[QUOTE=Guilherme;8888148]
Did you read the rest of the item I posted? The foreign substance must be part of a soring protocol before it becomes unlawful. I’m wondering how Repelex or talcum powder could be used as soring chemicals.
G.[/QUOTE]
That is the way it is supposed to be. That is not how it actually happens though.
[QUOTE=Guilherme;8890617]
I’m not sure I understand your point.
G.[/QUOTE]
You indicate the “foreign substance” must be part of a soring protocol to be forbidden, so items such as linement, poultice, etc would not be restricted.
However, weighted shoes, leather bracelets, chains, stretchies, etc. are not part of a soring protocal and they are being restricted.
My point is, if this sort of legislation passes, you never know what comes next… practices in the sport horse world may go on as normal for now, but when governmental bodies begin placing restrictions that have no bearing on the stated reason for the restriction (prevention of soring), and impact industries who have never participated it said practice (soring), who knows what happens next.
If this passes, I just wonder how long it takes for the next equine group or sport is targeted.
My guess is that there is enough international support for the FEI disciplines that it will be tough for the animal rights people to go after them, but even the USEF has come out against these proposed regulations and, still, they seem to be gaining support from people (ie, the Senate) who probably know little to nothing about horses or the impacted disciplines.
[QUOTE=earsup;8891915]
You indicate the “foreign substance” must be part of a soring protocol to be forbidden, so items such as linement, poultice, etc would not be restricted.
Correct.
However, weighted shoes, leather bracelets, chains, stretchies, etc. are not part of a soring protocal and they are being restricted.
Are you sure?
My point is, if this sort of legislation passes, you never know what comes next… practices in the sport horse world may go on as normal for now, but when governmental bodies begin placing restrictions that have no bearing on the stated reason for the restriction (prevention of soring), and impact industries who have never participated it said practice (soring), who knows what happens next.
If this passes, I just wonder how long it takes for the next equine group or sport is targeted.
My guess is that there is enough international support for the FEI disciplines that it will be tough for the animal rights people to go after them, but even the USEF has come out against these proposed regulations and, still, they seem to be gaining support from people (ie, the Senate) who probably know little to nothing about horses or the impacted disciplines.[/QUOTE]
I’m not a fan of “conspiracy theories” and I don’t see these proposed Regulations as handing control of the U.S. equine industry to a cabal run by HSUS and PETA. IMO such allegations are political sloganeering, not rational analysis.
Regarding the question on devices, however, let’s look at the definition of “sore.”
Sore when used to describe a horse means:
(1) An irritating or blistering agent has been applied, internally or externally, to any limb of a horse;
(2) Any burn, cut, or laceration has been inflicted on any limb of a horse;
(3) Any tack, nail, screw, or chemical agent has been injected into or used on any limb of a horse; or
(4) Any other substance or device has been used on any limb of a horse, and as a result of such application, infliction, injection, use, or practice, such horse suffers, or can reasonably be expected to suffer, physical pain or distress, inflammation, or lameness when walking, trotting, or otherwise moving, except that such term does not include such an application, infliction, injection, use, or practice in connection with the therapeutic treatment of a horse by or under the supervision of a person licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the State in which such treatment was given.
It’s long been my contention that all “sored” horses are lame but not all lame horses are “sored.” Lameness can come from many sources but intentional soring has only one source: human activity.
Section 4 of the definition reflects, very closely, my own definition developed over almost 30 years of involvement with gaited horses.
I’m not at all a fan of “action devices” as I consider them “anti-training devices.” The Auburn Study found a six ounce chain had no probable effect on long term soundness. But the question asked was narrow and asked by people who wanted a specific answer and the entire matter funded by people who wanted a specific answer. Would we trust a study funded by the American Tobacco Institute that concluded that small amounts of tobacco use posed no reasonable risk of negative health consequences? Can we use that same reasoning with regard to action devices and the Auburn Study?
