Shoeing Rule changes

[dave & abby bloxsom <cyclone@snet.net>]

At the risk of opening a can of worms, I've decided after long thought
to make a statement regarding the recent NATRC shoeing rule change.  It
seems that many folks are of the opinion that relaxing the rules is
going to bring a bunch of horses with crappy feet out of the woodwork to
start distance riding, simply because they can now wear pads.

So here's my spin on it.  In nature, the ideal horse's foot is conformed
to travel at speeds of the horse's choosing, over ground of the horse's
choosing, with no weight on board.  When we change those three factors
by mounting up and traveling at a specified speed over marked trails, we
risk injury to the hoof itself, regardless of conformation.

The weight is the rider's - we need the rider to steer.  The specified
speed is required in CTR to equalize the stresses placed on the horse. 
The trails are marked for the same reason.

We accomodate these changes by shoeing the horse.  Some horses need
squared toes, some need rolled toes, some need clips, and some need
borium.  These needs are based on the changes we have made to the
horse's natural challenges by adding weight, requiring specified speeds,
etc.  They reflect only accomodations for the fact that he has shoes on
at all.

Some riders choose to ride barefoot, as shoeing contributes its own set
of problems to the mix.  It's a choice made by weighing opposing
factors.  Each horse's needs will be different.  Shoeing in itself is
probably the one prime contributor to loss of hoof condition, period. 
That doesn't mean we should all ride barefooted horses.

Adding pads to the shoe likewise contributes to loss of hoof condition. 
It also contributes to loss of shoes.  There are all kinds of reasons
not to use pads, but choosing to do so is the result of weighing pros &
cons.  John Long recently posted to Ridecamp in response to a suggestion
that pads were only used to accomodate poor conformation (I quote with
permission):

>> This is false logic.  By that same reasoning you would not allow any
>> shoe at all, but require the horses to be barefoot.  Bars and pads are
>> nothing more than devices with the same purpose as any shoe ... to
>> give support and protection to the hoof not because of any defect in
>> the hoof, but because of the unnatural demands being made on it by the
>> riders (unnatural in terms of distance and terrain).  Horses running
>> free in nature are not carrying weight, going as far in a day, or
>> travelling over rocky and artificial surfaces.

>> Kahlil has excellent hooves, with nothing wrong with them.  He
>> completed thousands of miles without pads.  But I padded him for rocky
>> trails, because even the perfect hoof can stone bruise ... pads were a
>> reasonable precaution to protect him from a painful and unnecessary
>> injury (and protect me from having to pull from a ride for a
>> preventable accident).
 
>> It is refreshing to see that NATRC finally recognizes this.

It is relevant to mention as well that Kahlil is a Hall of Fame
endurance horse with 11,525 miles completed (still sound, healthy, and
being ridden at age 25).

Easyboots, as well, make their appearance in the rule changes.  Nancy
DuPont recently quoted George Cardinet, SR., one of the founders of
NATRC as saying that riding "with easyboots, softens the hoof and
makes the horse susceptible to bruising."  Actually, my experience is
quite the opposite.  

When I'm riding off season (with my horses' shoes pulled to restore hoof
strength) I often use Easyboots to allow me to go out with a barefoot
horse.  I find the soft sole provides the horse with excellent traction
and protection from the trail and/or road, while still permitting
him/her the barefoot pasture time that gives me those incredibly hard
hooves.  I've been trimming my own horses' feet for years, and I credit
use of the Easyboot with an absolutely incredible contribution to hoof
strength.  I know because I can feel it under the rasp.

Whatever the shoeing choice a distance rider makes, he/she is only
providing support to the hoof that God put on that horse.  Ultimately,
the high-quality hoof will succeed over the poor-quality hoof no matter
what shoeing appliance is attached to it.

So now I've said my piece.  I'll sit back here and wait for the heat.

-Abby Bloxsom
barefoot.