Haflinger Footwear. On the hoof….
We plan more or less 15 miles pro day. The search for Haflinger footwear starts when we bought Aysha and Isabella. It is an important item on our journey. At the time we start driving with them they did not have any protection because the lived in a hurdle. Rarely traveling at rough surface. The amount of miles we travel is on great effect of their hoofs. They need either iron protection or rubber horseshoes. We figure that it is not always that easy to find a blacksmith on our way.
That’s why we search for a combination and alternative. We found this in a method called: “natural hoof care and barefoot riding”. In this method, you learn all about riding barefoot. Based on believe that wildlife horses never visit any blacksmith. Naturally, the road surfaces today are not to compare with the wide open sandy steppe in the old days. We want to give it a try. We have to monetize the hoofs everyday. Look out for damages and injuries. Examples To show you some examples how good solid hoofs look like with no need for Haflinger shoe:These pictures are made after 155 mile bare feet.
Rubber horsshoe When the horn wears out to much we use other good alternatives, Haflinger footwear: a rubber horse shoe. (When approximately two third of the sole touch the hard surface its time for rubber shoes). Before using them, we trained with it several miles. Seems to work properly.
Custom made In the first three months, everything works out well. The hoofs are solid and they have both strong smooth horn. The nail is short but steady. Then Aysha, the 12 year old mare starts to walk prudently. A sign for us to start with the rubber shoes. These shoes are custom made for each individual horse. Fits like hand gloves. We thought.
Wounds The problems start immediately. Riding at full trot makes the shoes turning around the hoofs. The security clip makes a wound just above the hoof edge. Both of the horses get injured. Then we loose one shoe on a busy road. Luckily we find it back. Protection Next time we use the rubber shoes we put little peaces of fur in to it. Just to protect the delicate skin on their heels. It does now work. Then we tried socks to cover the whole foot and leg when using the Haflinger footwear. Does not work. It helps a bit avoiding the shoes from turning but that’s all. We become in deep trouble. The hoofs are becoming to short. The shoes don’t the work they made fore. We cannot drive anymore. The decision is clear. When we want to travel, the horses need iron protection. It is a big disappointment.
No Barefoot We are big lovers of robust horse keeping and hoped we cover the hoof protection with rubber horseshoes. In the flat rural areas in Holland it was perfect. The mountains in Germany with this carriage take too much from the horse’s hoofs. John
End of Haflinger Footwear back to travel with a horse End of Haflinger Footwear back to Homepage
|
