Just How Far Do You Want To Slide?
The answer to that question, if you are like me is, as far as I can. Please don’t continue on if you think this article is going to tell you how to backslide successfully. You will have to perfect that on your own. Remember Cal Smith and his “backsliding Christian in a neighborhood bar”? There are not many prettier things in the horse world than a well executed slide from a reining horse. I’ve always been fascinated by sliding contests and what gets the horse to slide that far. As a farrier for hundreds of sliding horses over the years I’d like you to believe the farrier’s responsible for your horse’s slide. However, much to the dismay of many enterprising farriers I’m going to come clean. Farrier’s can never dictate how far your horse slides. What farrier’s can do is trim and shoe your horse properly to enhance performance. There is certainly a science to making and applying sliding plates correctly for each individual horse. That’s what is important.
I’m convinced you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to call yourself a “horse trainer”, but you almost need to be one to remain at the top of your game. Today’s competition is fierce. What I have noticed is top reining trainers pay attention to every detail about each horse they are riding. This includes feeding, conditioning, training, shoeing, etc. Top trainers have a plan and stick with it. Many aspiring trainers leave out one or more of the above ingredients. I’ve had trainers tell me they needed a few extra feet out of their horses slide and think that I will accomplish this with the magic sliding plate. While I can help I don’t have a formula for making the “enhance the slide by 4 ft. sliding plate.” Another thing I used to hear was “Hot Shot Trainer Bill” used sliding plates like this to win the futurity. I want the same ones on all my horses. That’s as silly as using the same bit on all horses. You have to remember horses are individuals. Once again paying attention and learning how to speak horse will get you to the top. Sliding plates, bits, saddles, etc. are only aids for your mental & physical ability. Remember, many talented horses perform in spite of their trainers.
Not to many years ago a sliding plate that covered nearly all the foot with only a slot up the middle became a popular fad among reiners. It resembled the horseshoes created by the Chinese 4000 years ago which completely covered the foot. Geez, I thought maybe we had learned something about how a horse’s foot worked in 4000 years. However, I guess some folks missed it. Anyway, it didn’t allow for much traction on the circles among other things. You know a 7/8”, 1”, or 1 ¼” straight forward slider with a rolled toe works well on 90% of the horses allowing for a little adjustment here and there. If your horse is built to slide and has the mind to handle the training he will slide. I can remember Al Dunning sliding the great horse “Expensive Hobby” after just having the sliding plates removed and regular shoes applied as he was going to be turned out. Funny thing, he slid just as far in regular shoes. Now granted the sliding plates would have made it a little easier on the horse, but there is no replacement for good training. Another thing I remember is seeing a vaquero sliding contest in California several years ago. The winning slide that day was done on a thoroughbred at a length of 64 ft. Now, they weren’t measuring sliding tracks. They were measuring the tracks left by the tapaderos. Something to aspire to. I think today’s sliding horses are amazing. Just think what will happen if a little of that old California horsemanship creeps back in.
To meet Barry Denton, attend the BWFA Reining Horse Clinic at the Farriers' National Research Center & Horseshoeing School in LaFayette, Georgia on Sunday, March 30, 2008. 9:00am - 5:00pm Call for information, fees and directions: 706-397-8047 or 8909 Open to Horseshoers and Horse Owners.