A Question Of Traction

This is going to be a short update, as I just lost the email I was working on and it’s getting too late to rewrite the entire thing.

We have cross-country today, so we’re off to the barn. The first horse goes out around noon. Boyd Martin, the rider, will have his work cut out for him, as the information he brings back will be critical for the rest of the riders.

The U.S. team sits in seventh place and will have to fight to get back to medal position.

My biggest concern, as well as that of the riders, is traction. This seems to be a slippery, twisty track. So Mustad is bringing in some extra studs early this morning to help out.

We have a long day ahead. Our horses are running about one hour apart. I will spend my day at the finish, making repairs and removing studs.

I may not be able to get back to you till we finish, as the next two days will be crazy.

Pennsylvania farrier Steve Teichman has helped provide hoof care for the U.S. Olympic Equestrian Team in Sydney and Athens. While in England participating in the evaluation and selection of horses for the 2012 U.S. 3-Day Eventing team, he provided updates as the Olympics progressed. Click here to read more from Olympic Shoeing With Steve Teichman series.