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I do not disagree with you in theory, however experience lies where it is found. Many people were raised in contact with horses their whole life. I however was not, so almost everything has been a learning experience. Sure I could have grabbed a rasp and went aboard Cody's feet, and "learned" how to do the job. But I chose to have a pro do it rather than have the horse pay for my learning. Just because a pro "makes" it look easy, doesn't mean it is easy. I recently read a book by Pete Ramey on the subject of bare foot mustang trimming, once again his explanations, illustrations and demonstrations, all make it look easy. But you walk out there and pick up the hoof of a 1000# horse and all that confidence seems to evaporate. Cody will remain bare foot, I do not believe he needs shoes, even the farriers recommend that a horse remain barefoot, unless they have a specific reason to be shod.
As I have learned recently, we ask horses to do things that they would not be doing in the wild. Carry weight, limit their movements, feed them things that they wouldn't eat in the wild. Because of this, some need to be shod, some need a grain ration, and all kinds of other things. So before any one can make a blanket statement that is interpreted as "good for all horses" much has to be taken into account. What is good for the individual horse in your pasture, may be deadly to the horse in my pasture.
The world is full of "my uncle"--- "my brother"--- " my cousin" --- stories, I guess I simply can't compete with'em.
Cody showed up Jan. 8. At that time I had limited or no pasture under secure fencing. After a crash fence building program Cody now has range over 4 acres of field. His paddocks are cross fenced each with water, so I can graze him rotationaly. Currently he has about 1 1/2 acres around the clock, and in daylight hours he is turned out to another 2 acres. The additional 2 acres is fenced to the east by electric wire only, so he is not allowed to range in that pasture until the fence is checked each morning. The electric fence is backed up by a barbed wire fence of low quality, so I choose not to trust it.
Cody seems to be thriving, he is most deffinitely gaining weight and will shortly have his "grain" ration cut, also when the beet shreds run out I will probably let that go. Only because he will have very good grass with very little grazing pressure on that grass.
On another note: We have the Clinton Anderson DVDs and have started training Cody using the info and suggestions contained there. The sinsitivity stuff, stick and string, rope, the ground work all seem to be going very well. With the exception that he has difficulty staining out of my Hoola-Hoop circle.
Cody is also shedding his winter coat, I got hair flying everywhere.
