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Just read an article in the RP that as of the 1st of February the BHA has said all horses running under NH rules will have to be fully shod.
I’m not an avid fan of the jumps but i am passionate about the welfare of all race horses, what i didn’t know was most NH horses run with no shoes on their hind legs, having read the article i now understand why trainers do this and it seems completely mad to enforce this new rule, it will only increase the amount of serious injury to the point where those horses that over reach and hit their front legs will end up never running again or worse case having to be put down.
All comers, all ground, all beaten
Bonkers. What’s the coefficient of friction between metal and turf vs hoof and turf anyway? I think studs may be allowed in hind shoes to improve grip but not all horses need or even like them. And also the effect of shoes and studs varies a lot with ground surface.
Is this just rules for the sake of rules ie to be seen to be legislating?They should listen to the old school trainers like Mick Easterby and put a stop to this nonsense, there are enough horses fatally injured in NH why introduce a stupid rule that will cause even more misery in the sport and I shiver to think of horses in the Grand National kicking into themselves and others and even jockeys will be more at risk of serious injury.
I thought the silly season had ended, looks like it’s set for an early return
Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...Quite agree, in a misguided attempt to eradicate the very few times a Jumps horse slips for no good reason (i.e. not poor turf and not clipping heels) the BHA intend to create a much greater welfare risk. It will have to think again.
Personally, I have seen more horses slipping as a result of losing their front hoofs going round a bend rather than their rear hoofs and having their front hoofs shod hasn’t stopped it from happening.
Daft changing things that don’t need changing whilst there are a host of more pressing matters that actually do in fact need changing but they will probably file it under the being proactive (rather than reactive) on horse welfare to appease the perception brigade.
According to a quote by the NTF chief exec Rupert Arnold in the RP
“Since we communicated to trainers the intended change in the rules regarding the shoeing of jumpers, several have expressed their disquiet about it,” said Arnold. “As a result of that and because none of the incidences of horses slipping in the BHA survey involved horses who weren’t wearing hind shoes, we have gone back to the BHA to ask them to review their decision to change the rule pending further discussion.”
As I read it, in the survey, no horses who were not wearing hind shoes slipped. Makes the ruling even more bizarre.
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