Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

> Don't make any major changes in your shoes that you have NOT practiced with
> before hand, over similar footing. Borium and studs grab so different than
> standard shoes. You would be putting a very different torque on the horses
> legs, and asking for a lameness in my opinion.

Personally, I think that Easyboots are the way to go.  You just need to get 
the horse used to them ahead of time.  You can take them off if you need 
to, or put them on just for certain sections.  Most horses adapt well to 
them, if given the opportunity ahead of time.

I've heard just as many people wish they had not put borium on for Tevis, 
as were glad that they did.  I've also heard several people say that they 
did not finish Tevis because they put pads on their horse just for that 
ride, and since the horse wasn't used to going in that kind of terrain with 
pads on, they slipped or else over-extended something and came up 
lame.  So, Jonni's advice is definitely worth following.

If you have Easyboots on all 4's, it is like having 4WD up and down and 
thru some of those rocky sections, especially going over Cougar Rock, plus 
you'll feel safer on all of the pavement crossings.  The way I look at 
Cougar Rock is that it is just a pimple in the scheme of things, as far as 
the entire trail goes -- I figure that if my horse can't go over that 
little bitty pimple then he probably can't do the rest of the ride.  It's 
just a small obstacle, and not as big a deal as everybody makes it out to 
be.  It's not worth getting intimidated over, but with all the rest that 
Tevis has to offer, I can't see being scared off over a little bitty pimple 
<G>.  Of course, there is nothing wrong with going around either.  I don't 
think I have a better ride photo than that one though.  Don't do it just 
for the photo, do it because it's there, and you can!  yeeeeeehaw!!!!  :+)))

Karen
in NV



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If you treat an Arab like a Thoroughbred, it will behave like a Quarter
horse. 
~  Libby Llop

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