On Wed, Jan 10, 2007 at 10:07:09PM -0600, Wanda Lauscher wrote: > Anyway, I saw them putting what I think were screw-in caulks on the > horse's front feet when they unloaded the horses from the > trailers...but I didn't see them putting anything on the hind feet. > Is this common?
maybe it's like borium in the usa, which is commonly used just on the front feet (which are more weight-bearing). if a horse slips with a front foot it is likelier to fall than if it slips with a hind foot. also, the borium (being scratchy, which is the point) is more hazardous if one horse kicks another. > I can't imagine needing to ride a horse so bad that I'd risk injuring it. don't we always risk ourselves and our horses when we ride, no matter what precautions we take? stjarni slipped in a mud puddle once at the trot, and his rider (a beginner child, still learning to post) fell right up on his neck, causing him to fall to both knees, and propelling herself off. there wasn't a thing the leader could have done. in this case neither rider nor pony was hurt, and after a few walks around the ring they were back to practicing. but the risk is always there, which is why we have all those big signs up at barns saying so. i agree with *minimizing* risk -- which is why i am a complete control freak about helmets, borium in the winter, &c, and i quite agree with cancelling a sleigh ride if it's icy -- but it's not going to go entirely away. --vicka
