b'Running the RaceWHAT KIND OF TREAD DO YOU HAVE?By Betsy Nunnhowfastdouwannab@gmail.com, facebook.com/Willnunnp3, youtube.com/user/howfastdouwannabI s the ground really that bad?shoe which can help with the angles of your horse and quite Does my horse need morepossibly keep you horse sounder longer.traction? Barrel racers always get made fun of because they areA horse that doesnt have trouble behind in the ground may always complaining about theget along with a St. Croix Lite plain shoe. NOT a big fat ground. Is it always the ground or is there anything we canwide flat shoe. The St. Croix is a skinnier type flat shoe. do as horsemen to educate ourselves to what kind of tread we have on our horse as compared to how that particularSome folks love to run their horse barefoot behind. My dad horse works? My dad, Jeff Lemaire, shod horses for a livingalways said that a horse that is barefoot has more traction and so does my husband Will Nunn. We have had manythan one with shoes. There was a big fad to run them conversations about what a certain horse needs on their feetbarefoot all the way around for quite a few years. Great if to succeed. Most gals that I walk up to and ask usually dontyou can do it but not all horses can get along without shoes have the foggiest idea what their horse has on its feet. when they are athletes. This is an important subject barrel racers need to learnI see horses that are packing their feet high and hitting and gather more knowledge about in my opinion. I am notthe ground hard. It may be that the shoes in front are too saying to tell your shoer how to do his job but for sure haveheavy. We have to think about these horses like the athletes a visit about whether you want rims all the way aroundthey are and shoe them accordingly. There are times whento have enough traction to run in there confident that or just in front. When I say rims I dont mean big fat wideI have someone show up for a lesson and they have flatthe ground is going to hold them at these rodeos. At the eventers. Those can get you lying flat on your side in aslider looking shoes on the front and behind. Talk about ajackpots, a guy can sometimes get away without traction as hurry. My dad used to just shake his head watching theserecipe for destruction! But heres the thing, we cant blamethe ground is usually better. You dont ever want to take a girls back in the day. Their horses had heck in the ground.the shoer. We as the owner/athlete need to be educatedhorses confidence away unnecessarily by ending up on the He knew who shod for them and his take on it was, "Thatenough to pay attention and know what kind of shoes theyground. A horse can be very well-shod and still have some guy puts eventers on everything because they are easy toare putting on and why? Most guys will gladly visit withtrouble on the ground so why not try to take out some of shape but a horse will dang sure pancake with those on.you about it but I guarantee you if your guy doesnt knowthe variables of this game?With that being said, a person needs to understand how aand/or your horse gets hurt its going to hit you in your horse works. Are they a four-wheel drive type? Are they apocketbook even more.There truly are so many options these days to help these butt dragger? Do they have trouble slipping a leg behind?horses. I could go on for days but for today I wanted to visit Do they have too much slide behind?Also, the fact that a lot of our ground in Arizona is calicheabout the tread. Shoeing is so important in our world. Its makes a horse have to use fancy footwork to stand upimportant to keep them sound and its important to keep St. Croix Lite Rim is a shoe that has stood the test of timesometimes. We have lots of old farm ground here.Its athem underneath you and not on your side. I am spoiled in the barrel world. These have been great shoes for horsesvery fast ground if prepped right but a horse needs to beas I have always had such great help with my dad shoeing behind that need some traction. A guy sometimes wantsshod for it. I am not saying there are not many differentfor me my whole life until I met Will who took over that more of an edge to the front rim of a barrel horse in front.types of ground here but a lot of the time thats what wearea. Will admits that he has been through a huge learning For a horse that drags his fanny but needs some rim in theare dealing with. The horses that have won the worldcurve throughout the years. I am so thankful that Will and turn behind, if your shoer is handy in the forge may beatand made the NFR that are from our circuit through theI can talk about these things and help these horses. I truly the toes smooth so that the horse can slide in but have grabyears could basically stand up on an ice rink. Eleven-timebelieve no hoof- no horse. I am so glad my husband leaves in the turn. There are so many cool shoes out there that aworld champion Charmayne James was from Clayton,a ton of sole and is always concerned about the angle of a person can choose from but you have to be careful to knowNew Mexico and she had her horse shod with some veryhorse as far as how they travel and how they are made. Will how they work so you dont make them sore by putting toosticky rims all the way around. She would beat you inand I have had many horses of our own that have caused us much grab.any situation you threw at her. Thats just one exampleto scratch our heads. We worked hard to put together the of a jockey that knew enough to have her horse shod tobest functional package for the horse and also keep them The aluminum shoes are stickier than the steel but theywin. Just to agree with Charmaynes philosophy, our latestsound. Its sometimes a tricky deal where a person has to be wear out quicker. They are also nice because a horse thatposition on traction behind is that it is better to have thatpatient to see the transformation come together. Shoeing is isnt made the best and needs to wear his shoe to the outsidetraction and potentially need some vet work done behinda science. Many guys that have been doing it for years have or inside etc. can make himself more comfortable like heon some stifles of hocks than to risk having a horse fall ora ton of understanding.would if he were barefoot. They can also be used as a wedgeslip a leg so bad that it could ruin his career. They need If I could offer one last thing it would be to have a shady place in the summer, which is level and easy for your shoer to drag his box around. Be around to hold horses if need be. Call a vet to sedate them if you know your horse is bad to get around. They need to watch your horse at whatever gate they determine. Hopefully, they want to watch some current videos to see how your horse works. A great performance horse vet, the farrier and you can get together to determine the best plan for your horse. We highly recommend that. An x-ray is worth a thousand words as far as finding the true angle a horse needs to be. Your farrier is a very important asset to your game. Communication is key to any relationship. This is a very controversial subject to even touch on. They are many different philosophies and opinions as to how an athlete needs to be shod. My best advice would be to Aluminum Shoes be patient with the transformation and if what your team is doing for you is working? Stick with them. 56 November 2020'