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Our horses don't work in sand and I hate showing in it. Hard on their feet. The best footing by far that I've shown on has been "crush and run" limestone....tiny little pieces of limestone that is crushed very fine and it packs wonderfully....not too hard, not too soft. Good in rainy conditions (though a bit messy) and doesn't pack in their feet.

It's a discipline thing, I think. Our padded horses work with lubricants and chains on. Our flatshod horses do not. However, we are all subjected to the same inspection processes. There can be no flaking skin, no cracks, no creases, no wrinkles, (all of which can easily be caused by the horse standing still and sweating....this part has gone WAY overboard), and it goes without saying that there can be no calluses, skin thickening, irritated places or tenderness on their feet. If there is, there are penalties and suspensions, fines, and usually a court case to contend with (and that is on a federal level, not state or local). So, when our horses work in sandy conditions, there is a chance that the sand will become an abrasive agent and wear the hair and / or the top level of skin off the horse's foot. That's why we don't like sand....it causes the ridiculous inspection standards to be even more ridiculous! It's really gotten crazy....after working or standing in hot weather, one would be hard pressed to find skin likened to a newborn foal on any horse of any discipline! By the way, at mixed breed shows (with racking horses and saddlebreds and arabians and jumpers), the walking and racking horses are the ONLY ones subjected to these inspections....when it is clear to everyone that all should be inspected for the same things.

By the way, regarding these inspections....when we present a mare and foal pair, weanlings, yearlings, or lead line ponies for show, they are also inspected with the same criteria. Usually before they go into the ring, and if they win (or it's a big show, then they select randomly in addition to the winners) they must go back through. The horses must walk a pattern (in hand, of course) to see how he moves, then both front feet are lifted and palpated by the inspector....sometimes two inspectors.....and if the federal government is there, well, up to 6 or 8 people may inspect your horse when you take him through....one right after the other, picking up each front foot and mashing around on it to see if there is a problem....and most people are worried that by the time that many people have picked up the horse's feet and handled them, the horse will eventually get tired and will eventually move around. And, look at your own hands.....are there thickenings of the skin or calluses? I sure have my share of calluses....and I've never had any action device on them in my life! We are subjected to inspections that will reject us and face us with horrible fines....from things that for most horses, are from just being a horse....not from improper training! Did I mention that the horse is expected to stand still as a statue during all this? One flinch, even to swat a fly, and it's all over. It's crazy!!!!

Which is the big reason I don't get too upset when there is a rule imposed on another discipline from time to time.....whatever drugging rule, whatever inspection the horse has to pass, probably isn't as rigorous as what we deal with.....at every show!!!! Most horses couldn't pass what our horses do. I didn't address what the show inspectors do to inspect our shoes (padded or flatshod)....that's a whole other ballgame!! And we have to be constantly aware that every step the horse takes can be detrimental if anything has a chance of happening that would cause the horse not to pass inspection.

I've worked horses of other breeds and disciplines in sand and it is a great footing for that....it is just counterproductive for use in this breed/discipline. Just shows another difference in what we all do! Were I to show another quarter horse (for example) stock seat, I'd fully expect sand footing....it would only make sense because it's the best thing for them.

The crush and run footing I mentioned gets hard, however if the surface is prepared correctly, the first layer is laid and packed and another layer is put on top of it and loosely packed. At home our horses are bathed after each ride to get the sweat and debris off their feet and bodies....much like any other type of horse!

As I said, just the difference in disciplines!

Well, ours is definitely a case of that....they send people from their big city offices to the field (horse shows and barns, etc.) to take undercover footage of the horrible things they think are going on. Then the folks in the offices in the big cities (where we all know there are lots of horses, right?) make judgements and laws and make all this crap public and get lots of donations to back their cause. It's a load of $hit and everybody should know their true motives....

I read not long ago that the m.o. of the new hsus director was vegetarianism for all in north America. Wonder how that will work out for him? I'd venture to guess not too well. Too many extremist ideas and nothing other than cash donations from a bunch of misinformed "sheep"......

By the way, did you know that the hsus doesn't maintain a single animal shelter in the US? Suprised me too, considering that's what they put on tv to solicit donations from the otherwise unknowing general public......which is why I'd not donate to them....I'd donate directly to a shelter that I know would use it as it was indicated it would be! There's lots of good reading on the subject right here online....just a few clicks will get you all the information you'll need to be sick at your stomach!