Just curious how most people have the shoes fitted
to their horses' hooves. When I was in horseshoeing school (um, about 25
years ago, and no I never pursued it past the class) we were taught to leave _at
least_ "the thickness of a dime" of shoe sticking out sideways past the
hoof wall on the quarter and heel area, and at least 1/8" out behind the
heels. The theory being for more support.
My current farrier, who I really like, thinks
I am crazy to make him do this, keeps crabbing about how it looks really
ugly, I am the only customer he's ever had who asks for it, and he just
can't understand how my horse doesn't step on that bit of shoe and pull them off
:-D (He never has.) The bit sticking out behind the heels is great
for keeping that Easyboot strap securely in place when I use them
:-)
The one time I wasn't paying attention and he
formed the shoes tight to the hoof wall, literally within a few days after
shoeing my horse's heels started growing over the sides of the shoes. Yes,
I called and had him come out and redo them.
I'm open to any shoeing comments except barefoot
:-D My horse has very thin-walled, brittle hooves and if I leave shoes off
his quarters and heels immediately break off completely. He's very
tenderfooted, and our area in the dry season is very hard and rocky -- not nice
rounded river pebbles, but 2-3" and up jagged-edged rocks. I have to do
most of my riding on "dirt" roads loaded with these rocks and I usually Easyboot
him at least in front.