Section 4 adds to the list of prohibited devices and actions the various mechanical methods that have long been used to alter gait but also have a substantial risk of causing not only short term lameness but also long term injury. IMO this addition is quite rational and within reasonable scientific probability.
G.
[QUOTE=Guilherme;8892022]
Section 4 adds to the list of prohibited devices and actions the various mechanical methods that have long been used to alter gait but also have a substantial risk of causing not only short term lameness but also long term injury. IMO this addition is quite rational and within reasonable scientific probability.
G.[/QUOTE]
I’m not familiar with action devices that have “substantial risk” of causing short term lameness and long term injury. What would be an example of such a device?
I’m interested in your answer–and let’s talk research/evidence, not just opinion–to the question above.
And Guilherme, just a point of curiosity on my part–are you 30 years expereince with trotting breeds or tranditionally non-trotting breed like the Tennessee Walker?
(I use the work “traditionally” since I know some TWHs do trot, but it’s not a gait demonstrated in breed competitions.)
[QUOTE=ASB Stars;8889413]
By the way- just saw a letter from the Senate to USDA- dated 10.5.16, and posted 10.11.16, that instructs USDA that the Senate would like to see the regulations implemented as written. I am assuming it is real.
Buckle up, boys.[/QUOTE]
Go back and read the letter again. The senate is not asking Vilsack to put the changes through as written.
This is Sentator Ayotte who wrote the PAST act stating that there are two important provisions in the PAST act that the USDA did not include in their HPA changes and she is asking to have these included in the verbiage. She is urging them to resolve the legislative changes as quickly as possible.
This is not a request to “pass it as written”
My experience is primarily with gaited horses. With Walkers that usually means a lateral gait, sometimes a centered gait, seldom a trot. When we moved to the Marchadors in 1999 the world changed significantly, as within Marchador breed three ways of going are recognized: the marcha batida, a broken trot; the marcha picada, a stepping pace; and the marcha de centro, a centered gait akin to the way of going of a Walker from the 1930s. My experience with solely diagonal gaits is limited. But I’ve seen a broad spectrum of ways of going.
The process of movement in the horse begins with their gait. When a horse starts to move the sequence of events at the foot is loading, break-over, takeoff, flight, and impact. It’s the same for faster gaits, but just where loads wax and wane vary. There are also some differences between the trotting horse and the “soft gaited” horse. The primary sequence, however, remains the same.
The optimal method of achieving a “show gait” is to breed for it. A good horse begins in the breeding shed. But this process has difficulties. I’ll not spend any time discussing them as I presume any knowledgeable horseman knows about the “genetic lottery.” This means that it’s not uncommon to have a horse with excellent conformation and a winning temperament that might be lacking in way of going. So the owner engages a trainer to address the deficiency. One of the more common ways to alter the way of going in some breeds is the use of devices to enhance “action.”
If a horse does not show enough “flight” in the way of going this can be addressed in at least three ways.
First, lower the angle of the foot. This will mean that it will take more energy to get the foot off the ground and that excess energy will translate into longer “flight time.” Trimming will do this and is commonly used. But for a “blue ribbon” performance it won’t be enough. So the farrier will add a stack of pads, usually leather, that artificially extends the toe and allows for an even lower angle. That means even more energy at break-over, which would translate to longer “flight time.” That’s the purpose of pads. They are not there to absorb concussion or provide any sort of “therapeutic” benefit.
Next, the farrier can alter the shoe type used. Adding weight to the foot will require more energy input for break-over and takeoff. Make a paper airplane and launch it. Note how it flies. Now add a paperclip to the nose and note the difference. That’s the impact of adding weight.
The third item would be some sort of “bracelet” around the foot that would cause the horse to try and “step out” of an irritation or “flinch” at the imposition of pain. These are separate and distinct actions. They may or may not be used together.
