Oh boy! Shoes vs. boots vs. barefoot food fight in the Driving Forum, of all places!!!
I’ll be taking bets all day, folks. :winkgrin:
Better to err on the side of caution
[QUOTE=Yip;4674644]
I understand why you wouldn’t want to shoe a horse just for a few hours work. I don’t understand why you won’t leave a shod horse on turnout with the others, unless your horses don’t get along.
I would never use shoes as a reason to keep a horse stalled. Your Perch. is probably going to do just fine barefoot. Why not try it and see what happens/ Maybe shoes/boots will become a non-issue.[/QUOTE]
Thanks for your advice. Not knowing much at all about Percherons, and having read that drafts tend to have more hoof problems than light horses, I was trying to be cautious. Of the two drafts I have, only Barney is a confirmed well-trained, road-wise carriage horse. I want to take precautions to keep Barney sound-- as I can’t afford to buy carriage horse-- and none of my light horses could pull such a heavy carriage.
The other Perchie LouLou is fine for farm work, but I don’t believe she has ever done carriage work on the road. I was told by a carriage company operator who had seen her that she tends to pull to the side away from cars when one approaches her. This lady told me that was why she didn’t buy her when she was sent to auction-- she had seen that she would pull toward the side to get away from approaching traffic. She told me that they had plenty of well-trained horses, and she didn’t have time to work with one that would need to be broken of this habbit.
I will probably try Barney barefooted first. As for not keeping shod horses out together-- it is my life-long personal preference that is the result of my best friend in childhood losing her pony.
There were several ponies and small horses turned out together at the place she boarded-- they had all been turned out together many times before-- one of the other ponies was shod-- as it had been before-- this particular day-- it kicked my friend’s pony and broke her leg. My friend’s pony was destroyed. 
The vet said that having shoes on had made the other pony’s kick deadly.
I made up my mind right then that I would NEVER turn out horses together that had shoes on. I am on the far side 50 now-- I have never turned out horses with shoes on together-- I’m not going to start now.
As for keeping a shod horse stalled-- in my situation now-- with several horses sharing a pasture-- if I have a shod horse, it WILL have to be stalled because I don’t have enough stalls to lock the rest up so the shod one can be free. I have three pastures with run in sheds and only two stalls that have doors to secure a horse inside. 
All of my horses get along fine. I use the two stalls for feeding my two oldest horses to make sure they get all their feed. I only lock those two in for feeding or if it is cold and rainy.
In the past, I kept horses stalled 24/7 for long periods during show season (with just a few hours turn out in small exercise paddocks)-- they never really seemed happy.
Now, all of us are sort of semi-retired-- well definately retired from any showing. I keep my horses loose with run-ins and they seem much happier-- and are much more trouble-free with regard to hoof problems, stocking up, boredom, etc.:winkgrin:
Drafts have hoof problems only when they’re not diligently cared for. All that downward pressure from the big body, causes flaring VERY easily and quickly. It’s the flares that cause the big splits and cracks people often see.
However, when trimmed very regularly on a short-enough trim cycle, they can have AMAZING hooves.
I’m fortunate…I was trained to trim my draft mares by my farrier/trimmer. Both of mine are barefoot, sound and used over varied terrain with no issues. - and no shoes or boots
[QUOTE=fivehorses;4674759]
I would caution you going into it slowly as well. I would hope he would not be pastured the rest of the month, and only worked the one day, or else you are asking for problems. He will need to be fit and worked at least a few times a week to condition him.
Have you ever heard of tying up, or EPSM?
Check out Beth Valentine DVM and rural Heritage site for more information on that.Good luck.
PS, thanks for saving these guys from a worse fate. I love the drafts and hate how they are used and then sent on to a very undeserving death for most of them.[/QUOTE]
Thanks fivehorses for the advice–I subscribe to the magazine Rural Heritage and just love it. I also visit their website. I did not set out to rescue drafts, but the mare’s case was so awful. She did come with papers, but they were not properly transferred, so I doubt I could get her registered in my name now. And it doesn’t matter because her foaling days are over.
I did research after she arrived, and found out that she was a broodmare in Ohio for her first 10 years-- on her breeder/owner’s place. She was sold at auction and then had had no fewer than three homes in five years. I was told she had been broke to drive by her second owner in NC-- but was never able to confirm that by speaking with him.
Her third owner in FL bought her to drive and use as a broodmare. They were apparently horse dealers or dabblers. I was told they sold her and the other three Perchies they had (2 mares and a stallion) at an open sales barn in Ocala when they decided to “get into” Gypsy Vanners.
