Ridecamp: Re: [RC] shoeing/barefoot/traction question

My mare has never worn shoes (she has excellent feet), and we have covered
many miles this way.

Now, we are coming back into training after a 3 year lay-off, and looking
at a 25-mile ride in the spring.  So my question is:

Do I have to shoe her?  

What are the rules about this?  

How far in advance would she need to be shod for her structures to adapt to
the new stresses?  (I'm unhappily thinking I would need to do it now.)

Everyone around here shoes everything, regardless of use (or so it seems...).

Thanks in advance,

Beth (and Belle)

At 09:37 AM 9/21/02 EDT, you wrote:
>I do hope this one hasn't been discussed (in the last six months or so). 
>I'm hoping for opinions, please, on how you may feel your horses' traction
is 
>affected with no pads, pads added, or barefoot... have a friend who is
having 
>the hind shoes pulled today and may have fronts pulled, too, next time.  She 
>rides in varied terrain with a fair amount of hills and lava rock, mostly 
>conditioning rides, limited speed.  
>Thanks in advance for your help!    Nikki
>

Beth Carrigan
and Max (the judobie)
(and Tess!)
in Rocket City

www.geocities.com/china_cat_1


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