Can any of these devices, by themselves, cause a horse to be “sore” in the meaning of the Proposed Regulations? The answer is “yes.” The least likely item would be a light, plastic chain. The most likely to would be the stack of pads. Indeed that device would also be the most likely to cause long term injury. Of course rarely are these three strategies used separately; they are very commonly used together, where their impact is magnified, to the detriment of the horse.
So far all we’ve looked at is what’s happening from about the pastern on down. That’s bad enough, the long and low angle altering the anatomically correct alignment of the lower leg which ought to be a straight line, not a broken lever. But now we have to consider that there’s a 1000 pound horse moving over that foot which is stuck to the ground at speeds from 4 mph to 20 mph. That’s a fair amount of energy applied to the foot under normal circumstances. If we’ve weakened the structure of the foot with a mal-formed angle by applying a device what will be the consequences? Or is it the position of the advocates of devices that there will be no adverse consequences? I’m not aware of any credible studies one way or the other. But there is credible work that a mal-formed angle IS detrimental to the long term soundness of the horse. Here is one reference http://equipodiatry.com/article_proper_physiological_horseshoeing.htm Here is another http://www.horseinfo.com/info/faqs/faqconformQ6.html The hard truth is that the stack of pads used to alter the anatomical correctness of any horse will, over time, cause injury in the vast majority of horses. There will be some who break down early and some who show little to no functional effect. That’s just because horses have different DNA and different lives. But it’s going to be there.
I could not find anything discussing the effect of adding weight directly. But it’s well accepted at adding weight will affect the kinetic performance of the foot. It is certainly the practice within disciplines that reward the “high step” to add weight to gain a competitive advantage. I did find the following that is relevant to the issue. It question is aluminum vs. steel shoes, but the issue is weight differential. It’s long and not all parts are relevant to this discussion but it’s a worthwhile read. http://www.ads.uga.edu/documents/ElodieJEVS-D-11-00083R1-1.pdf
The chain is used to encourage the horse to pick up the foot higher, either by causing a “step out of something” action or a “flinch” due to the chain striking the sensitive coronary band area upon impact. I could find nothing that actually addresses the use of the chain except the previously mentioned Auburn Study. In any event the chain works because it irritates the foot of the horse. The users of the chain know this. They claim it “trains” the horse but they also acknowledge that if you remove the chain the “training effect” quickly dissipates. That suggests to me that there is, in fact, NO training involved, just the infliction of pain (or, if you will, “distress”) and that the “trainer” who does this is benefiting from a “memory of pain” response by the horse.
Some claim that this is no different that use of a spur or crop to induce a response. I disagree. The spur is applied by a competent trainer to either add authority to a natural aid, the leg, or to “discipline” a failure to comply with a command. The crop allows the trainer to extend their reach and touch the horse to induce a movement. It also has a disciplinary function. Each device is used as required but not used if not required. It takes conscious thought by the trainer on both when to use the device and how to use the device and when to cease using the device.
A chain around the ankle of the horse is not training anything because it is always “on.” The horse is irritated by the chain and performs a desired movement. The chain continues to function. The horse is irritated by the chain but doesn’t perform the desired movement. The chain continues to function. Whether the horse is compliant or not the chain is banging away on the coronary band. This is the antithesis of training.
Now that we’ve seen how each item works individually do we really need to spend much time talking about their combined effect?
The Proposed Regulations would consign “action devices” to the dustbin of history. IMO that’s where they belong. An awful lot of vets agree. The people who would fight to retain these devices have their own opinions and that’s OK. But I believe I’ve demonstrated that they are deleterious to the long term health of horses individually and even more so when used in combination.
G.
Hmmm…The trotting breeds are normally shod at a steeper angle. Toes are grown out for length but then pads are added to maintain a HEALTHY angle which will keep the internal structures of the hoof in alignment and will prevent the problems that are usually seen with low hoof wall angles…things like navicular, suspensory damage, flexor tendon damage, road founder, ringbone, etc.
