Mounted search and rescue

[Una Smith <una.smith@att.net>]

Those of you who require shoes or boots, I hope you ensure that the
riders who plan to use boots actually do use them now and then, and
know how to put them on and keep them on.  Eg, they know the boots
are the correct size.  The horse may wear different sizes in front
and behind.

I too have seen footing where barefoot horses do better than shod
horses:  particularly ice, snow, rocky creek beds, asphalt and
concrete.  In some areas a major hazard for shod horses is barbed
wire from old fences.  The wire is partly buried until stepped on,
whereupon it springs up out of the ground and has this amazing
power to snag on the heel of a horse's shoe.

Some New Mexico roads are "paved" with crushed gravel in the 2-4
inch size.  Being crushed, not river gravel, the stones have sharp
edges.  When fresh they can puncture a truck tire and easily break
huge nasty chips off a barefoot hoof.

So, there are advantages to both shoes and barefoot, and the ideal
seems to be barefoot and ready to use boots when needed.

        Una Smith
        New Mexico