narrow shoulders

[Powder River Walker]

I haven't used a boot before but I know this if anyone that has a few head of horses and shoes them selves say they enjoy shoeing they are full of it. I do all of our trimming and shoeing when I have to put shoes on and it isn't the funnest part of owning a horse. I also learned that when you do it for a living having to deal with trash they don't put a big enough box to write in the doller amount on a check. I think of a horses foot as the foundation of my house, if the foundation is to small one of our wyoming winds will blow my house over. If it is to big my house wont fit on it. a foot has to fit the horse or it wont be good.

So at what age does a horses foot mature to its full potentioal.
PRW

[Cowboyvon]

I haven't ever used the easy boots but I think it was Mike that said it and it sure sounds like a good idea to have one with you in case you throw a show or something and you have a lot of miles to get back that's if your on a horse..

Here a couple of weeks ago I had one of my mules slip on some rock and go down. I've always put shoes on my mules because I was raised and taught if you ride in the rocks you put iron on there feet but I have a friend of mine that swears if you get those mules feet use to it you don't have to shoe them.. So I pulled the shoes and trimmed them up and have been riding them like that.. I have 2 mules I ride and if no one is going with me I'll rotate them... So far they have been ok and they do have alot more "grip" I'll see how it works out...

But then again I was looking at the size of their feet and thinking.... maybe I'll just start cutting or maybe reining on them cause there feet sure aren't very big..LOL

[pegleg]

Try some boots for the rocks there won't be any slipping and it builds confidence in your horse as well. I believe shoes are over used. in the plains there is very little rock and if a horse is run out without shoes and you bring it in give it a barefoot trim of three eights horn left, you are going to have to do a hell of lotta riding to cause problems. steel shoes used to be the best solution to the hoof wear issues. they"steel" don't stop splitting, bruising, spreading/constriction or deformation of other types."easy boots'however for me its the absolute traction and ease/price.