Beyond the Horseshoe
Read all about how Olympic dressage horse, Ravel, and score of other horses in Steffen and Shannon Peter's care are now barefoot. For free!
Sorry I haven't written much lately, for once in my life horses aren't at the forefront of my mind. The Quarters are doing well, though they aren't doing much more than eat hay while we wait for this arctic blast to blow by. There are some things I want to write about, I'll try to muster up the energy to do that sometime soon. Until then take care and stay warm!
I actually have the magazine sitting next to me. I'll be sure to read the article soon. Stay warm!
ReplyDeleteTrying hard on the warm front, this new heater I've been dragging around with me hasn't quite kept up with the new demands ;)
DeleteBoy isn't that the truth about not all trimming being equal. Glad to hear about Dee, did he bring her heels down any?
ReplyDeleteAbout your first comment, remember when Totilas got heart bar shoes? I still think part of why they did that was to add weight to make him pick his feet up higher.
Posting about this article has been on my "to do" list with about a million other things. I am glad that you found a link for all to read and enjoy.
ReplyDeleteI thought the article was very balanced and carefully written so as not to seem biased. I was just a little disappointed when I read that Ravel had aluminum shoes put on for the Olympic games (and pulled afterward). Why not just leave them off?
I'll hazard a few guesses: because he'd always competed with shoes and they didn't want to experiment with barefoot at the Olympics, maybe the footing around the facilities weren't friendly to a horse still in transition, or because it's the Olympics and shoes are expected and they didn't want to cause a controversy?
DeleteI do think we will see a barefoot dressage horse in the Olympics, probably not in the next games but it will happen. Though I doubt we'll see it with the stadium jumpers or eventers.
There were rumors at the time of the heart bars that he had foundered...
ReplyDeleteYes, I'd heard that too- that is the typical use for heart bars (though they're worthless for that, and lets not talk about how a horse that valuable could have been allowed to progress from laminitis to founder). But they left them on for competition, when he should have been recovered from the founder (because why would they compete with a foundered horse?). That's what makes me suspicious.
ReplyDeleteI too understood that Ravel's barefoot time was temporary, but was happy to read that Steffan changed his opinion about sport horses continuing in full training while being barefoot.
ReplyDeleteVery nice to see high profile, well respected trainers (and Dressage Today) promoting different ideas about shoeing vs not.
Exactly, it's progress :)
DeleteI wondered what if anything was being covered up. His lucrative breeding career was in full swing, had his new rider and wasn't competing very much... It seemed suspicious to me too.
ReplyDeleteI will have to read the article later it sounds like it could be interesting :)
ReplyDeleteIt's a good read, not too long or too difficult. I wish they hadn't let Pete Ramey go on so long about boots but that's just me being picky ;)
DeleteThanks for the link! I've been part of the discussion over on COTH, but haven't read the article. Glad I'll be able to actually see it for myself now. :-)
ReplyDeleteMy trimmer started working with a GP dressage rider a few months ago. She pulled his main competition horse's shoes and the horse has been moving better than ever--so well that he had her pull his other horses' shoes as well. They'll be showing up in Wellington starting next month. I can't wait to go up and see them!
That's brilliant, she's been posting on the ABC hoofcare page, hopefully she'll post some pictures of these horses. My Dad lives right next to Wellington, if I weren't so darn big right now I'd try to come down and watch.
DeleteOn one hand I think it's great more success stories are coming out. On the other hand I think the article is just trying to stay PC in a forced manner. The editors must have thought about it a long time before dare to say it: Yes horses can actually walk on their own feet!!
ReplyDelete4 times it says: Not all horses can go without shoes. It should have said: Hey listen up everybody!! There are miljons and miljons of horses out there that can go barefoot. Why don't you just give it a try?
Consider the source: Even though we know that a sound, barefoot horse with a healthy hoof capsule moves better than a horse with shoes, dressage is about TRADITION and that tradition includes shoes.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to consider that barefoot has caught on the fastest in the endurance community, where riders do what works over what is traditional. If it's new and better, they'll do it. Whereas dressage riders are still struggling to accept helmets.
Personally I think it's ridiculous to shoe a horse that lives in a spotless barn and nearly always works in a well-manicured, soft arena. What are the shoes "protecting" the horse from there?
Shoes are protecting them from the effects of the life lived in bubble wrap!
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI am just finishing my dissertation for my equine science degree and I came across your Blog which is very interesting and relevant to my study. I was hoping that you may be able to point me in the direction of any interesting pieces of research/ articles or anecdotes on barefoot vs shoeing (or anything related to this). I would very much appreciate your help.
Thank you for your time. If you can help me please can you reply ASAP because my deadline is this week :P :) !
P.s I don't know anything about 'Blogger' so I do hope that I will receive email notification if you reply to me?!
Kind Regards,
Lucy.
Shoot me an email at radal16 (at) hotmail.com.
DeleteHello I only just saw the box that said 'notify me for follow up comments' so i have ticked it for this post :)
ReplyDelete