[RC] going shoeless- riding alone- and going to the dogs - Cynthia Wunder
I have been intrigued by the shoeless debate.
As a kid I rode my quarterhorse mustang shoeless everywhere. I had no idea that
anything I was doing could have hurt her. I ran her down gravel roads, over
bridges, even down the railroad tracks once (it made her walk funny!). I had
been told never to run her down hill but everything else was a go. She was
around sixteen and I was around 11. She was never sore and needed just a little
trim now and then. When I was gifted with a set of farrier tools I took
that on with the surety of a child that she couldn't be hurt by anything I did.
I went very slowly at first and gradually learned to trim her feet and the
neighbor's shetland with his over grown ski's (they were more than happy to
have me do so). Wow, what ignorance! I was so fortunate that she had
those tough mustang feet or I could have seriously injured her.
20 years later I get my next horse, a quarter horse
grade. I am astonished at how she winces everytime we go riding, so I had
her shod. Having never had a shod horse before I found the difference amazing.
Suddenly she is brave and sure footed.
The long and short is we learn as we go if we are
willing to humble ourselves enough to do so. Different horses benefit from
different treatment. The only way to make sure you aren't hurting your horse is
to go slowly and carefully evaluate what works best for your horse. Learn from
others who have knowledge and always check your sources!
I always rode alone, even at 11. Once I was a hour
or two late coming home. Never Again! I was soo grounded. I also got lost
in the fog a few weeks ago on my new pony (I'm 38 now, Mom can't ground
me). The people I board with were watching for me. As long as people
know the general area you are in and you have a mount you know well you
should be OK.
As a kid I always took my dogs with me, a german
shephard and an irish setter. The setter would run his paws ragged and the
german had a bad tendency to want to chase the horse. The four of us, horse,
rider and two dogs, knew each other well and pretty well stayed this side of
trouble. However, once, and only once, for no discernable reason the shephard
began doing something to the horse that really unsettled her. I can't tell you
what it was because as she reared straight up I was doing my best to hold on;
she did this several times. It never happened again and I can't tell you why it
did that day. Of course I was alone.
Still I had the gall to tell a local sheep rancher
who threatened to shoot my dogs if I didn't leash them that I had them under
control. Had I not gotten off my horse and grabbed the both of them they would
have been shot. Animals are so unpredictable. Ask any trainer and they can tell
stories of well trained animals that suddenly did something bizarre. There are
times when difficult as it is you need to be able to use a physical restraint to
assure others and yourself that your critters are under control.
As for the barking dog thing it is usually easily
settled. Dogs being pack animals sleep soundest and quietest when sleeping
beside their owners who can then smack them if they bark in the night.
Your discussions sure do get me thinking! and
I sure do miss my mustang! cyndi
