My name is Red Sarah and I have no idea if I'm even doing this right ...never having entered a forum before! So I hope you can all give me some guidance. My reason for joining the forum is this: I have a gorgeous 8 yr old grey Arab gelding. He came to me never having worn shoes (barefoot). I have tried (and struggled with) keeping him barefoot but he came from a dry climate with sandy terrain. I live on Vancouver Island (very wet, extremely rocky) and I have had nothing but problems keeping him sound (abcesses, rock bruises, generally tender and "ouchy" on the severe stoney ground on which I have to ride him). The other thing is ...I ride a lot, not just now and then. Long story short, ...I have had to make a major decision I really didn't want to make ...to put steel shoes on him. I did so yesterday ...and he is like a different horse!!! Cannot believe the change ..he is stepping out proudly, full of confidence, TROTTING on rocks and seems to be totally tough and sound on rocks and gravel with his shoes. I would like some comments and opinions from others ...I feel I have done the right thing for my horse. The girl that sold him to me said "I will never forgive you if you put shoes on this horse". My feelings on this: I would rather she never forgave me than my horse did not forgive me for trying to address his constant on-and-off lameness!! Any comments please!?

I think you did the right thing. If He was sore without shoes due to the terrain then I would have done the same thing.

If He stays sound all is well. It's all about making Him and you have a more pleasureable experience together.

I am sure you will tell in the next couple weeks. And thanks for joining it is always nice to get new members. We are a "young" forum so to speak. But really, really, nice people.

Of Course I am the funniest. As you will tell from my jokes. And very humble to say the least

Welcome and hope you get some solid feedback. There are alot experienced and professional equine friends here.

Spud

Red,

First off, Welcome hope you enjoy this forum. It was not the first I joined but it is now the only one I am part of. Everyone here is very nice and extremely helpful.

Oh, I would have to say that Spud is the funny one.


You did the right thing. You have to do what is best for the horse at that time.

When we lived in Texas our horses never wore shoes. But then I moved back to Arizona and the horse (who were all bought it TX) had to deal with the "Rock" hard "HOT" ground that is not in the least forgiving they started coming up sore. Put shoes on the (Just fronts) and they have had no problems since.

Good Luck.

My thanks to you both for your comments. I did reply to you yesterday, Spud (a long one!!) but don't see it posted up on the forum so I don't know if I pressed a wrong button! Don't want you to think I am ignoring you! It's so great to get feedback from other horse people, especially when I have been beating myself up over this "to-shoe-or- not-to-shoe-issue". Took Sadhaka out again yesterday and noticed another change in him. He used to buck a lot going from trot to canter and I thought it was just natural exuberance (like "Woohoo! Let's go!") Now I am wondering if part of it was frustration on his part, because he wanted to go fast but his feet were hurting! Because yesterday when I put him into a run, he transitioned into it and stayed smooth the whole time. It's like having the shoes on have flattened him out, made him more balanced, smoother, springier, happier, more confident! It is such an amazing feeling. Spud, have you ever been to the Hells Canyon park (The Seven Devils Peaks) near Riggins in Idaho? I hiked and camped there about 10 yrs ago and there were all kinds of people with horses and mules riding up there. I'd LOVE to go back and revisit with my horse ...it's one of my dreams to do that one day!

So... since you're so funny, let's hear one of your jokes!?