12/19/2024
Can we really say it’s poorly shod?
The heels are contracted. The frog is narrow, thin, thrushy, and elongated. The heels bulb shape suggest the digital cushion is under developed. But is it poorly shod? How would you know from this view alone?
I’m curious to hear your thoughts.
It’s too easy to make judgments and jump to conclusions based off of one photo. There is always more to the story than what one photo could possibly convey.
Can we pause and ask a few more questions before jumping to conclusions?
I’m for building community and building bridges. Creating division by making posts that illicit some sort of emotional response based on a fixed belief system is not my jam.
I think as human beings we want things to fit neatly into a box, black or white. Life is just not that simple.
Of course, we know that metal shoes alter the function of the hoof but so does any other prosthetic device attached to the hoof, including boots.
Of course our creator made the horse functional and perfect as it is. Barefoot has the potential to be the Golden standard. But with human interventions and domestication, we have altered that. Injuries and compensation patterns have shifted the definition of ideal too.
Just like any athlete, pushing the limits of their sport they seek the tools to help them have that competitive edge, to be comfortable and function as well as possible, given the circumstances, then why do we demand that horses, who are also athletes, being asked to do unnatural things be asked to do it naturally barefoot?
I’m not saying that shoeing is the right answer nor am I saying that barefoot is the right answer.
I’m saying that the answer lies within as many factors considered for each horse and that the realm of possibilities is vast.
There is no one right answer or Ideal that is right for every single horse.
I think in order for our community to start coming together we need to start understanding that there are many roads to Rome and try to understand all the possibilities and factors for each horse. Only with more information and education and understanding, can we start to make decisions about trimming and shoeing that will actually serve the horse and bring us all together.
