RE: Maggie's survey

["Bob Morris" <bobmorris@rmci.net>]

Maggie:

This could make for a very interesting survey.

Take my own instance; IT ALL DEPENDS on the horse, the time of the year,
what the horse is being used for, the age of the horse and sometimes the
breed. Now how do you correlate all that?

Now I will generalize and say that for the winter season we usually leave
the feet bare so the snow build up does not become such a serious problem.
In the spring we ride barefooted until the wear exceeds the growth and shoes
are necessary.  We have feet that when shod run between three inches to
three and three quarters of an inch in length with angles in the 53/54
degree range. Front shoes are squared off approximating the principles of
Ovnichec's (sp) aluminum shoes. Rears are often squared but not as
radically.

That is it generally, each horse varies from that for specifics to optimize
the performance of that individual. Then one more thing, we do not shoe the
you ones until wear exceeds growth. We do keep them balanced and remove all
flares as the foot grows out. It is amazing the stages the young feet go
through with uneven growth, rapid flaring and then as the animal matures,
the foot shape and growth stabilizes.

Bob Morris
Morris Endurance Enterprises
Boise, ID


-----Original Message-----
From:	Maggie Mieske [mailto:mmieske@netonecom.net]
Sent:	Thursday, October 14, 1999 7:32 AM
To:	ridecamp@endurance.net
Subject:	RC:   Maggie's survey


 Hi Ridecampers,
 If you will reply privately to avoid cluttering up ridecamp, I promise to
 make the results of this little survey public.  This is what I am curious
 about... I find myself looking at any and all ride photos trying to get a
 peek at the FEET and see what they look like, angles, length of foot, type
 of shoe, etc.  Not a very easy "feat" (hahaha).  I am dying to know what
 you guys DO with your horses' feet.  So, I thought I would just ASK!!  For
 those who know, what angle, length of toe, etc. do you use?  How many go
 barefoot?  How many just have shoes in the front?  All the way around?
 What kind of shoe do you use?  Do you prefer shoes with or without clips
 (and why)?  I really am interested the most in the angle and length of toe
 that you are going with.  Everyone has their own opinion on that but boy
we
 see a lot of horses with little or NO heel...did you know the 4-H horse
 book still says that 45 degrees is the ideal angle?  They also teach this
 in FFA (at least 45 degrees is the correct answer on the written test in
 the Horse Judging Competition!).  Please make whatever comments you like,
 keeping in mind I may use some of them in my "report".  I may even put
this
 together and put it in my newsletter.  Hey, Trish Mare...do you think
Equus
 would PAY me to publish an article about this???  :)  Thanks in advance
 guys!!
 Maggie
Michigan
 P.S.  Have finally heard from the owner of those horses with swollen
feet...she
 opted to go back to her old farrier (who, she complained about vigorously
 when she begged Nelson to take her on).  Waiting to hear from the vet yet!

 Thanks for all of your support and encouragement!!



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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.    
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/RideCamp   
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=