Shoes

[Nicole]

Ok, I'm a complete dummy, but what shoes do you guys recomend for eventers? I'm pretty sure that racers get light alluminum shoes with studs during slop, and that eventers need studs at least for cross country, but other than that, I'm not sure what shoes to put on my eventers, please help da clueless one

[Maya]

I'd recommend a standard keg shoe, with stud holes drilled so that you can change the studs according to the ground conditions and phase.... like stadium in sand would require different studs than stadium on grass. And wet grass is different from dry grass. etc.

[dana]

Yeah, standard shoes with studholes are offered at Two Keys-Horizon Farrier www.freewebs.com/bitsthfs

[Nicole]

Thanks guys! I'll get all of my ferrier stuff done probably when I get home from school Thanks again!!

[Nicole]

One more thing, does it matter if horses only have shoes on their front hooves say for racing or eventing? Or would it better for all four hooves to be shod?

[Maya]

For a racehorse, I'd recommend shoes on all 4 feet
For eventers, I wouldn't generally (in RL) put back shoes on unless the horse is going prelim or above. I had a training level horse go in 4 shoes once, but he was quite old and needed all the traction and balance help he could get >.< lol. I think he was the only horse I had front shoes on going pre training, too... all the others I've competed below training level went barefoot.
It's kinf oa judgement call, based on the individual horse's foot condition, how fast he grows hoof, etc. Also, i fyou're competing on really hard ground, you'll want shoes. Or, if it's really slippy or muddy, you want shoes so you can use corks.
Some people will have horses shod all the time, but I personally prefer not to shoe unless I have to... generally, my horses start out barefoot, and don't get shod until they need it... better for their feet, imo.

[Nicole]

Sounds good to me, I think I'll only shoe my racehorses, I only have one eventer over training level, so he's the only one needing shod there.... That's what I've done for Peanut in RL, and for my own preferences, like barefoot compared to shod. Thanks for your help Maya