LouLou had a very young filly at her side when she went to auction. She was bought by a lady who really wanted the filly. Unfortunately the filly died, and the lady decided to move, and tried to sell her to a carriage company-- and then was going to take her back to the auction house to sell. A friend had been following her sad story, and asked me if I would take her, if she bought her. I agreed, contacted the seller, made the deal and my friend wired me the funds. She does not have any land-- lives in an appartment. She comes out to visit LouLou.
I have since become aware that many good drafts are sold at auction when they get too old to do the hard work on the Amish farms. I know that those who are not rescued end up slaughtered-- I am anti-slaughter, but don’t have funds or enough land to take in any more. I do applaud the rescues who do work to save them and find them homes.
My two are just the most gentle and quiet things. The gelding Barney, I got when I bought the carriage. He was part of the package. He is supposed to be from MN originally. I got the carriage to try to start a small business where I could combine my love of horses with a way to help bring in some more money.
I was thinking I would hitch Barney to the Pioneer forecart I have a couple of times a week as a work out-- Also, I will let him harrow one of my pastures. I am aware of EPSM, and feed the two drafts-- and now most of my horses a low carb, low molasses feed. I give them all free choice hay. It is alicia, which is common down here. I do buy alfalfa for the drafts, as I understand they are probably used to having this kind of hay since they are from the North originally. But I don’t feed it free choice – not at $18 a bale, now.
I know this post was OT, but I wanted to answer yours. All the horses here have back stories. I crossed paths with them one way or another while searching for horses we once owned before my husband’s death 20 years ago this March.
Booties??? Plastic or rubber shoes??? Oh my word! Booties don’t stay on and they don’t fit properly. Rubber or plastic shoes are crap. Shoe the horse with a traditional steel shoe. If your horse has been turned out with the horses he is out with now and they all get along then there is little if anything to worry about. In my mixed herd, the most that ever happens is someone lays his or her ears back or backs up toward the offender they are keeping in line. Horses respect the herd order if it has been established for some time and generally things go on day to day without incident. The only area where you might want to exercise caution is if a new herd member is introduced. Otherwise, just shoe the horse as you would normally, or pull them in between events. There really should be no reason with as little as this horse works that he cannot just go barefoot providing his feet are trimmed properly and in good condition. If you insist on shoeing do it right and again, go for steel shoes and use a blacksmith that is experienced in shoeing heavy horses. This particular kind of shoeing is an art and SHOULD BE DONE HOT WITH HAND MADES. Shouldn’t be a problem for a blacksmith that knows what he is doing. If he doesn’t have a forge in his shoeing rig I personally wouldn’t use him.
[QUOTE=GiddyapGirl;4676053]
Booties??? Plastic or rubber shoes??? Oh my word! Booties don’t stay on and they don’t fit properly. Rubber or plastic shoes are crap. Shoe the horse with a traditional steel shoe. If your horse has been turned out with the horses he is out with now and they all get along then there is little if anything to worry about. In my mixed herd, the most that ever happens is someone lays his or her ears back or backs up toward the offender they are keeping in line. Horses respect the herd order if it has been established for some time and generally things go on day to day without incident. The only area where you might want to exercise caution is if a new herd member is introduced. Otherwise, just shoe the horse as you would normally, or pull them in between events. There really should be no reason with as little as this horse works that he cannot just go barefoot providing his feet are trimmed properly and in good condition. If you insist on shoeing do it right and again, go for steel shoes and use a blacksmith that is experienced in shoeing heavy horses. This particular kind of shoeing is an art and SHOULD BE DONE HOT WITH HAND MADES. Shouldn’t be a problem for a blacksmith that knows what he is doing. If he doesn’t have a forge in his shoeing rig I personally wouldn’t use him.[/QUOTE]
Thanks for your input-- All of my horses are barefoot normally. Sorry there are no exclusively draft farriers in this state, that I’ve found. And most farriers here just don’t see many drafts. I would be surprised if there were more than 200 drafts in the whole state for that matter. Or if there are more, their owners must be doing their own blacksmithing. As for hot shoes-- I haven’t seen a farrier around here who will come to the farm do that in about 10 years.
As for my regular farrier-- he is a wonderful farrier-- he mainly does trims because apparently more and more people are going to the barefoot look. He quit hauling a forge around at least 10 years ago because most his customers where not interested in paying for the hot shoes.
