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RE: [RC] Why do Thoroughbreds need shoes? - Karen E. Franklin

"Sand is very abrasive.  I suspect the harder it is, the more abrasive
it is..."

Ah, here's where I come in!  :)  The vast majority of sand is quartz
sand (I'm not talking about volcanic sand beaches), mixed with a bit of
feldspars, although I don't know exactly what kind of sand that race
tracks generally use.  On Moh's scale of hardness, quartz has a hardness
of six, while human fingernails and horses hooves have a hardness of
about 2.5 to 3 (Talc is 1, Diamond is 10).  It stands to reason that the
longer a horse is run on such an abrasive surface, the faster its hooves
will wear down.  I would think that horses kept and run on grass though
would not generally need to be shod, unless for some reason they needed
it, but that is not where my expertise lies.  Thanks.  :)

Karen E. Franklin
Project Geologist
Tulsa, OK

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