Posted on 08/07/2007 7:33:14 AM PDT by HairOfTheDog
This is a horse chat thread where we 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, usually about our horses, sometimes about our dogs, gardens and other stuff we do. :~)
I have a ping list for horse threads that are of interest, and MissTargets will ping everyone most mornings. Let MissTargets and/or me know if you would like to be on the ping list.
So... like the previous threads, this is intended as fun place to come and share stories, pictures, questions and chit-chat, unguided and unmoderated and that we come together here as friends.
Previous threads:
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - thread ONE
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - Thread TWO!
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - Thread THREE!
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread FOUR
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread FIVE
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread SIX
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread SEVEN
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread EIGHT
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread NINE
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread TEN
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread 11
New folk and occasional posters, jump right in and introduce yourselves, tell us about your horses, and post pictures if you've got them!
Hey Tuffy, Beaker, where y’all been? How’s things going in your neck of the woods?
Tuffy, you still having good luck with Mina?
You’ve suddenly got a lot of riding horses! I hope you plan to ride a lot this summer!
Glad there was no fuss, even if there were no good pictures ;~)
Good morning. Might be nice here today, if so, I’ll work muh horse.
How could anyone NOT like Blade! He is so cute!
Anything interesting or enlightning?
Well, for a pacey horse you want a longer toe/heavier shoe on front, which we already knew, but you also want a very upright, short foot on the back. But something I didn't know was that a heeled shoe, and even borium on the back, will help to square them up. Something about not letting the foot slide as much reduces the overstride and thus the swinginess. Also allowing them to canter as much as possible helps, so long as they don't go into a fast hard pace in the up or down transition. Cantering gets them out of the lateral frame of the pace and into the diagonal frame that you want from the rack or running walk.
For a trotty horse you want a short, upright front foot with a lighter shoe and quick breakover, along with a longer toe and low heel on the back. The longer back toe on a slick shoe was preferable to a heavier heeled shoe because it encouraged them to slide forward with the back feet and overstride. A weighted shoe on the back makes them pick the back foot up higher and reduces the overstride and you don't want that.
So going by that, you might want to put some borium on Blade's back shoes the next time, along with the somewhat longer toe on the front that you've already been doing. Just don't let him leave it TOO long or he'll start tripping like Shane.
I ALWAYS plan to ride a lot in the summer! ;o)
I thought the borium would cause the hoof wall problems? I could see about a heeled shoe for the back. Blade has a pretty upright rear foot. He is already leaving his toe a little longer. I just have him back Jakes toe off a little. Wonder if I should have a heeled shoe on Jakes rear as well as the heavier shoe since he is so flat footed maybe that would help square him up some? He does have that swinginginess, I have noticed that about him.
So by putting the heavier show on Hope you really defeated your purpose?
SHOE
SHOE
Nah, I don’t think borium is really that rough on the hoof wall. I think that has more to do with diet and metabolism. Just look at all those Amish buggy horses up in Lawrenceburg. They’re pounding the pavement every day with borium shoes on and don’t seem to have any problems. Most of ‘em are lean-mean-trottin-machines without an ounce of fat on ‘em, so that’s probably the reason.
I’d give a heeled back shoe a go on Jake next time and see how it goes.
And as far as Hope goes, the extra weight definately squared her up. He just said she’d go better with slicks on the back instead of heels so that she’d slide under more. Next time I may go back to a St. Croix Eventer on the back for her instead of that custom shoe he made for her. The St. Croix is still fairly heavy, but it has no heels, so not only would it slide better but it would lower her toe angle to boot.
St Croix has a heeled aluminuim shoe too. That would be light in the rear (for Jake) but probably would not last long.
Good afternoon.
Frog, I’m sure Miss Whirl will turn out as well as all your horses do...the fact that you ride them is the key. Are you still planning on taking her to the ride this weekend?
Well, I got one room painted today...I was hoping for two, but, well, you can always think this stuff done faster then actually doing it...The ceiling crew should be here shortly, so I decided not to paint any more. Too much going on all at once.
Becky
Blade is cute:)
I wish you all lived closer around here to help with advise about shoeing. Charlie’s roper friend did come out here last week and commented that he was very impressed with Harley’s shoe job, and it takes alot to impress him. He said when he saw the horse before I changed farriers he told Charlie that the horse was destined for navicular because of the way he was being shod. He wasn’t surprised when I told him about all the troubles I had till I changed. I feel better about his feet now. Joe wouldn’t have said that if he didn’t believe it, and I think he’s pretty knowledgeable.
Becky
I’ve got to get moving here. I want to clear the outer fenceline of the scotch broom that has encroached in since last year.
It’s windy but not raining and I should do something.
I’m trying to convince myself to get started.
Might as well see if the weedwacker will even start. :~)
I need to cut it back to about the yellow line so I can run the mower around the perimeter.
Weather permitting, I may take Goose to the benefit ride on Saturday and Whirl on Sunday, when it’s just our group. Troy, the trainer, was going to be there on Saturday and I think he wanted to show Goose off, plus I don’t think he wanted Whirl there in case she didn’t do well and he’d feel like it was a reflection on him. So I guess I’ll humor him. ;o)
See if you can rent a gas-powered hedge trimmer. I’ve only ever used an electric one, but I’ll bet that would knock that stuff right out.
That’s what it needs. I nearly cut my finger off with an electric one. ;~)
I’m still lurking from time to time, thanks for asking! Mina is doing just fine but I haven’t been messing with the horses much. Still hanging on to them, though, hoping to get the gumption to ride again soon. Winnie looks so pretty this time of year, it’s when she’s really a golden palomino. She’ll bleach out by June.
Going to be gone all day today, got a funeral to attend out of town. My uncle passed after a long battle with alzheimer’s. He started showing symptoms pretty young, in his fifties, and by the time he was in his early to mid 60’s, his memory was gone. It was downhill from there. There is a really good documentary about Alzheimer’s, I believe it’s called “Losing It All” narrated by Rita Hayworth’s daughter. I highly recommend it, if you know anyone with Alzheimer’s or have a family history of it.
Well I’m glad to hear from you, but sorry to hear about your uncle. My mother just passed earlier this month. She had alzheimer’s too, but thankfully a stroke got her before it progressed very far. It’s a terrible disease and I sure hope they find a cure or treatment for it soon.
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