[drivingpairs] barefoot or not

In a message dated 1/9/2004 11:25:08 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
ecartis@xxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
> My Fjord pair is young, now with =
> perfect
> bare feet, and I plan on helping them stay sound so they can be healthy
> enough to haul me on my last drive to the old folk's home many years =
> from
> now.

I would just go along and keep them that way, and while doing so, observe 
carefully how the feet are holding up. As long as the feet are fine, I would 
not 
see any need for change.

My competitive pair is 10 now. When we got them as 3 year olds, they were 
barefoot. We started competitive training and soon needed to put shoes on the 
front, but kept them barefoot behind. We only put shoes on behind when going to 
the Eastcoast as well as Calgary to compete where we would not know beforehand 
what conditions we would meet, and then also had holes drilled to be able to 
put studs in if needed. After each trip at home we would pull the hind shoes 
again. We would also turn them out once a year for about a month and then also 
pull the front shoes.  They would brake off some, but we would rasp that and it 
would grow out again.  A little over a year ago, after bringing them back 
home from 4 weeks turn-out, we left the front shoes off, and thought to do so 
for 
a while to see on how long we could go barefoot, expecting to have to put the 
shoes back on after a few weeks. They are still barefoot. But we watch it 
closely and take care of the feet. I rasp when I see any edges breaking off 
etc.  
So it works for us, but of course it also always depends on various factors: 
What kind of feet do they have, what kind of ground do you drive on, how 
often, how much, etc etc.   So I certainly don't advocate to go barefoot for 
every 
case, but where possible, why not? Watching it closely and taking care of the 
feet I think is the key.  Fortunately our farrier is also a vet, and it was he 
who actually recommended it. So when in doubt, I ask him to take a look 
again, and so far, he has said, keep the shoes off, you are doing great. We did 
a 
few CDE's this year without problems, although I was a bit worried before going 
to compete at the Arizona CDE last spring, as there we usually have some 
marathon stretches on rocky gravel roads. But I was prepared to pull over and 
withdraw if I would see them starting to get ouchy on it. But they weren't and 
all 
worked well.  Their feet are looking good, the heels are spread out, the frog 
is healthy, and, last but not least, we save some money.  So, it seems to 
work here. But again, each situation is different, and with others that might 
not 
work.  But with that young Fjord pair, sure, why not try to go along and see 
how it goes, and only put shoes on, when the need arises. And if in doubt, ask 
your vet to take a look how the feet are holding up.
Just my opinion. Happy New Year to all. Just back home from some weeks in 
Europe.
Hardy (neither a vet nor a farrier)


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