If you have a low hoof wall angle, you tend to get a lot of career ending problems. The long toe/low heel does change the flight path of the hoof, and it may work to detrimentally improve the gaits of a gaited horse that moves laterally, but in a trotting horse it just sets the horse up for grabbing and pulling shoes with the back hoof.
The long toe/low heel keeps the foot on the ground longer which allows the hind hoof to step on the front hoof.
Most Saddle Seat trotting horses are shod at a 50-56 degree angle. Their pasterns tend to be longer for a springy stride so shoeing at a lower angle doesn’t offer support.
The horses bred for high action do tend to pound the ground with each step so the pads and wedges at the heel help cushion the heel and structures also.
When chains are used, the horse does not step higher from “perceived” or “expected” pain. They step higher because there is added weight or because they feel movement. I have used chains as part of my training for 20 years and have never had a horse get a rub, a sore, a tender spot or anything from use of chains.
I have had a horse get a rub from a fleece covered cuff for rubber developers but that was because the fleece had trapped some wet sand that caused an abrasion. We learned after that to not use the fleece cuffs in wet conditions.
An added benefit of the chains is that they jangle and make “music” as the horse moves. The sound helps with cadence and has been used in other disciplines, not just saddle seat.
We care a great deal for our horses. Unfortunately there are people with an AGENDA that want to paint the worst possible picture of us and our tools.
There are lots of tools that people use to train horses and people that don’t understand those tools tend to always project the worst onto the situations. Take a look at how many people think using bits are cruel, or using horse shoes are cruel. They spin a narrative because people LOVE to be outraged because they LOVE to have a cause.
[QUOTE=Amwrider;8895574]
Hmmm…The trotting breeds are normally shod at a steeper angle. Toes are grown out for length but then pads are added to maintain a HEALTHY angle which will keep the internal structures of the hoof in alignment and will prevent the problems that are usually seen with low hoof wall angles…things like navicular, suspensory damage, flexor tendon damage, road founder, ringbone, etc.
Why not just shoe to anatomical correctness and save a boatload of money on farrier fees?
If you have a low hoof wall angle, you tend to get a lot of career ending problems. The long toe/low heel does change the flight path of the hoof, and it may work to detrimentally improve the gaits of a gaited horse that moves laterally, but in a trotting horse it just sets the horse up for grabbing and pulling shoes with the back hoof.
Is that a Good Thing?
The long toe/low heel keeps the foot on the ground longer which allows the hind hoof to step on the front hoof.
Not necessarily.
Most Saddle Seat trotting horses are shod at a 50-56 degree angle. Their pasterns tend to be longer for a springy stride so shoeing at a lower angle doesn’t offer support.
Again, why not just go with anatomical correctness?
The horses bred for high action do tend to pound the ground with each step so the pads and wedges at the heel help cushion the heel and structures also.
Frankly I don’t accept this explanation. The pads are there to lengthen the toe and keep the foot on the ground longer. Neither more nor less.
When chains are used, the horse does not step higher from “perceived” or “expected” pain. They step higher because there is added weight or because they feel movement. I have used chains as part of my training for 20 years and have never had a horse get a rub, a sore, a tender spot or anything from use of chains.
I call “shenanigans” on this entire statement.
I have had a horse get a rub from a fleece covered cuff for rubber developers but that was because the fleece had trapped some wet sand that caused an abrasion. We learned after that to not use the fleece cuffs in wet conditions.
An added benefit of the chains is that they jangle and make “music” as the horse moves. The sound helps with cadence and has been used in other disciplines, not just saddle seat.
This may be quite true. I’ve heard of gaited horse folks using “rhythm beads” for the same purpose. Why risk hoof injury when there’s an alternative available?
We care a great deal for our horses. Unfortunately there are people with an AGENDA that want to paint the worst possible picture of us and our tools.
I commend to you Common Sense Horsemanship Vladimir Littauer. He has some interesting things to say about “abusive practices” and people’s narrow view of what they do.
