot till he was 4 & we started 
longer conditioning rides. After 3 weekends he had to have shoes. Easyboots 
would probably have worked too.
Which brings me to my answer to Bob. I DO think it is my responsibility as a 
ride manager to provide a manuverable trailer to haul horses in. By putting 
on a ride I am inviting people to ride my trail. If they have a big trailer 
that can't be lugged down a logging road they're welcome, too. As long as 
rides that don't provide this service make that fact clear, they have the 
right to manage their ride the best way it works for them. Even though it is 
the rider's responsibility, it's only the horse that will suffer if help 
isn't available.
Terry,
It would be great if all riders could be that honest with themselves about 
judging their horses ability. Whether it concern going without shoes, or the 
speed they travel, feed & water they need, whatever. When the riders 
evaluation falls apart at a ride, witnesses start looking where to point the 
finger. Those fingers usually stop at the vet & ride manager, too. Consider 
the ride manager who was tarred & feathered in this ridecamp just last 
week--over the behavior of a rider.
I got into this thread to try to explain why a ride manager might feel the 
need require certain things at their ride, hoof protection being one.

Nancy Mitts


>From: "Terry Barrall and Felix Rodriguez" <losvagos@navicom.com>
>To: "Nancy Mitts" <mitts_n@hotmail.com>
>CC: "Ridecamp" <ridecamp@endurance.net>
>Subject: RC:  Re: Re: barefoot
>Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2001 23:04:23 -0700
>
>But, Nancy -- there are owners out there with a long-term committment to
>barefooting horses. I personally know distance riders who trim and 
>condition
>the hoof for barefoot riding and compete barefoot. Their horses have
>incredibly healthy hooves that regularly stood up to hard use at distance
>without problems.
>
>These people are not too lazy or foolish to shoe their horses; they are 
>very
>well-educated to the needs of the horses' feet and choose barefooting
>because they believe it is more healthful for their animals. They are most
>assuredly not "gimping around in the rocks" as you suggest. I have shoes on
>my gelding now, but plan to begin the conditioning process, including an
>appropriate trim (Strasser), soon. I would hate to think that someone who
>doesn't know me or my history would categorically state that my barefoot
>horse could not participate. If it doesn't work at the chosen distance, 
>that
>would be apparent soon enough; but if the rider/owner believes they have
>prepared the hoof and conditioned for the ride, I would think that no one
>knows better than the they if their horse ought to start.
>
>Terry B.
>
>
>
> >4. With all the recent talk of how we need more
> >restrictions/rules/requirements so endurance "looks better" to the public 
>&
> >that we don't abuse our horses, how would we explain that ride management
> >isn't allowed to try to prevent barefoot horses gimping around in the
>rocks?
> >
> >BTW, I have only used the "strongly recommended" statement myself, the 
>vet
> >checks have always been in camp. I think only a mule has actually started
> >w/o shoes or easy boots. (Went 25 miles okay.) If I had to have a vet 
>check
> >away, I think I would want to require "hoof protection" of some kind. At
>any
> >rate, I wouldn't want to give up that option.
> >
> >Nancy Mitts
> >
> >
> >
> >>From: "Sue Riegel" <riegels@cdsnet.net>
> >>To: <guest@endurance.net>
> >>CC: "S.K. Williams" <skwilliams5@home.com>
> >>Subject: RC:  Re: barefoot
> >>Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2001 18:46:39 -0700
> >>
> >>Lynda, having just come up against this very subject at a recent ride,
> >>here's
> >>what I have learned.
> >>
> >>Perhaps I have missed something, but there is no rule in the AERC 
>rulebook
> >>requiring horses to be shod.  The rules state that Veterinarians are the
> >>sole
> >>authority for deciding what criteria will be used in a ride, including
> >>metabolic
> >>and physical requirements; and their decisions are final!
> >>
> >>However, a ride manager it seems can place a restriction on a ride
> >>requiring
> >>horses to be shod with little more background other than  personal 
>opinion
> >>(i.e., "I believe it is cruel to compete a horse barefoot").  This seems
>to
> >>be stepping into the
> >>veterinarian role, IMO.  I believe a ride manager, knowing the terrain 
>and
> >>conditions
> >>of said ride course, has an obligation to alert potential riders that
> >>"shoes
> >>and/or
> >>pads, are strongly suggested".  It's then up to the rider to properly
> >>evaluate the
> >>horse's experience, conditioning, and foot soundness, and make the
>decision
> >>for
> >>that ride.  It's also up to the ride vet who vets that horse in for a
>given
> >>ride to make
> >>the decision based on the foot in front of him, that the horse is fit to
> >>start.
> >>
> >>Admittedly, an improperly conditioned horse that is competed barefoot 
>has
>a
> >>distinct disadvantage and most likely will be pulled at the first vet
>check
> >>for
> >>lameness (and the rider pulled for stupidity!).  However, IF a horse has
> >>been
> >>properly trimmed, and IF a horse has been properly conditioned for
>barefoot
> >>distance work, that horse ought to be able to compete...... under all of
> >>the
> >>requirements placed on any other shod horse in competition.
> >>
> >>Sue Riegel, So. Oregon
> >>
> >>----- Original Message -----
> >>From: <guest@endurance.net>
> >>To: <ridecamp@endurance.net>
> >>Sent: June 26, 2001 4:03 PM
> >>Subject: RC: barefoot
> >>
> >>
> >> > Lynda Thompson beattyrugrats@juno.com
> >> > I keep reading about barefoot riding.  Are people actually doing
> >>endurance
> >> > rides barefoot or are they using some sort of hoof protection?  Is it
>an
> >> > AERC rule to use hoof protection or just a ride rule.  I have seen it
>on
> >> > entry forms.  Thanks for the help.
> >> >
> >> > Lynda
> >> >
> >> >
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