Again, I want to thank everyone who has bothered to post an opinion or answer. I figured there would be as many different kinds of advice as there are horse owners, but reading these has helped me a lot. Thanks:)
[QUOTE=NoBSshoer;4675787]
First of all…All of my horses used to be shod…I did it because that is the way it has always been done and I didn’t know any different. One of my horses was having recurring problems with white line disease and the other had recurring problems with thrush. I decided to have their shoes pulled and have them trimmed as close to their natural hoof conformation as possible. Lo and behold! Stubborn white line disease is no more and thrush problems are gone too. Coincidence? Maybe but that was over 10 years ago and I have not had any hoof related problems until this year…2 separate animals with abcesses. Vet said he is seeing many more abcesses than normal this year due to the extra wet season we’ve had. My horses are on pasture turn out all day and either stalled at night or in small paddocks with barn access so they can be dry if they want to. I have used hoof boots for 3 years now with zero problems. Properly fitted boots will not rub or cause sores. A little Gold Bond powder sprinkled inside keeps the funk at bay. So your points against hoof boots don’t fly with me. Do you really think hoof boots worn only when being ridden interfere with normal hoof function more than rigid pieces of steel that must stay on 24/7? Really? Hooves are made to expand and contract upon contact with the ground. This expansion and contraction is thought to help the blood flowing into and out of the hoof which can only be a good thing. Seems to me that pieces of steel nailed into the hoof wall would interfere with this function far more than the occasional use of hoof boots. No it isn’t about the money to me it is about what is best for my horses. I’ve seen the results first hand. My horses hooves look better, they are healthier and have far fewer issues than ever before. Additionally I’ve never lost a day of use because of a lost or loose shoe. Benefits all around if you ask me.
[QUOTE=elysianfieldsfarm;4674558]
Metal shoes—:no:
NOT an option because I NEVER put horses with shoes on loose in my pasture and/or fields together, [/QUOTE] Why???
and I currently do not have enough room to dedicate one of my turnouts exclusively to one horse because hje is wearing iron/steel/ metal shoes-- AND I do not wish to have to keep a shod horse stalled up all the time.
I’m obviously missing something here. Why do you have to keep a horse with shoes on by himself of jailed?
I am not going to keep a horse iron shod AND stalled up just for a couple hours of work traveling a few miles each month.
You lost me at the first step! Shoe him dependent on his needs in relation to his conformation and what he’s doing and keep him turned out.
Sorted!
I wanted knowledgable advice about metal shoe substitutes, like boots. The only kind I have seen in use here are easy boots?-- I think that is their name. I was hoping someone on this site had experience with these kinds of shoeing options.
You maybe should have said that’s what you wanted in your OP.
I’d never personally recommend rubber boots for commercial carriage work.
But hey ho… it takes all sorts!
Wahayyyyyy just continued reading past the first page and come to appreciate we’ve been invaded by ignorance and dogma.
Not turning out horses with shoes because they kill other ones… you’re having a laugh!!!
And as for all that nonsense about expansion and contraction and shoes being nasty evil things… well I never! I need to go and wipe the smile off my face!
There really are folks that actually fall for that nonsense!?!
echo pathetic reasons
Seems to me that we’re in the position to say that if the horse needs shoes, shoe it; if it doesn’t, then don’t.
I’m not a fan of boots and such. Are they even made for draft horses? Puttin easy boots on a Walker was bad enough, I can’t imagine trying to fit them to a drafter.
The Golden Rule of Equine Husbandry remains: give the horse what it needs, when it needs it, and in appropriate quantity and quality. If that means shoes, then shoe it. To do less is fail to meet minimum standards of care.
G.
Hi OP:
You’ve gotten some good advice from a variety of sources. This is kind of like going to the grocery store and wanting to pick and apple for baking, which to use. Well some like Granny Smith, others like Mac’s, while others like Macoun’s. Each will defend their option some with common sense, some with dogma
I have a large heard 9+ horses living out in fields together. Some are barefoot, some are shod with Epona’s, some are shod in steel. No one has died yet, except two who have been put down over the years, one a 40+ yo - no teeth left and another for a different reason. But I digress.
Whomever suggested that making the horses work 1 day a week wouldn’t be in the best of interest of the horse is correct. Therefore, your horses will need to be out on the road more than 1 day a month.
I have 3 drafts here as well as two morgans. Owner takes them out about 4 - 6 times a year and makes them go 5 - 7 miles in one go. It is unfair, but the horses survive. I’ve toyed with shoeing them, I will if they ever get consistent work. But, they handle the asphalt quite well barefoot, IF he did more than 3 days in a row, they would need shoes. They just wear their feet off too fast. When I know they are going to get used, I stop trimming them. I leave a ton of excess foot. If I didn’t they wouldn’t even handle those three days.
