This message is from: Mary Thurman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
--- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > I used to use Professional choice boots on my pair > in marathon, but I no > longer use boots except bell boots. We have not used splint boots or bell boots on our geldings, who are being trained Western. I know most people use either one or the other - or both - but ours do not seem to have any problems with stepping on themselves. They began their training barefoot, and did step on themselves a few times early on. It almost seems as if they learned to be more careful where they put their feet once they 'whacked' themselves a couple of times. Now, if I were competing in reining or cutting and asking my horse to 'turn around' fast or learn a sliding stop, etc., I would definitely protect his feet and legs during training simply because he might hurt himself in the process of figuring out how to handle himself in maneuvers at speed. However, once he learned the maneuvers wouldn't it be natural to expect him to be able to do them without hurting himself? I never used any kind of leg protection on my barrel racer/pole bending horse when I was younger. She was not what one would call "well put together", but she still never stepped on herself or interfered with herself causing injury to her legs. Could it be we're producing horses who "can't" keep from stepping on themselves simply because we protect them so much that they don't know 'how to' because they don't "have to"? Just a thought. I do realize that some sports require leg protection for the horse because of the nature of the sport - because of the extreme exposure to objects(jumps, etc.) which might cause injury. It's the same thing as human athletes in 'extreme' sports wearing protective gear. Mary ===== Mary Thurman Raintree Farms [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send online invitations with Yahoo! Invites. http://invites.yahoo.com
