first tume in three weeks for me, but got it done

LH

I did. Does anyone else use the dry-skin saddle sores to tell when winter has really arrived?

never seen one (dry skin saddle sore)

reckon it's just a wore spot on the hide from the saddle?

only rode about an hour today, 35 degrees, damp and windy.. Just not a lot of fun. Getting ready to pull the shoes and trim and let her go barefoot until spring. I will not ride a lot in the cold, frozen conditions. She should be good to go barefoot don't you think? i'll watch her to make sure she doesn't get sore. I do not ride roads, just am not gonna do that anymore. I ride alone and barking dogs and rattling trailers behind trucks and such just aren't worth it. Crops are out and i can ride for several miles just crossing roads each mile. much better.. You all have a great xmas

We had a pretty good snow storm yesterday. I had planned to head out around noon. But by 10:00 the wind was blowing snow sideways, so I called my friends and cancelled.

I don't mind riding in the winter. In fact I quite enjoy a quit ride in the snow covered hills. But I don't enjoy driven snow stinging my face.

I usualy pull all the shoes after hunting season, Which is pretty much over by November 1st. My horses stay barefoot all winter. I don't like to mess with snow rims or packed ice balls under their feet. It has worked out so well, that I have left most of my horses barefoot all year round. I'm not completely sold on the total barefoot thing. But the horses can ride through the winter with out shoes. Either the snow pads their hooves or I just don't ride as hard during the colder months,

quote:

Originally posted by LMH777:
never seen one (dry skin saddle sore)

reckon it's just a wore spot on the hide from the saddle?

I should have been more descriptive. The sores are on me, not the horses. Happens every winter. My skin dries up pretty bad and my hands crack too. When I ride a lot, or have one that needs a lot of loping, I get sores on my calves and cheeks . Only good solution I've found is to apply some salve, cover with gauze or a paper towel, and duct tape it over. Having your jeans stick to your open sores is no fun at all.

I hope it's just me.

Btw, I only shoe ones that need it. My using horse is 6 and has never worn shoes yet. If I were in rocky country that may be different, but down here most horses can go barefoot just fine.

Worked mine on some buffalo last night. I am familiar with the sores, mine just get rough, where the bone is close to the skin. From hard stops and just abrasion, I think. Mine have never got sore enough I had to duct tape them, kind of calloused over by now.