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Thread III: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1311311/posts |
Posted on 04/26/2004 12:06:41 PM PDT by HairOfTheDog
Free Republic has a lot of horse people that have found each other on other threads…. And since we all like to talk horses, how about a thread where it is not off-topic, but is THE topic?
A few of us thought it would be interesting and informative to have a chat thread where we can share ideas, ask for input from other horsemen, and talk about our riding and horse-keeping. We have a lot of different kinds of riders and horses, and a lot to share. We may not ~always~ have a lot of activity, but when we do, it will be fun. I will put a link to this thread on my profile page, so if you have something to say and can't find the thread in latest posts… look for it there and wake the thread up!
I will also develop a ping list for horse threads that are of interest. As FreeRepublic is a political site, our politics and other issues will probably blend in…. There are many issues for horsemen that touch politics… land use, animal rights/abuse cases that make the news…. Legislation that might affect horse owners.
I am hoping this thread will be a fun place to come and share stories, pictures, questions and chit-chat, unguided and unmoderated and that we come together here as friends. There are lots of ways of doing things and we all have our quirks, tricks and specialties that are neat to learn about.
And why no shoes? 65 dollars every 6 wks now and the darn things weren't staying on.
Well, welcome to the club! Since Becky gave up, I don't know anyone who gets away with not shoeing, and I was really watching and hoping for her. 6 weeks is too often, every 8 weeks should be a fine interval, and the shoes shouldn't ever come off unless there is something wrong. Is he is stepping on himself and pulling them off or do you know?
Well, they found a friendly enough place, if they're unhappy where they are, they'll be back!
I've always shoed every 6 wks. When I was riding the mare my shoer always complained that he couldn't get a reset out of the shoes my horse wore. I scheduled this time 8 wks. I'm riding more horses now not just one. So I'm hoping I can get 8 wks. Reba has had shoes on now for 6 wks, and I noticed yesterday, the toes are really wore and the nail heads are almost gone. The shoes are clanking. But I have been riding her alot. It seems to me in the last two weeks she has really, finally changed. Looks alot more fit. Kristy said the same thing today. I'm really hoping Stan notices, not just that she's lost weight but that she is really fit looking.
Becky
I think with Cindy riding relatively lightly 8 weeks would do fine. That's what mine are on, and I get a reset every other time.
I sure hope he does notice how good Reba looks, and that he keeps her that way? What's he going to do with her now?
Having REba has taught me a lot about conditioning one. 1. If their really fat and out of shape it will take 2 months to see a difference. 2. Horses can get sore:) riding everyday at the start. After she got her shoes I figured she could go as long as I could. NOT. I rode her 2 days in a row pretty hard and the third day she was obviously sore. At first I thought maybe she had a hot nail, but after watching her move around some,you could tell she was just muscle sore. So for an out of shape horse, you need to only ride about every other day for a while. She's good now. I've rode everyday this week 2 and 1/2 hours and doesn't seem to be fazing her. Most of the ride I'm makeing her climb good hills too. I found out today that he plans on "heeling" on her not heading. He thinks she's a bit fine in her legs too to be heading.
Becky
If he doesn't sale her, which I think he is trying to do, he'll turn her out agian in the winter and she'll be fat and out of shape again next spring. But hey, just means I might get to ride her again. When I talked to him today, he seemed more concerned that she rode good, rather then what kind of shape she was in. He sure makes me wonder if she hasn't done something when he was on her to make him nervous of her. So far for me she has been great. I could tell tho she could probably be stubbron if you let her, she'll switch her tail and go sidewise when I turn her away from home if she thinks it's time to go home:). I just press my spur and she goes right on. He said he didn't use spurs. I still think he was scared of her, I would just like to know why.
Becky
Would be curious too, could be she scared him. Well, I hope he appreciates your hard work in conditioning her right.
No, a slaughtered cat would not be good. :-(
That's what they look like when they get long and break off naturally.... they don't do it evenly. My pony will chave a chip or two like that especially if farrier is overdue. I am more concerned about the amount of hoof wall that has broken away in the second pic.
What did the farrier say?
Well the ferrier said he's seen a lot worse. He filed him. Still chipped areas. He didn't have them before he was shoed and while he was shoed. This just started when the shoes got loose and the nails cracked out. He said it's because it's so hot and dry here and even though his hoofs are very hard he's going to hit stuff and knock chips out. His last filing was June 24th. He's going to see how he does in six weeks. I also have to start putting 4 in 1 hoof treatment. Doesn't smell as bad but reminds me of the poxy I used to use when I was helping my dad build airplane wings when I was a kid:')
It wasn't the second but the third pic that worried me more... Not the chip I circled in green, that is a fairly normal wear and tear chip on a barefoot horse. But the missing hoof wall I pointed to in red. You aren't very far from soft tissue there.
He filed a lot off. How much time you think I have?
It's not a question of time, it's a question of vulnerability to lameness.... it's that his feet probably won't hold up well barefoot. It's pretty subtle sometimes to read pain in a horse. And because of your relative inexperience I am not sure you will recognize when his feet hurt or are bruised or a crack is too severe. Do you think you will? I don't know, I won't belabor it, but I don't think shoes are just a luxury you can opt out of on a riding horse.
Just my humble opinion of course :~D
Any other riding horses in the barn barefoot?
As for as if I would notice signs, well I watch him like a hawk. I mean who else would post pictures of their horses feet all over the internet?:') Through inexperience I might miss signs until acute though:'(
Cindy I didn't mean to insult your intent at all.... it just isn't that easy, and I wondered if you would be able to tell if he was sore. ecurbh wouldn't.
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