Earlier today, I was just looking at some pics of BIG BROWN's feet, complete w/ his glue-on shoes and 'repaired' hooves...I know nothing about what's legal in the racing world, but it sure looks like he doesn't have the best feet, and I have to wonder whether they will hold up, glue and filler or not....
Like HG, I am much more concerned about the practice of working horses that are TOO YOUNG....all of the headlines since Eight Belles' death scream about track surfaces, should fillies run against colts, are 'weak' bloodlines responsible, should the jock be allowed to whip the horse...but I've seen scarcely a WORD about the industry-wide practice of STARTING AND WORKING HORSES TOO HARD, TOO YOUNG! When a letter from PETA(who DID get involved here--I was frankly a bit surprised, because they seem to have given racing a 'pass' for so long) to the national Racing Board(or some such 'official' entity), suggesting that NO horse should be trained or run before they pass their third birthday(presumably, the 'real' one, not Jan.1), the response was that there was no research to support that idea...REALLY??? well, where is the research that DOES say it's fine to start and work them so young??? What a transparent piece of 'spin'.....Makes me sick.
I am a 'fan' of as natural a foot as a horse can have, BTW. I have been trimming my own minis for 24 years, and actually love that they can be and stay barefoot, or when necessary, I use Easy boots.
Margo