Articles on Shoeing

["Bryan & Laura & Mark" <mark@madbbs.com>]

In reply to Jennifer Hixson's question regarding articles on endurance shoeing.  Trailblazer magazine has had articles on natural shoeing and other such topics.  You could try contacting them and getting back issues for your farrier.

It is my thought that shoeing an endurance horse (I am a former farrier of 13 yrs, and rider of over 4000 miles) is not much different than shoeing any other 'using' horse.  A good balanced foot, short in the toe, adjusted so there is no interference (an issue that may take time), and with a shoe that will hold up, but be the minimum necessary for that horse.  

I found personally, that wide web aluminum shoes worked for some of my horses, but one would interfere while wearing them and not with traditional steel shoes, some wore them out too quickly.  There are many types of alternate shoes out there - aluminum core with poly outside, rubber, titanium, other great ideas.  Don't be afraid to try them - all will come with application instructions, you may find the perfect fit for your horse, even though it is something that did not work for some one else.

Laura Hayes  (NE)
and Music (More weird shoes to try, MOM??)