Re: RC: Shoes required?

[Truman Prevatt <tprevatt@mindspring.com>]

Tina,

I've not heard of any RM in the SE requiring shoes.  There was a rider from FL
who was the SERA mileage champ a few years ago who rode bearfoot - back before
it became a fad.  She did eventually have to shoe his back feet because he wore
them faster than they would grow. I think that was after she started to do
100's with him.

Truman

Tina Hicks wrote:

> I think the bigger issue here, and one that we've only touched on, is the
> idea that some RM may not allow an unshod horse to start their ride.
>
> I guess I don't understand the reasoning for this line of thought. As
> Truman suggested - let'em start and let the  trail sort them out. If the
> reasoning is "don't let them start since I, as RM, don't think they'll make
> it" then horses that are underweight before the start of a 50 or 100 miler,
> slightly off at vet-in (on the premise that they can start and go as long
> as it doesn't get worse), or have horribly overdue shoeing jobs, shouldn't
> be allowed to start either. Same premise.
>
> I don't know if my horse can do many (or any) rides barefoot (or
> rather,unshod but possibly with an alternative hoof protection if needed)
> but I'd like to find out since there are lots of things I like about him
> being barefoot. <shrug> If he cannot do rides this way then I'll readjust
> my goals and either shoe, ride shorter distances or change sports :) Simple
> as that.
>
> I'd like to know if any RM out there actually require _shoes_ or if those
> with tough trails are just requiring hoof protection (which would allow for
> riding an unshod horse in boots, if need be).
>
> Tina
> tina@autoairbagcovers.com
>
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