>>>> With the borium or studs (ice nails) on the shoes, the legs are unable >>>> to slide into place as they normally do. The hoof is grabbed by the >>>> ground, and torque goes up the leg. This is not the best thing for a >>>> breed that has spavin and cow hock problems.
Heck, I have Icelandic's who don't have cow hocks and you won't see me racing them on ice - even if I lived in a colder area. I want my horses to stay sound and healthy for a LONG time. And, we might remind people...MOST of the bone spavin cases I've heard of in the USA have been in imported horses. I only remember hearing of one domestic horse who has bone spavin, and he is an active athlete in non-show-type sports. (There could easily be more horses affected, but I don't believe the spavin rate is nearly as high in domestics...) We've talked about why the incidence seems higher in horses from Iceland before, and I don't think any of us know why - poor nutrition in their early years, or too much rough training under saddle...or both...? A lot of sports (reining, dressage, etc.) have SOME risk of arthritis, but it's just downright inane from my perspective to do a garish type event like this with no respect for the long-term (or short-term) health of the horses - there's no possible benefit from this, other than it being a form of brutish entertainment. I have a training video made by some Icelander trainer (I can't remember which one right now) that clearly shows him starting young horses at speed on an icy lake. He had no clue how primitive that seems to people who know better. No, I won't be training Runa or any of my other horses that way - even if I am considered to ride "incorrectly." Karen Thomas, NC