There are lots of tools that people use to train horses and people that don’t understand those tools tend to always project the worst onto the situations. Take a look at how many people think using bits are cruel, or using horse shoes are cruel. They spin a narrative because people LOVE to be outraged because they LOVE to have a cause.[/QUOTE]
I’ve not “spun” a thing. I don’t think you can make the same claim.
G.
[QUOTE=Amwrider;8895574]
When chains are used, the horse does not step higher from “perceived” or “expected” pain. They step higher because there is added weight or because they feel movement.
<snip>
An added benefit of the chains is that they jangle and make “music” as the horse moves. The sound helps with cadence and has been used in other disciplines, not just saddle seat.[/QUOTE]
The way I always explain it is that the horse tries to step out of the chain when they feel it. Anyone who has put paw boots on their dog for the first time can relate.
And the rhythm helps a lot. Not only so the horse can hear and understand the difference between four beat vs two beat gaits, but the trainer so they can hear and fine tune the cadence better. That’s why you would use 2 or 4 chains on the legs, not just a string of beads.
[QUOTE=Guilherme;8895599]
I’ve not “spun” a thing. I don’t think you can make the same claim.
G.[/QUOTE]
Our saddlebreds don’t get angles changed for shoes or no shoes. At the end of show season, they go straight to barefoot or no pads over the winter. Angles depend on the horse. Pads are there to help with the concussion of the hoof, I agree some trainers overshoe their horse, looks ridiculous. If I show my pony barefoot, without a pad (we just use 1) his feet go to hell and he’s sore the next day. A pad and he’s fine. He looks like a hunter at home until a show he trots level. I use the light chains that make lots of noise or a leather band. Can’t say I’ve ever had a rub I also keep enough show sheen on my horses legs mud just slides off.
I use them to help the horse/pony more aware of his feet and rhythm reasons. Not really motion, which some horses they help with that issue. I use stretchies to build up and open shoulder muscle. They actually work for increasing range of motion used correctly.
I have no problem with rules to help the Walking Horses with their soring issues but we are not the walking horse industry either. Just because our horses trot differently than other disiplines, doesn’t mean we sore to get that look.
[QUOTE=Guilherme;8895599]
I’ve not “spun” a thing. I don’t think you can make the same claim.
G.[/QUOTE]
What keeps the hoof on the ground longer is the angle, not the length of the toe. On a trotting horse, if you lower the angle, you get a delayed breakover.
As for your comments about going with “anatomical correctness” you need to understand that the 50-56 degree angles are anatomically correct for these breeds, we want to follow the angle of the pastern and shoulder.
If anyone wants to see what WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Morgans are shod like, here is the Photographer’s website.
Check on the photos from the World Championship Morgan horse show and poke around. They really are not as horrible as these anti-pad people are trying to make out. The horses are not “stacked” up and they are not heavily weighted.
http://www.howardschatzberg.com/default.asp
Trotting horses do not show with chains or action devices during their classes.
If you poke around in his other show proofs you will also find Arabians and Saddlebreds.
Here is video from Saturday evening’s Performances at the Morgan Grand National and World Championship Horse show. You have to go in about an hour because the first hour is presentations for Equitation riders and Youth of the Year. Take a look at how these horses move…do you think we want to keep the foot on the ground longer?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEmQ-SgK3FQ
If you watch RH Bennett interview the wining riders coming out of the ring, you will see that as the horse exits to the left, there are people there (including a USEF show steward) there to inspect and measure the front hooves.
LOL, seriously…first you say we pressure shoe and sore horses to make them pick up their feet more quickly, now you are saying we want to keep the foot on the ground longer. …LOL you kill me…
[QUOTE=Amwrider;8895789]
What keeps the hoof on the ground longer is the angle, not the length of the toe. On a trotting horse, if you lower the angle, you get a delayed breakover.
And if you lengthen the toe you delay breakover.
