>>>> If your horses were shod with winter shoes they would be fine - a bit >>>> like the difference between driving a car in summer tyres or with >>>> studded winter tyres. I don't think there's any problem with riding in >>>> icy conditions providing you are well prepared for them.
Think about that for a minute. These horses RACE on ice at these barbaric events with riders on their backs, affecting their balance, and with weighted boots with the same amount of horrific rein contact as in the big shows. They aren't even free to pick their speeds or to use their bodies as needed to find their own balance. When most of us drive on ice, we only drive to work or to run necessary errands and we drive with caution, adhering to the speed limit, or even driving under the limit. You don't see the Daytona 500 being run on ice... Karen Thomas, NC
