Smokey's owner writes
Smokey Joe, a 5 y/o Brumby x Paint 14.2hh, has always been barefoot and in the 3 years that I have been riding him, I have never had to pull the hoof boots out. A tough and successful little horse with a long and bright future……..wether in the Show Hunter Class at a Show or jumping or mustering stock.
He is currently competing HRCAV Level 3 dressage, Level 4 SJ, HT, CT.
Smokey is the ultimate all-rounder. He has had success in the Open Show ring as a 3/4 y/o under saddle winning and placing in every class he was entered including Champion Ridden Galloway and Reserve Champion Led Galloway at some shows. He is the true show hunter type and his cool attitude makes him ideal for these classes.
He has spent the last 12 months being campaigned in HRCAV with my sister Elisa. During this time he competed successfully in Horse Trials, Combined Training, Showjumping and Dressage. With placing's at TTT Combined Training and winning both the Level 4 and Level 5 Championships at the Upper Goulburn Dressage Championships. In one season Elisa and Smokey Pointed from Level 5 to Level 3 in dressage. Now he has just started competing back under me in Dressage at Level 3 for placing's in the Unofficial Grade 3 and Level 3 at Alexandra and Yea dressage days.
Smokey has also completed 25km TTT Navigation rides (barefoot all the way). He has just come back from 8 days at the Kosciuszko High plains (see story below).
A truly versatile horse, Smokey takes beginners and children on trail rides around our property of 1000acres. He also plays a part in the mustering of cattle and sheep off our steep and rocky hills.
By: Tamara Fox 2007
Smokey's holiday on the high plains
We rode 6 out of the 8 days with the first 3 days being fairly slow going and about 5 hours per day. Our first camp site was just off the main road at the base of a hill. Each day the ride left the camp up quite a steep and rocky climb to reach the plateau and the easier going. The 4th day was when we moved camp so no riding then. The 2nd campsite was absolutely magnificent towards the end of 'Long Plain' a 30km long x 2km wide grass area……….following the great Murrumbidgee river (which was just a narrow but beautiful stream). Each ride was different and an absolute treasure. We rode along magnificent grass plains, through many magnificent mountain streams, many bogs. We followed brumby tracks…….and came across many of the wonderful creatures…….buckskins, chestnuts, bays and greys. We visited old huts, waterfalls, and rode around fire affected country. At times we also followed rocky fire tracks. Our last 3 rides we moved along a little faster riding up to 6 and a half hours and around 40kms!
Shoes required? Over my dead body!.....We took Smokey's boots……..although we never needed to put them on. 'Is that horse barefoot?' was the comment towards the end of the first day…….'he 'll do it tough' another said………."just you wait and see" I said. "My horses have travelled on much worse than this and he is ½ brumby and tough"………my comments back. It took them until the last day to realise that Primus was also barefoot………..'Oh he looks a little foot sore' was the comment made as we were climbing down a very rough and rocky steep fire track 'He'll be all right' I said, knowing that Primus tends to be a little sooky on rocks when he hasn't had the conditioning he should have…………Not more than 5mins later Primus power walks past 'Oh gee…….look at him now'……..
While horses were breaking down all around us………pulling shoes, etc….our two barefoot horses trudged along in the most graceful way. Never putting a foot wrong once. In complete balance and freedom of stride the whole way. I think we made a lot of people think more seriously about barefoot. We made a great impression.
By Tamara Fox 2007