As for your comments about going with “anatomical correctness” you need to understand that the 50-56 degree angles are anatomically correct for these breeds, we want to follow the angle of the pastern and shoulder.
Then why all the gadgetry?
If anyone wants to see what WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Morgans are shod like, here is the Photographer’s website.
Check on the photos from the World Championship Morgan horse show and poke around. They really are not as horrible as these anti-pad people are trying to make out. The horses are not “stacked” up and they are not heavily weighted.
http://www.howardschatzberg.com/default.asp
Trotting horses do not show with chains or action devices during their classes.
Then why the objections to their elimination?
If you poke around in his other show proofs you will also find Arabians and Saddlebreds.
Here is video from Saturday evening’s Performances at the Morgan Grand National and World Championship Horse show. You have to go in about an hour because the first hour is presentations for Equitation riders and Youth of the Year. Take a look at how these horses move…do you think we want to keep the foot on the ground longer?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEmQ-SgK3FQ
If you watch RH Bennett interview the wining riders coming out of the ring, you will see that as the horse exits to the left, there are people there (including a USEF show steward) there to inspect and measure the front hooves.
LOL, seriously…first you say we pressure shoe and sore horses to make them pick up their feet more quickly, now you are saying we want to keep the foot on the ground longer. …LOL you kill me…[/QUOTE]
I’ve never said you pressure shoe. That’s akin to chemical soring and I’ve said more than one that chemicals don’t work on trotters.
Got some work to do now. Will look at photos and videos later.
G.
[QUOTE=Guilherme;8895599]
The horses bred for high action do tend to pound the ground with each step so the pads and wedges at the heel help cushion the heel and structures also.
Frankly I don’t accept this explanation. The pads are there to lengthen the toe and keep the foot on the ground longer. Neither more nor less.
When chains are used, the horse does not step higher from “perceived” or “expected” pain. They step higher because there is added weight or because they feel movement. I have used chains as part of my training for 20 years and have never had a horse get a rub, a sore, a tender spot or anything from use of chains.
I call “shenanigans” on this entire statement.
G.[/QUOTE]
I appreciate the constructive turn this discussion has taken since I last checked in. Lots of good information here about trotting breeds.
G, I also appreciate that you’ve shared a little more background on why you have the view you have. I call out your responses, above, because I wonder if your opinions are so different from some of others expressed here due to your past experience as you’ve described it–with TWHs and such and not with trotting breeds?
As for using pads to cushion…I’d like to share some of my personal experience that might add context. I’ve just pulled the shoes off my show horse and we were out for a leasurely ride yesterday. You could hear her feet POUNDING the ground at the WALK because she has so much natural up-and-down motion. I’ve never left here completely bare up front before and I worry her front feet may become sore during turnout.
Of course, soreness can happen to any horse on hard ground, but the harder the pounding, the greater the possibility of discomfort for the horse–that’s why we (eventers) don’t gallop and try to avoid any significant conditioning of our horses on terrain when the ground gets hard from either drought or freezing. Of course, many eventing horses wear pads–and it has nothing to do with altering their gait–it’s all about giving their feet some cushion since they pound the ground so hard 
And remember, trotting breeds use thin pads/wedges rather than the thick stacks seen on “padded” TWHs–something so completely different that I have trouble thinking of the two practices in the same category.
The chains trotting breeds use are estremely light–nothing like what’s on a TWH in my understanding. I think those heavy chains might hurt, but that’s neither the intent nor the result of the light ones used by the trotting breeds. It’s a completely different thing–and, like Amrider, I’ve never seen rubs, sores or tender spots from the use of chains in the trotting world. I understand (and I may be misinformed, so correct me if needed) physical evidence of chain use on TWH is both obvious and common. A simple walk down the barn aisle and visual inventory of feet at a trotting show barn would refute that line of thinking.
