what exactly is a padded TWH Options

[oldgal]

I realize this is probably a stupid question, but what do they do to a horse that is called a padded horse? Has it got something to do with they are shoed?

[Guest__*]

I am not a gaited horse person, but I'm good friends with a girl that used to show them. I asked her the same question! She told me a "padded horse" was one with those "pads" nailed to their hooves along with thier shoes. They might be connected to the shoe more than the hoof though- THAT I'm not possitive about.

AGAIN-- I'm NOT a gaited horse girl, so I could be wrong.

[foxtrotUSA]

I don't know a whole lot about the TWH scene...

But, a padded horse (at least to my knowledge) is basically a horse with so many inches of (usually plastic) "padding" underneath the final shoe - between the hoof and the shoe. These are added only to the front shoes and are used to give the horse more action in the show ring.

There is much debate on the ethics of this, as horses aren't really naturally built to move like that, even the TWHs. It can lead to joint, hoof and bone problems later on in life, and the padded TWHs are the ones also associated with soring.

[edenn3583]

I have to defend the breed because other breeds have their problems too, I've heard of pressure shoeing in Arabs, Saddlebreds ect, also bleeding out of Qh to make them down in the ring ect. These pads are not nat. and yes there are some neg things going on but not everone is bad. I have a very natural gaited horse that lifts knees level. But the pads are plastic and nailed to the bottom of the hoof, there are strict reg. on the angle and comparison of the heels and toe. There are also inspection stations at shows DQP. I love the breed and like nothing better to see a naturally animated square going walking horse with the head shake and all, beautiful. If I knew how to post video I would of my geld.

[Guilherme]

This is a padded horse:

http://www.twhbea.com/gaitsVideo.htm

Click on any of the three under "Performance Horse."

G.

[oldgal]

Oh my God, I had no idea!

[Guest__*]

To each his own, but when I saw the cantering video, I felt like throwing up. I don't like the idea of padding a horse. JMO.

[equi-librium]

and two words... OHH WOW...

[Morgangrl]

I'm sorry, but the video's of those 'Performance Horses' is just discusting! How horrible can we make these horses look and move? That is WAY more action than I EVER want to see again in any horse.

Wow...

Think of the concussion those horse's hooves and legs are encoutering. That's just amazing. Are those gaits even comfortable when they are so exaggerated?

Really, just wow...

[Stars_Morab]

I prefer the look and movement BY FAR of the flat shod horses. Gait was meant to be flashy and smooth. I think it vears off from the original intentions of the breed. But then again. I've got Kentucky Mtn horses, and they are shown flat shod.

~stars

[NCTrailgirl]

Well, I guess that explains why my ex-padded girl has shoulder issues......

[TessieB]

Isn't the padded horse the most horrible thing you've ever seen?

[-Daisy-]

quote:

---

Originally posted by edenn3583:
I have to defend the breed because other breeds have their problems too, I've heard of pressure shoeing in Arabs, Saddlebreds ect, also bleeding out of Qh to make them down in the ring ect. These pads are not nat. and yes there are some neg things going on but not everone is bad. I have a very natural gaited horse that lifts knees level. But the pads are plastic and nailed to the bottom of the hoof, there are strict reg. on the angle and comparison of the heels and toe. There are also inspection stations at shows DQP. I love the breed and like nothing better to see a naturally animated square going walking horse with the head shake and all, beautiful. If I knew how to post video I would of my geld.

---

Amen!!! They are beautiful!!!! There are flat shod TWH's at my barn and padded TWH's. Both are very beuatiful!! I love it when the boarders with the padded horses let me ride them...it is the smoothest, best, most beautiful ride ever!!! I have a flat shod SSH and I love her too!!! I love the gaited breeds!

Being padded does not hurt horses...the people at my barn who have the padded horses are very nice and good to their horses, if it hurt them, they wouldnt do it! The ones that do "sore" the horses are not doing right. But because of the DQP check stations at shows, almost all "soring" has stopped because they cant get by with it to show the horses. I think that the canter is beautiful and I like the head shaking too! They are so pretty!

[edenn3583]

I have a dig. camera, how can I post a video on here?

[Guilherme]

There's no accounting for taste.

The hard reality is that the ride of the Big Lick horse is not particularly comfortable and this gait was developed in the early 50's for no purpose but the show ring.

Another hard reality is that the manufacture of the BL horse begins at the age of 12 months when yearlings are placed in "colt packages." Work under saddle will beging at about 18 months so that the horses are ready for the under three classes.

Only Pollyanna believes that soring is a thing of the past. The wrongdoers are in dissarray after the USDA "bearded the lion in his den" at Calsonic a couple of years back, but they have just "gone to ground" and are seeking less diagnosible ways to sore up the horse.

In this regard I've recieved a personal invitation (though for reasons Bog only knows) to attend a conference on Thermagraphy as an inspection tool to be held in Shellbyville at Calsonic on Dec. 13 from about 9 to 5.

Ex-BL horses come with a universe of problems mostly related to serious joint and muscle issues in both the front and the back. The average BL horse is retired by the age of 6. You do see a few hardy individuals that go later, but they are but a tiny minority of those that began.

If you check equine morbidity and mortality insurance rates TWHs are rated the same as eventing TBs and WBs. Now why would a horse that does nothing more than go round and round in a circle carry the same risk rating as one that does five foot fences?

The leaders of the TWH industry have been promising to clean up their act since the first "expose'" of industry practices was published in 1956. I would think 51 years would be enough for them to solve the problem, but I'd be wrong.

G.

[edenn3583]

The breed does have its problems just as anyother breed, but it is a wonderful breed. I was at the Celebration when there was no stake class, it was chaos. I firmly believe in the new techniques that are comimg out to detect objects under the pads. Also, there are many TWH stallions that have shown for years padded and most do not die until their 20's you can check on this. Let's not make this into a neg. discussion, someone just wanted to know what a padded horse was no reason to cause a debate over this, to each is own I say, if you don't like what is going on fine, most of us don't but I am still a full supporter of the TWH breed, drawbacks and all.

[majik]

edenn, to post a video, just upload it to photobucket, like you would a reg. photo. Then just copy and paste it here.

[kitten-kat]

this is what they do to padded horses to make them do the big lick... you tell me if you think it is nice.. personally looks like someone trying to force me to wear stilletos..

video
http://www.walkinonranch.com/CNN.html

photos of broken foot device!
http://www.walkinonranch.com/1000Words.html

[ 12-12-2007, 01:09 PM: Message edited by: kitten-kat ]

[kitten-kat]

This is how a TW should move and show.. all natual!! this is a horse I greatly admire, called Champagne Watchout. He was the first and ONLY flat shod TW to show in the celebration, and if you look on the sight these vids are from you will see all the controversy involved! But watch the Vids, tell me which horse looks more comfy to ride, and which look like they are there against their will.. watch the turn around and see which horse moves and which stand and huff!!

http://www.walkinonranch.com/Celebration.html

[ 12-12-2007, 01:18 PM: Message edited by: kitten-kat ]