--- djakni1 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> I just read an ad on dreamhorse.com for an Icelandic mare that had
> good
> feet that did not need shoes and only required trimming every 4-6
> months.
>
> Is the terrain so rough out west that feet wear down on their own?
Our terrain is so rough here that without shoes the hoof wall can not
grow faster than the wear. We have tried barefoot. Can not do it on
our terrain. Would love for Pete Ramey to bring one of his horses
out here for a try....he would either succeed, and we would learn
something, or he would learn that sometimes shoes are a neccesary
evil, as some people have said.
We just pulled shoes off our gelding yesteresday, paper thin after 4
weeks...really thin, we were even surprised the guy must move around
a lot out in the pasture.....
Good feet.
Hard hooves, nice deep cup, healthy frog, good growth, tough
sole...these are things I consider to be good...
Terrain and climate also have a role to play in the health of the
hoof. Dry desert, usually good. Rain forest and damp, harder to
keep healthy....
Skye
~~~~Fire Island Farms~~~~
Breeding Quality Icelandic Trail Horses
Certified Farrier Services
'Natural Balance' Shoeing and Trimming.
Founder, Navicular options for your horse.
808-640-6080
