But this guy posted this morning, and I thought I'd pose it to you gaited folk. I'm Washington Bay, as you might guess, and I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn last night. ;~)
08-01-2006, 08:31 AM
I have a 4 yr old Tennessee Walker mare and this is her first year of trail riding. She is somewhat a cronic stumbler but is improving with time and training. One thing I have noticed that when her 6 week farrier apointment is due and there is some length to the foot-toe she completely quits stumbling and is much more sure footed. I have noticed right after a new set of shoes and shorter toe she stumbles more and catches the front of the toe. Why would a longer toe make a more sure-footed horse and less stumbling?.... I have always been led to think this is wrong and longer toes are bad and the main cause of stumbling and tripping? This is her 4th set of shoes and every time towards the end of the shoeing cycle the tripping goes away. Thanks ahead for any info on this. Regards, Mike Thompson08-01-2006, 09:10 AM
I'm not a farrier, just a horse owner... and my instincts would be the same as yours, I'd think they'd catch a toe more often when they are long.
~But~gaited horse show people put big blocks and appliances on feet to get them to lift their feet higher. In a sense, The horse over-reacts to the weight and their movement becomes exxagerated.
Least, that's what occurs to me. Perhaps there is something about long toes that works better when a horses is gaiting.
