Posted on 06/01/2006 6:30:15 AM PDT by gate2wire
It seems that Bob and John and Sweetnorthernsaint have been circling one another all spring, but only once have their paths crossed, and neither had much to show for it. Both disappointed in the Kentucky Derby, but then Sweetnorthernsaint went on to the Preakness Stakes, while Bob and John returned to California to await the final leg of the Triple Crown, the June 10 Belmont Stakes. On Wednesday, they continued on divergent paths. Sweetnorthernsaint was officially removed from consideration for the Belmont, meaning no 3-year-old will compete in all three legs of the Triple Crown this year. Bob and John, however, signaled his readiness for the 1 1/2-mile Belmont with a swift, best-of-the-morning drill at Santa Anita.
(Excerpt) Read more at drf.com ...
Surely they can't race with a shoe set back like that, can they?
What do you mean?
I was there and still haven't seen the race.
This is true, SNS placed.
I was thinking more on the lines of his local Maryland affiliations rather than win or place.
IIRC, SNS is a big Laurel and Pimlico horse. Even 2nd is impressive.
I have to confess that my betting strategy was *against* Barbaro, so my interest didn't decline all that much.
Still, it was sickening.
You mentioned a simularity between a new trend/fad and the setback on this shoe. It looks like a sort of over hang at the back of the hoof.
But if you scan to the bottom of this page (here), you'll see that the Natural Balance trim and shoe does set the shoe noticably to the rear... really, it makes sense. It's in the position forward the breakover would be in if not for the added thickness of the shoe.
Ah - you mean won't he be more prone to stepping on the shoe with his other foot... Well, he's less likely to step on the back of a rear foot than a front, but I suppose he could if he were doing a lot of turning and pivoting on it.
I don't think it'll be an issue as long as he's just handwalking and the other leg is casted.
"The current 'trend' or 'fad' in horse shoeing is a shoe that is set that far back, that it eases the breakover to the next stride by allowing the toe to roll forward sooner."
Got you. When you mentioned "breakover to the next stride", I got a little confused.
Heck, I'm just a handicapper, what in the world do I know about shoes? :-)
I'll have to beef up on those Timeform numbers.
Still he tentatively looks speedy. New trainer...hmmmmm. New to dirt. New to the USA. Jerkens likes him (that's *very* interesting), and he showed at Belmont on a middling jockey.
Yep, OSA deserves a closer look.
I could swear that I saw that Belmont MatchHatch on HRTV, the name Oh So Awesome is very familiar.
Well, by 'breakover', I mean it enables the horse, when his foot is at the furthest point back in the stride, to 'breakover' and bring the foot forward. Heel pain is a weak link for many horses and soundness, and the NB method eases strain on the heel.
But if we go much deeper than that, I'm over my head in farriery science. The other ladies I pinged are using NB shoes, and could better answer.
My anatomy is nothing like a horse, but I did develop a right knee injury several weeks ago, and I notice that to keep the weight off that knee while standing I'll shift a lot of it over to the left.
I don't have any idea how a horse does it, but I'll also stiffen (straighten) up the left knee which does tend to redistribute weight to the heel rather than the ball of the foot.
Just guessing that this shoe is intended to compensate for whatever a horse does with weight distribution.
I think that's exactly what it does.
And adding that little bit if height so he's even with the other side is more important than we might think, standing with legs at two different lengths would lead to pains in all kinds of places.
Off to the track.
Thanks for joining in the thread.
See ya.
It is back:)
I've read down thru most of the thread. It does appear, IMHO:), they are trying to get the pressure off his toe, and too, leaving that much shoe hanging out the back will keep that foot on the ground longer. He may need that to help keep him on his feet if he is short striding on the other, which I would think he would be with the cast.
But then again, I may not know a thing about what I'm talking about:)
I saw a horse one time that was suffering from an abcess in a front foot. He carried his weight so long on his other foot that he developed ring bone in it. Maybe that is a concern too.
Becky
This horse is not going to be racing again, so that is not the concern with him.
Becky
Good luck.
Wish they'd put Pimlico on Tradesports.
Maybe I'll poke around for another service.
For some reason the numbers 31 and 2:24:00 just keep popping into my head when I hear that name.
I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn last night either, did you? :~)
I know. That was not my question.
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