Huertecilla schreef op donderdag 16 augustus 2007, 21:55:


Wel een vreemd verhaal, omdat de fysieke belastng enorm toeneemt met ijzers onder. Misschien had hij wel zulke sterke paarden dat de hoeven het zwakste onderdeel bleek.

De politiepaarden in Houston usa redden het veel beter blootvoets (en met weidegang) dan met ijzers (en stal), de fysieke blessures zijn veel minder geworden en de hoeven redden het goed. Hoefschoenen gebruiken ze alleen in de overgangs periode. Al is er nog een stad daar, naam is me even ontschoten, waar de bereden politie wel hoefschoenen blijft gebruiken. En ook dat lijkt meer een kwestie van uittesten dan van noodzaak.

Hier wat stukjes uit dit artikel: http://www.thehorseshoof.com/success_Houston2.html

After the healing has finished, the process of the barefoot horse adapting to his environment will take place. The Houston Police Horses will walk, trot and canter over varying types of terrain. In the Downtown area, we have asphalt, concrete, pavers, marble, construction areas, and other types of road and walkway surfaces. The one issue Officers first understand is how much better footing and traction the barefoot horses have. The Officers understand that barefoot horses have better feeling in their hooves, and have the ability to adjust immediately once the hoof is placed on the ground.

Another issue is how much softer the barefoot horse walks. We have a few horses we call “ground pounders,” who constantly slam their feet into the ground. Going barefoot has made these horses walk softer, slower, and much more comfortable in all their gaits. We have also found that horses thought to have “training” issues could have been that way due to pain and the constant pounding on hard surfaces with steel shoes.

In closing, I want to once again stress that the horse’s ability to adapt to the barefoot trim is amazing to witness. Humans must first and foremost remember not all horses are the same. If there are physical problems along with bad hoof conformation, the healing process can be lengthy, but you must not give up. The hoof is an amazing piece of equipment, and the horse’s well being—and sometimes their lives—depend on it. Our horses are so much healthier and happier. People have noticed not only better dispositions, but glossier coats, along with much less downtime.

We have now completed an Access Database, under the direction of Officer Leslie Wills, that will include vital information to track not only all the Department’s horses’ daily activity, but also all the vital information on the barefoot horses. We are able to track when we pull shoes, to the time the rider and horse are used downtown, along with all events our barefoot horses worked. We will be able to input pictures and measurements of before and after, the condition of the barefoot horses’ hooves, track each trim for the barefoot horses, track evaluations from the Officers on daily patrol days and special events, downtime a horse will have, and cost comparisons between shod and barefoot horses.

Greg Sokoloski, Police Officer,
City of Houston, Texas

Groetjes, Michiel