I am no fan of boots either, imagine having nothing on your feet for weeks at a time and then all of the sudden you do. They would more than likely get rubs or get muscle sore. It could be an option if you have no other choice or even bare could be an option, do NOT be afraid to experiment.
Finally your last thing to consider, can your inexperienced in drafts farrier actually shoe your drafts? If he decides to, I would strongly recommend you come over to www.horseshoes.com and hunt down a man named Steve. Nickname is HoustonSteve (actually he posts here too) send him a PM. He shows some of the most lovely draft horses on the forums. Shod and unshod.
Finally, steel shoes are not evil. They handle the keratin slightly differently than composite shoes but if the trim is right your horses will not suffer. All or nothing is never in the best interest of the horse.
You have more than one issue to resolve before you get these horses on the road. It sounds like a lot of fun, if I were you, I’d read anything Thomas posts. He has a lot of experience and I believe he builds, sells, drives carriages for a living. AND he has been doing it for a loooong time, despite being a young english scoundrel
Good luck.
[QUOTE=PRS;4676250]
First of all…All of my horses used to be shod…I did it because that is the way it has always been done and I didn’t know any different.[/QUOTE] Obtuseness is noted
One of my horses was having recurring problems with white line disease and the other had recurring problems with thrush. I decided to have their shoes pulled and have them trimmed as close to their natural hoof conformation as possible. Lo and behold! Stubborn white line disease is no more and thrush problems are gone too.
So you blame your poor animal husbandry on shoeing?
2 separate animals with abcesses.
:eek: Oh my!
Vet said he is seeing many more abcesses than normal this year due to the extra wet season we’ve had.
Sounds like a vet you should be listening to
Properly fitted boots will not rub or cause sores. A little Gold Bond powder sprinkled inside keeps the funk at bay. So your points against hoof boots don’t fly with me.
Properly fitted is an oxymoron. They are injection molded off of a machine and cannot ever be properly custom fitted for any hoof ever.
Do you really think hoof boots worn only when being ridden interfere with normal hoof function more than rigid pieces of steel that must stay on 24/7? Really?
Absolutely.
Hooves are made to expand and contract upon contact with the ground. This expansion and contraction is thought to help the blood flowing into and out of the hoof which can only be a good thing.
Wrong. Circulation theories have been long debunked but since you have gone from thinking shoeing caused thrush and WLD to being an authority on hoof function, why not explain at what part of the hoof this expansion and contraction takes place, and about how much of it is measurable?
Seems to me that pieces of steel nailed into the hoof wall would interfere with this function far more than the occasional use of hoof boots.
And you believe this because? Especially being as a hoof is enclosed and clamped into a bootie in a vise like manner?
No it isn’t about the money to me it is about what is best for my horses.
You were the one who brought up the money issue, IME whenever somebody says “is not about the money” it’s ALWAYS about the money. If you were interested in what was in the best interests of the horses you’d give them what they need when they need it to do whatever they do as best they can.
I’ve seen the results first hand. My horses hooves look better, they are healthier and have far fewer issues than ever before. Additionally I’ve never lost a day of use because of a lost or loose shoe. Benefits all around if you ask me.
But you lost use because of abscesses. As far as looking better and being healthier you’re qualified to judge this how?
Lost or loose shoes are another animal husbandry issue. Keep them on a proper schedule you’ll have no such problems. Employ competent horseshoers you won’t have a bad job on their end.
(Mounts soapbox)
Now before you and everybody else give me the canned response of there is nobody good, everybody sucks I’ll say this. The industry exists as the owners allow it to. If you all would demand better higher standards you’d get it. Have any of you ever demanded and looked into the possibility of mandatory testing and state licensing? Have any of you ever sought out somebody certified? When your only 2 questions are “What do you charge?” and “When can you get here?” do you really expect anything different? I find it pretty shameful that the OP hasn’t seen anybody carry a forge in 10 years. This is a disgrace! (Dismounts soapbox now)
[QUOTE=Guilherme;4676873]Seems to me that we’re in the position to say that if the horse needs shoes, shoe it; if it doesn’t, then don’t.
I’m not a fan of boots and such. Are they even made for draft horses? Puttin easy boots on a Walker was bad enough, I can’t imagine trying to fit them to a drafter.
