PNER Rider Membership #
___________ or ___________
(Check if applicable.) I am not a
member of PNER
However, I do participate in long distance/competitive rides, and I wish to add my opinions associated with the hoof care of long distance/competitive horses to the overall database.
(Membership information is
collected to insure that individual rider information is not duplicated. Confidentiality will be honored, and no owner
will specifically be identified in any subsequent report arising from this
information.)
Please circle the correct or
most correct answer for each of the following, unless instructed otherwise.
1. I am:
A. Male
B. Female
2. My age is:
A.
Younger than 20 years of age
B.
21 - 30 years of age
C.
31 - 40 years of age
D.
41 - 50 years of age
E.
51 - 60 years of age
F.
Older than 61 years of age
3. I have been actively involved with equestrian activities
for:
A. 0 - 2 years
B. 3 - 5 years
C. 6 - 10 years
D. 11 - 20 years
E. Longer than 21 years
4. How many years have you been actively competing in long
distance/competitive rides?
A. 0 - 2 years
B. 3 - 5 years
C. 6 - 10 years
D. 11 - 20 years
E. Longer than 21 years
5. Within the last 2 calendar years, you have participated
in how many competitions?
A.
0 competitions
B.
1 – 2 competitions
C.
3 – 5 competitions
D.
6 – 10 competitions
E.
11 – 15 competitions
F.
More than 16 competitions
6. Within the last 2 calendar years, how many competitive
miles have you successfully completed?
A.
0 – 100 miles
B.
101 – 400 miles
C.
401 - 800 miles
D.
801 – 1500 miles
E.
1501 - 2500 miles
F.
More than 2501 miles
7. What is the length of the long distance/competitive
rides that you compete in?
(Circle all that apply)
A. Approximately
25 miles
B.
Approximately 50 miles
C.
Approximately 75 miles
D.
Approximately 100 miles
E. Consecutive,
multiple-day rides
8. Would you characterize yourself as:
A. Routinely finishing in top 10% in rides
B.
Routinely finishing in top 25% in rides
C.
Routinely finishing in "middle of the pack"
D.
Routinely bringing up the rear
E.
Not finishing in any particular position in long distance/competitive
ride on a routine basis
9. What shoeing/hoof preparation techniques do you currently use on your horse during the actual long distance/competitive rides? (Circle all that apply)
A.
Steel shoes
B.
Steel shoes with full pads
C.
Steel shoes with rim pads
D.
Steel shoes Plus hoof boots (i.e. Easy Boots, Old Mac Boots
E.
Barefeet
F.
Other _______________________________________
10. Which statement most accurately reflects your attitude toward shoeing of your long distance/competitive horse(s):
A. Use of steel shoes is a completely safe procedure when done by a competent farrier, presents no short-term or long-term danger to horses, and enhances the ability of the horse to compete effectively.
B. Use of steel shoes is relatively safe procedure when done by a competent farrier, presents no significant short-term or long danger to the horses, and enhances the ability of the horse to compete effectively
C. Use of steel shoes is neither harmful nor safe when done by a competent farrier but enhances the ability of the horse to compete effectively
D. Use of steel shoes is hazardous to the soundness of the horse, should be used as infrequently as possible, but does enhance the ability of the horse to compete effectively.
E. Use of hoof boots (i.e., Easy Boots or Old Mac Boots) is always preferable to steel shoes and their periodic use will allow horses to compete effectively
F. Use of steel shoes is unnecessary, harmful to the horse in the short-term and long-term, and does not enhance the ability of the horse to compete effectively
G. Use of steel shoes or hoof boots (i.e. Easy Boots or Old Mac Boots) is unnecessary, harmful to the horse in the short-term and long-term, and does not enhance the ability of the horse to compete effectively
11. Given an ideal horse with excellent hooves and the potential to perform competently barefoot:
A. I would always choose shoes (plus/minus pads) to minimize sole bruising and to minimize the worry about excessive hoof wear and bruising on rough and/or rocky terrain
B. I would only use shoes (plus/minus pads) on very rough and/or rocky terrain. All conditioning and easy rides would be barefoot
C. I would rarely use shoes (plus/minus pads) even on very rough and/or rocky terrain. All conditioning and easy rides would be barefoot
D. I would never use shoes but might use hoof boots (i.e. Easy Boots, Old Mac Boots) on very rough and/or rocky terrain
E. I would never use shoes or easy boots on any ride, but I might expect to see some foot soreness following a ride on very rough/or rocky terrain
F. I would never use shoes or easy boots on any ride, and I would not anticipate ever seeing foot soreness following a ride on even very rough and/or rocky terrain
12. When selecting a horse which could compete successfully barefoot., I believe that:
A. All horses are capable of competing successfully barefoot
B. All "sound" horses with genetically thick hoof capsules (wall, sole, and frog) are capable of competing successfully barefoot if properly conditioned
C. Many, but not all, "sound" horses with genetically thick hoof capsules (wall, sole, and frog) are capable of competing successfully barefoot if properly conditioned
D. Some, but not all, sound" horses with genetically thick hoof capsules (wall, sole, and frog) are capable of competing successfully barefoot if properly conditioned
E. Few "sound" horses even those with genetically thick hoof capsules (wall, sole, and frog) are capable of competing successfully barefoot even if properly conditioned
F. No horses even with genetically thick hoof capsules (wall, sole, and frog) are capable of competing successfully barefoot even if properly conditioned
13. When buying/selecting a long distance/competitive prospect to be campaigned barefoot, what importance do you give to the horse's hoof structure, in regards to the ability to effectively compete barefoot?
A. Vital
B. Very important
C. Important
D. Somewhat important
F. Not important
G. Not applicable; I would never select a long/distance/competitive prospect to be campaigned barefoot
14. Given a horse with an ideal hoof conformation and optimal terrain, how many months of conditioning are necessary before you as the rider can be sure that the barefooted horse can handle any ride regardless of terrain and not expect sorefootedness following the ride.
A. Less than one month.
B. One to three months.
C. Fourth to six months
D. Seven to 12 months
E. 13 months to 24 months
F. Never
15. Given a horse with ideal hoof conformation and optimal terrain, what is the possibility that routine, lengthy conditioning over many months (in the pursuit of the barefoot competitor capable of being ridden over any terrain) will produce significant lameness associated with hoof bruising?
A. Will not happen – all hooves will condition without accompanying soreness
B. Will happen very infrequently – only in unusual instances such as a horse accidentally stepping on a sharp rock or a similar event
C. Will happen frequently – should expect periodic bouts of foot soreness while conditioning. However, these periodic bouts of foot soreness will not cause long-term, chronic lameness
D. Will almost invariably happen. However, these periodic bouts of foot soreness will not cause long-term, chronic lameness
E. Expect periodic bouts of foot soreness while conditioning. If the conditioning is too severe, these periodic bouts of foot soreness may cause long-term, chronic lameness
F. Expect periodic bouts of foot soreness while conditioning. If the conditioning is too severe, these periodic bouts of foot soreness will inevitably cause long-term, chronic lameness
16. Who do you trust the most to provide the best advice on hoofcare for your long distance/competitive horse?
A. Your local farrier
B. Your local veterinarian
C. A farrier who is specialist for long distance/competitive horses
D. A veterinarian who regularly vets long distance/competitive rides
E. A trimming specialist associated with specialized "barefoot" trimming
F. Out-of-the area specialist most easily available via the internet
G. Other long distance/competitive riders who are quite knowledgeable but not professionally trained in hoofcare.
H. Other _____________________________
17. Please provide any comments that would further clarify your answers to this survey.