I would encourage anyone who thinks that ASB show horses- at the highest levels- do not show with a bunch of foot and/or pads to look at pictures of two fairly recent (now retired) World’s Grand Champions- Along Came a Spider, and Our Charming Lady. My issue is simple- these horses are the ones whose photographs get out there, and show people what the epitome of the breed is. And, when they have over 6" of toe, or their feet look like they are packing anvils- it IS an issue. It isn’t “OK” at any level.
And it is reality. Not every horse goes like this- but the fact that they do, and win at the highest levels? Well, I find it disgusting. I was raised to believe that the “good ones go light”, and many still do. I just wish it was all of them, frankly.
Our Charming Lady
http://horsestarhalloffame.org/inductees/20/ch_our_charming_lady.aspx
Along Came A Spider
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAElk-H3fRQ
I couldn’t find a good photo of ACAS online, but she was the 2007 World Grand Champion in Fine Harness. Photos of the class are found on the photographer’s website http://www.howardschatzberg.com/default.asp to get to the photos do the following:
show Proofs
Previoius Horse Shows
2007 shows
2007 Kentucky State Fair
August 25 Saturday Evening
235 Fine Harness World’s Grand Championship.
A lot of the photos are from an angle, but there is a good side shot with photo 234-020 which is a victory pass.
Both of those horses may have a long foot, but it is foot. They have a small package of pads when compared to what the TWH big lick uses. They are not “packing an anvil” as you can see from the videos posted above. A horse that was shod heavy would not move as freely…and again, this is hoof making up the length and not the pad making up the length of the toe.
My Charming Lady does have a very long hoof in the photos from Louisville, but they are not as long in the other shows and the hoof is healthy as she maintained a good foot the entire show season to cap off the triple crown that year at the American Royal held in November.
I have posted the Photographer’s website. Feel free to poke around at the ASB Morgan and Arabian shows that he shoots and take a look at the hooves in the TROTTING breeds of horses. They are NOT like the TWH horse. Look at the horse’s expressions, go find videos of the classes on YouTube and see how they move. They are not labored. They are quick and brilliant movers. They are not moving as if they are in pain.
Make up your own decision. If anyone has questions, I will be happy to answer.
My Charming Lady
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/87/ae/31/87ae31d64ad39509f28de5a898348e5b.jpg
Personally I believe this is too much foot and shoe, yet the proposed rules would not restrict this as this is the mares ‘natural’ hoof, not added pads and there is no restriction on natural hoof length.
So she is not ‘postable’ in support of the proposed rules, other than the band: which would be prohibited.
Along came a Spider in 5-gaited shoes
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/2c/08/a6/2c08a6c80059ea93293a755db736b863.jpg
I am not able to gauge the length of her foot by looking, nor the weight of her shoes; but the pad does not seem like much depth to it.
Again, the foot length is not prohibited by the proposed rules.
And No, I don’t find this shoeing offensive.
I would like to see length restrictions on hoof and a limit to pads, probably a limit to shoe weight.
As to trailers, bands, clips, and balancing weights all those are ‘aiding’ the horse’s movement and should be legal in the performance field. This is not a ‘breeding’ class; and any breeder who knows what they are doing would judge a broodmare BOTH by what she does naturally and how she reacts to a good farrier.
Horses that are well shod will move more confidently and powerfully than those slipping or otherwise having a more difficult time in the footing.
Just because a horse can grow 6+ inches of toe doesn’t mean that they should. The addition of multiple hard plastic pads do nothing for concussion. A balanced hoof with heathy heels and digital cushion would be much more beneficial. At those heights the hoof wall becomes fragile and the hoof capsule distorted and inflexible. As I mentioned before, I’d rather see the hoof cut down and add another pad than the hoofwall grown out to unhealthy lengths.
One wedge, one leather pad maximum. More than that is excessive. And don’t tell me it doesn’t happen because I nailed enough of them on to know better!
I am not saying it is good or that it doesn’t happen.
I am saying the proposed rule does not limit natural hoof length.
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
