Mounted search and rescue

[emboote@aol.com]

When you talk to your vet or ferrier, tell them the kind of work your horse needs to do and that makes a difference in what they recommend is best for you and your horse. 

I need to be ready for urban security and rural field searches, plus any weather conditions...ice and snow season is approaching, so I use snow pads in the winter to keep snowballs from forming, plus shoes with borium studs. In the summer, I put shoes on them because we're frequently in the mountains with sharp rocks and stones and I've learned from past experience, to protect them so they don't get bruised. I've tried shoeless but with the amount of daily riding we do, the hoofs were wearing down too fast on the city patrols because of the asphalt and cement we work on. With a herd of six, there are differences in what works best for each. I've just learned over the years that while the hoofs vary from horse to horse, the factor that makes the difference is what kind of work they're expected to do. I don't want a barefoot horse stepping on something downtown that can cause an injury. They're pretty good at letting me know if they don't want to step somewhere. My mustang would go up the trails in the Black Hills and not step on a single rock when he was barefoot. He tends to be flat. With shoes, he's not as concerned. 

How's the new MSAR group doing down there in Georgia, Steve? 

Emily

-----Original Message-----
From: Steve de Lyra <stevd@windstream.net>
To: msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org
Sent: Sat, Nov 28, 2009 8:03 am
Subject: [MSAR] Horses hooves

Very interesting discussion about saddles.  But here is a question which will make that discussion seem tame.

 

Shoes, barefoot or boots - that is the question.?

 

I have contacted my e-mail server to increase my capacity, so let 'em rip.

 

As I have told my vet, my desire is simple - to do what is best for my horse.  Unfortunately, the answer is not simple and many intelligent folks who know and love horses will have vastly divergent views.  None - I have found - more than the barefoot vs. shoes question.

 

Ride well and stay in the saddle - whichever saddle you choose.

 

Thanks to all of you for what you do in your communities.

 

Sincerely,

Steve

 

Stephen J. de Lyra
Telephone:    +1 706 216 0081
Fax:               +1 706 216 0082
Mobile:          +1 678 677 2907
e-mail:           stevd@windstream.net

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