The Golden Rule of Equine Husbandry remains: give the horse what it needs, when it needs it, and in appropriate quantity and quality. If that means shoes, then shoe it. To do less is fail to meet minimum standards of care.
G.[/QUOTE]
Excellent post. Agreed 100%
My comments are bolded
[NoBSshoer;4677514]Obtuseness is noted So you blame your poor animal husbandry on shoeing? :eek: Oh my!
No, I merely stated a coincidence…
Sounds like a vet you should be listening to
I always listen to and follow my vet’s advice
Properly fitted is an oxymoron. They are injection molded off of a machine and cannot ever be properly custom fitted for any hoof ever.
Yet I’ve never had a rub or sore spot on my horses feet
Absolutely. Wrong. Circulation theories have been long debunked but since you have gone from thinking shoeing caused thrush and WLD to being an authority on hoof function, why not explain at what part of the hoof this expansion and contraction takes place, and about how much of it is measurable? And you believe this because? Especially being as a hoof is enclosed and clamped into a bootie in a vise like manner?
Clamps? What Clamps? Velcro and buckles are clamps? Vice? Have you ever SEEN a hoof boot? The boots are only worn while the horse is being ridden the rest of time he is blissfully barefoot.
You were the one who brought up the money issue, IME whenever somebody says “is not about the money” it’s ALWAYS about the money. If you were interested in what was in the best interests of the horses you’d give them what they need when they need it to do whatever they do as best they can.
I always do what’s best for my animals…the money savings is just a side benefit. If I thought nailing steel shoes their feet was better then that’s what I would be doing.
But you lost use because of abscesses. As far as looking better and being healthier you’re qualified to judge this how?
45 years of riding and being around horses and 18 years of owning and careing for my own horses, listening and learning from my vet and farriers qualfies me to judge healthy looking hoof. In 18 years of owning horses I’ve had THREE abcesses…one on a shod horse…(wonder how that could have happened?)and one on a mini donkey (go ahead and tell me I should shoe my donkey :yes: ) and one on my gelding with a club foot.
Lost or loose shoes are another animal husbandry issue. Keep them on a proper schedule you’ll have no such problems. Employ competent horseshoers you won’t have a bad job on their end.
(Mounts soapbox)
Now before you and everybody else give me the canned response of there is nobody good, everybody sucks I’ll say this. The industry exists as the owners allow it to. If you all would demand better higher standards you’d get it. Have any of you ever demanded and looked into the possibility of mandatory testing and state licensing? Have any of you ever sought out somebody certified? When your only 2 questions are “What do you charge?” and “When can you get here?” do you really expect anything different? I find it pretty shameful that the OP hasn’t seen anybody carry a forge in 10 years. This is a disgrace! (Dismounts soapbox now)
[B]Sometimes people just continue to do things like they’ve been done for 100’s of years because they don’t have the imagination to think that things can be better. You say to-may-to I say to-mah-to and you can continue to shoe your horses and I’ll leave mine barefoot. You won’t convince me shoes are better for MY horses. I do agree that SOME horses do better with shoes, I don’t happen to own any. I’m done with this discussion.
OP…sorry to visit this mess on your post.[/B]
[QUOTE=PRS;4677661]
Sometimes people just continue to do things like they’ve been done for 100’s of years because they don’t have the imagination to think that things can be better[/QUOTE] Then there are those who do things as they’ve been done for the last 3000 years because it’s tried true proven and works.
I’ve seen plenty of shod horses get abcesses too.
Good for you, perhaps maybe the light bulb will come on and you’ll figure out they have nothing to do with shoeing one way or the other.
In 18 years of owning horses I’ve had THREE abcesses…one on a shod horse…(wonder how that could have happened?)
I don’t know, you tell me. 3 in 18 years is pretty good considering their a pretty routine problem on most farms of any significant size.
OP…sorry to visit this mess on your post.
You should be
Interesting discussion, and not entirely OT, because hoof care is so critical to good driving practice.
I’m pretty sure my farrier is the oldest in the state. He still carries and uses a forge for shaping a pre-made shoe, but seldom hot shoes anymore. He’s irascible and opinionated and tough, but he really knows his stuff and he listens. I trust him completely.
We’ve tried Ground Control shoes on my driving horses. The horses moved as though prancing on clouds, but within a couple of cycles their hooves began to flare. I wish there were a shoe that offered the springy resilence of the GC material but would better preserve the integrity of the hoof capsule.
We’ve tried borium tips and wore them off in the first drive. Ditto the expensive borium tipped nails.
