What makes a horse sure footed?

B

bluewhippet

Well-Known Member
Joined
23 February 2011
Messages
536
Visit site
Or whatever the technical term is...

My arab looks like he would be very safe on his hooves. He is 15 hh and fit and sound with neat looking hooves and he is fairly sensible and 9 years' old, but he really slides around on those nasty slippery private roads - you know, the ones that are not regularly resurfaced.

I am sure this is something to do with shoeing etc, but I have ridden him out with another horse (ISH, 16 hh) who didn't slip at all.

Is it about attitude or conformation?
 
Ask your farrier to put some road nails in his shoes next time he is shod. They have a hard centre which does not wear down as fast as the rest of the metal and provides a bit of grip. They cost very little. Even if you worked out why your horse slips I doubt you could do much about it as it might be length of stride or angle of descent of the hooves or something else. If your horse is sound I would not ask the farrier to alter the way he moves by changing the way he is shod. Arabs can have a very long stride for their size and it would be a shame to spoil his action.
 
Does he need shoes? That's not a barefoot rant, I am very much an "Arab person" and a lot of them are fine without shoes. I find a lot less slippage with barefoot horses and road work is excellent for conditioning their feet.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top