Here in New England , winter weather forecasts are made using all sorts of info, almanacs, abundance of acorns, squirrels, woolly bear insect color patterns, height of bees nests off the ground etc..every so often someone tries being scientific. This year my 1st order for sno pads and traction devices came in mid Sept. ,sent to Alaska, some years it is as early as mid August and some years as late as the beginning of Oct.. So this is my official forcast, not taking into acct. global warming etc.. Winter is coming! If you would like to know what type of winter we had, check back in May and I can be accurate. Ray
We have had a very late autumn here in the uk, been dry and green. The rains have now come and we are looking at a severe weather warning tonight. Ray I might have to shoe some polo ponies for the st Moritz ice polo, the last time we put snow pads on the degraded under the shoe in 24 hours. Had to re shoe 30 horses for free!!!
In predicting snowfall up here we go by how high the snowshoes are hung up on the side of the barn. Regards
Ray they had the usual flat area between the hoof and shoe then a round tube like rim on the inside of the pad. they were bought from Stromholms.
David The Stromholms rim that I familiar with are I believe a polyethelene material, If i remember correctly Jack Evers has used them. I surprised that all 30 horses had problems ,which would lead me to believe that the molding process may have been flawed. If those horses were to be shod by you again, how would you shoe them, with/without pads. Further what was you traction set up? Thanks Ray
Good memory, Ray. I do use them. The Strondholm Huf-cushion has been an extremely durable pad for me and our winds cause a lot of bare ground in the winter so the pads see a lot abuse. Sounds like a bad batch. Where were the problems - in the tube or the flat part?
Ray I will have to shoe with pads. http://www.buyhorseshoes.co.uk/snow-pads-front-or-hind-2447-p.asp This is a link to the pads except they were white. The replacements were black like in the picture. They disintegrated all over under the shoe and the rim shatered. The black ones were softer and ok that we reshod with. These arnt the ones Jack mentions which are indeed very durable. We put two 3/8 screw holes in the heels and left them to fit appropriate studs. This is John paul on a horse called Vodka if you watch he dribles the ball in the air to score the winning goal. View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIla-H1obxQ
Couple decades ago, I would have killed to compete at something at the St Moritz winter stuff. Now I'm happy to just watch it.
Just like years past , winter is coming, I just rcd the 1st order of snow rim pads to Alaska, 50 pair of frts. ,50 pair of hinds, they ll go out tomorrow. ray
2015, 1st shipment of winter pads, bubble type,200 pr to .........................Connecticut......................they must have read this years forcast in the Farmers Almanac! looking back ,the 1st order gets a little later each year if by only a few days. on the hopeful bright side, maybe winter will stop just shy of the Mass. /CT. border. ray
Because of El Nino it's supposed to be warmer in the north and colder in the south this winter. I hope that's true. I don't anticipate having many if any in shoes past November. Regards
uote="Western Hill Forge, post: 33256, member: 91"]Because of El Nino it's supposed to be warmer in the north and colder in the south this winter. I hope that's true. I don't anticipate having many if any in shoes past November. Regards[/quote] We're being told here, that due to el nino, we're going to have the harshest winter for 50 years. .. But they said that last year too. ..
This week makes it .......Alaska has ordered 225 pair of rim type sno pads this week .... there........... will be a winter, somewhere! Ray
Well I just bought a house and I'm hoping to get moved in and settled before the severe winter weather sets in . . . already dropping below 75F at night here.