>BTW, I find it very ironic that so many of the "protective" boots used in >Icelandic showing have those steel frogs on the bottom side. There's simply >no way I can see those being protective - it would be way too easy for a >pebble or whatever to get stuck under one.... >
Oh dear. Yet again I find myself agreeing.... In the advertising for the boots with steel frogs, they say it's to prevent the boot slipping up the foot, and they are indeed very effective, not moving if properly fastened on. But a boot which weighs 280gm (the heaviest in use in competition) is used purely to manipulate gait - usually on a pacey horse, to bring the gait more towards a clear four beat tolt. The silly thing is, the heavier boots certainly DO work to clear up a pacey tolt - but only for a short while. The horse soon adjusts to the extra weight and becomes just as pacey (we're talking minutes). Or at least that's been my experience. Mic Mic (Michelle) Rushen ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Solva Icelandic Horses and DeMeulenkamp Sweet Itch Rugs: www.solva-icelandics.co.uk ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Si hoc legere scis nimium eruditionis habes"