We’ve tried boots and I’m afraid I’m just not capable of using them properly. I’ve never been happy with the fit.
So for now it’s steel shoes and studs when needed. And so far so good on turnout. The only time my horses are stalled is at feeding time, and this is specifically so that they don’t waste energy and run risks by squabbling over food. They have free choice hay in the paddock and that also keeps the squabbling to a minimum, as they’re never really hungry.
As for the OP – I know her and she has a lovely, well-managed facility with horses to whom she devotes herself. She is a longtime horsewoman who has hands-on clinic experience with heavy horse driving. The route she proposes to drive is beautiful and not terribly challenging. She has nursed her Percheron gelding back to health and I am confident that they have a great future ahead of them, giving visitors a new and memorable experience. I know she will appreciate the help and support available on this board.
[QUOTE=NoBSshoer;4677687]
You should be[/QUOTE]
Why? Because I don’t agree with YOU? Everybody has opinions. There is no ONE right way when it comes to horse care. It all boils down to what is best for me and my horses. What is best in YOUR opinion might not be what works best for ME in MY situation. Anyone who thinks they have all the answers is closed minded and unable to learn anymore. At 49 years old I am still learning and willing to listen…when I’m not being mocked and attacked. I’ve already done the steel shoe nailed to the hoof route and found that MY horses are happier and more comfortable barefoot. 'nuff said.
[QUOTE=GiddyapGirl;4676053]
If you insist on shoeing do it right and again, go for steel shoes and use a blacksmith that is experienced in shoeing heavy horses. This particular kind of shoeing is an art and SHOULD BE DONE HOT WITH HAND MADES. Shouldn’t be a problem for a blacksmith that knows what he is doing. If he doesn’t have a forge in his shoeing rig I personally wouldn’t use him.[/QUOTE]
Hand made shoes???
Will Lent and his wife are good friend of mine, he once told me that when he was learning to make draft horse shoes, his teacher set him in front of a ton of bar metal (I think it was bar metal). He made shoes for a month straight. After a month, the old farrier teacher came in, picked out about four pair and said the Will should melt all the others and start over. It is almost a lost skill and takes more than the portable forges found on the backs of most farrier’s trucks. Will’s blacksmithing factory has presses, etc that are over 100 years old, and he won’t even let competitor’s view some of his equipment as he feels they are trade secrets. Learning to make shoes from scratch is extremely difficult and the tools needed are NOT off the shelf and really can’t hardly even be made.
I have eleven drafts and we have NEVER made our shoes. Pre-made from reputable dealers and then often they need to be heated and bent. But there are so many options/brands for draft shoes, that one can put your draft’s foot on paper, make an outline and then go down to your local farrier supply or fax the drawing to an online shop and get the one that fits best! If you rely on your farrier, they will use what they have on the truck and most likely will need a forge to fit.
Back to another subject: I have a hard time believing that there are even farriers out there that don’t own a forge! However, if your farrier doesn’t carry a forge, they cost around $300 for a baby whisper forge and then your farrier won’t have an excuse. But the OP doesn’t want shoes, and should have changed the title of this thread long ago.
If you do a lot of street driving, shoes are a must (unless those boots that choco-mare suggests hold up). We have tried this, that and the other boots for our one of our problem horses and they fall off, break or rub within a very short time. A waste of money!
Until you use a draft on asphalt or even gravel roads and literally watch their feet get shorter and shorter with each day, until they are lame, you can kid yourself that barefoot works for the draft horse in real work (not what most people actually do with their drafts B.T.W). If you get to that point, the rubber soled shoes that have a half inch to an inch of rubber ARE safe for kickers. A kick with those on is probably less harmful than with barefeet. I have even used them once on a broodmare who needed shoes (sand crack) and had a foal at her side.
But I do feel that the OP, with the title having the word “shoes”, was being misleading and probably on purpose. Since she/he didn’t mention until multiple posts in that she/he would NEVER shoe a horse! HUH?!?!? It seemed a rather aggressive way to draw everyone into conflict about barefoot.
Yes, 80% of my horses are barefoot and I love barefoot but for those animals that work on roads or even heavy ring work, shoes are a MUST!
Jill, OP is a new poster to COTH and didn’t know how testy we all can be on certain subjects! She put “shoes” in quotes in the title and probably thought that would be enough of a clue that shoes were in her mind but might not be the answer.
I know she will appreciate your experience and input – if she hasn’t been scared off the board by the sound of a COTH trainwreck gathering steam! :lol:
