b'proper heel support, fit the hoof properly, help balance the foot, and allow appro-priate breakover, says Forfa. If driving horses are well-shod, they arent likely to develop foot soreness, he says. The biggest difference in shoeing the driving horse is giving them traction so that they feel safe on the road, says Trapani. One traction method is a rimmed shoe. The rim fills up with dirt and sand, andConditioning is it acts like sandpaper on the road, andcrucial for driving then you can weld different materialshorse fitness and safety and should onto the shoe, like borium or Drill Techinclude ridden and ARND BRONKHORST(carbraze, a mixture of tungsten andgroundwork in ad-carbide), he says.dition to harness Farriers commonly add studs or studwork.holes to driving horses shoes to improve traction and reduce slipping and sliding, especially during competition. A farrierbanging their legs together, or stepping oncarriage first, says Forfa, adding that can drill or hammer drive-in studs thatother horses in the hitch.often young horses will only pull a two-stay in the horses shoes long-term. How- He cautions against applying polowheeled vehicle or a light four-wheeled ever, to prevent injury to himself or otherwraps, though. If they came loose, thevehicle initially. And then as they get fit horses, they only stick out a quarter of ancarriage wheel could catch a piece of itand more balanced, theyre able to carry inch, at most.that was flapping, and there could be athe weight and pull the weight better, he Temporary studs, such as screw-insdisaster, he says.says. and snap-ins, fit into predrilled holes inConditioning is also very important for the shoe as needed. Rubber, cotton, orConditioning the Driving Horse safety, especially when going downhill. foam plugs or blanks can prevent mudThe biggest (concern) in the care ofSome carriages dont have brakes, and and dirt from becoming lodged in thedriving horses would be getting thesethen youre using the breeching of the holes and protect the threads so the studshorses properly fit for the sport, saysharness, which means the carriage goes fit well. Drivers often screw in studs justForfa, who adds that it can take four toagainst the rump of the horse up against before competition, then remove themfive years to move a combined drivingthe semitendinosus (hamstring) muscle, after.horse up the levels. adds Forfa. You have to come down the Snap-in studs used by EuropeanYou can get soft tissue damage fromhill at a pace that the horse can hold the drivers allow a driver to easily snap theslipping and overexertion or if you workweight back.stud into a predrilled hole in a matter ofa horse too hard and theyre not fit, saysForfa recommends riding driving hors-minutes.Trapani.You have to train them in an in- es a couple of times per week to teach or Drivers should ask their farriers whatterval training situation and develop theirremind them how to carry themselves, type of studsroad, mud, grass, bul- muscles, breathing, and respiration andwith energy coming from behind, and to let, spike, etc.would be best for theirstrengthen the tendons and ligaments. strengthen and balance their hind ends. situations.An unprepared horseor even oneDaniel adds that its common for expe-that is prepared but is working in highrienced upper-level combined drivers to Leg Protection ambient temperaturescan struggle witheither ride their horses for conditioning Forfa says most drivers at least useheat on marathon day. So during thisor to hire a rider. It gives them a break bell boots to keep horses from grabbing aphase, Daniel is careful to look for horsesmentally from driving, says Daniel. Its shoe or heel bulb when they overreach.that might be overheating; he has seena different task and requires different Tendon boots are also popular to pro- body temperatures as high as 109 degreesmovements for them . . You can work tect the superficial and deep digital flexorFahrenheit during vet checks. the back of the horse a lot better under tendons running down the back of theYou must consider the effects of thetack than you can in harness.limb. Without protection, these delicateweight of the harness and carriage and structures are at risk of injury in drivingthe horses heavy muscling, as well,Take-Home Messagehorses, both from leg interference and thebecause at the higher levels many of theseGet guidance and advice from a veteri-carriage itself. So he recommends apply- are Warmbloods. Also be careful not tonarian and a seasoned driver or trainer ing protection to all four legs, especiallyoverface a horse by moving him up thewhen developing a conditioning, nutrition, if driving multiple horses in a hitch, suchlevels before hes physically ready. and preventive health program for your as pairs and four-in-hands, because thereWhen you start these young horses,driving horse. With proper care, these is a chance of other horses overreaching,they need to be trained with a lighterathletes can enjoy years in harness. hTheHorse.com | The HorseOctober 201933'