Hi Everyone... welll what a great, (almost perfect) Ride weekend we had. Interesting because this was to be a test weekend for the Equithane Acrylic shoe building compound, to C if we cud find something for hoof protection during rocky rides. It was also a "barefoot" test. Meanwhile Back at the Ranch is one of the more "rocky" rides in Texas. Repeating myself once more... two years ago I would have said u were crazy if U wud even suggest I run this course "barefoot"... in fact three of my horses won (tied) this race about 3 years ago & they had easy boots on over their shoes!!!
Well, the bad news is.. the Equithane did not last past about 10 Miles....
now the GOOD NEWS is, all four horses that started finished. Two started
with the equithan & lost it, the other two started barefoot & continued such
all day. We did not ez boot any of the four. I ended up winning (over some
fairly distinguished competitors) on a wonderful new horses of mine DJB
FoxFire. I haven't had him that long, but I don't think he's ever had a
shoe on in his life. I was blessed as he came to me already with great
feet.
Next, Mark finished 11th & 2nd Heavy wt. (tacking out at 260 or so), on his
Anglo DJB Ricadado (with really flat feet) some bruising, maybe a wee bit
sore, but I rode him today, 4 days later, about 20 miles & no problem. Next
was an appaloosa DJB Longtallsallyann, and a brand new paint mustang, DJB
Choctaw Traveling Man. Both started and finished (20th & 21st) barefoot.
No soreness at all. I've got some really nice pics of these horses during
competition if anyone is interested.
It just hits me as really interesting that these rocks wear off & down the
acrylic, they wear down & "off" shoes... yet... this evening I was having to
do a light "trim" job on all four horses as their feet are already a bit
long... its just amazing... a tiny bit of chipping on the hoof wall, but
nothing to speak of... I could have fixed it with an emery board. It brings
back the passages that Dr. Strasser keeps repeating in her book... the hoof
mechanism in a properly trimmed and treated "barefoot" takes care of the
foot & whatever it may go through.
I don't want to stir up too much on RideCamp about this... but I'm telling
you guys... its the most awesome discovery of my horse life. We now have 50
horses barefooted at our place. They are working and competing (in most
cases) that way. Due to me living in sand, I just can't condition for the
really awful rocks. You owe it to yourself and your horses to continue to
examine & look into this method of hoofcare. BTW... I'm 52 & doing the
majority of the trimming here with just a little help from Cowboy and a
couple of others... If I can do it... ANYBODY can... but u do need to go to
a Strasser Clinic ASAP.... read the books, study the web page & just
practice!!!
Really like sharing with all of you... let's fix those horses.. they'll live
longer & be happier.
Darolyn Butler-Dial & Mark Dial
CYPRESS TRAILS EQUESTRIAN CENTER & HORSEMAN VIDEO SHOWCASE
Proven Endurance Horses for Sale or Lease.
Adventure Trail Rides * Boarding * Training*Lessons *Parties
Represents: Sharon Saare Saddles, Professional Choice, Advanced Biological
Concepts, & KM (Human Electrolytes)
ADVOCATE :THE WHOLE HORSE TRIM (Barefootin")
21415 Cypresswood Dr. Humble, Texas 77338
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