I would like to know about all the different types of shoes/pads/whatever is used in Halter, CEP, EP specifically.
How much do they weigh? What exactly are they? I recall there is a weight limit for shoes, what is it?

Those kinds of questions!

Hi,
I don't believe that there are any specific pounds and ounces weight limits anymore. The weight is only restricted by the legal dimensions of the shoe. The show stewards have a metal template that they carry around. It has measurements for shoe thickness and width. As long as the shoe fits within the cutout then that measurement falls within legal bounds. They did this because some of the half arabs have such a large foot (especially some of the warmblood crosses) that it was nearly impossible to build a shoe for them that would stay weight legal. I think that there is a cutout for pad thickness as well, but the dodge on pad size is to extend them somewhat beyond the edge of the foot. And to cap it all off, to keep the mess on, bands are now legal. The biggest shoes are seen on the english type horses...unfortunately this also extends to many of the MR hunters as well. The idea being that the heavier, chunkier sets accentuate movement. (And yes, I am aware that there are trainers out there that will swear that this is not true...but I was a trainer at one time too.) Halter horses are generally shown in a standard shoe with maybe just one pad as are most western pleasure horses. Reining horses are allowed to be shown in sliding plates (a wide slick shoe).

Does this help - or have I missed the point completely?

No, thank you, that helps a lot!!

When did they throw out the restrictions?! They should have just made weight restrictions on shoes for the breed of the horse; PBs one thing, HAs another, etc. Taking the restrictions off completely is just opening things up to become psychotic..
I'm disappointed bands are legal now - it makes me sick seeing all these horses in the AHT weighed down with everything short of anchors. Nearly as bad as how most of the TWH are shod now..
Okay okay, sorry, I'll let that go now. Touchy subject for me! It really makes my blood boil.

Anyway, do you know what the dimensions are?
Another question, do these horses wear those shoes 24/7 or are they pulled after shows when there is a good break until the next one?
I've gotta look into getting my halter mare shod for Scottsdale

I will try to look up the dimensions later today.

Some of the horses do wear them 24/7 for a variety of reasons. Some get them pulled between show seasons. It depends on the condition of the horse's feet and the varied reasons that the shoes were applied in the first place. Some people think that the horse gets used to them and so only apply them right before a show so that the horse moves higher with the unaccustomed bulk, others think that the horse needs to wear them 24/7 for the conditioning effects of lugging them around.

I understand about the touchy parts - with a little provocation, I could go on a roll as well. There are things that are kind of de rigeur to win now that I just cannot/will not do - it's not worth it. Just do what is best for your horse, take pride in what you do, and you will both win irregardless of the opinions of others.

Okay, here we go....the shoes cannot be more than 3/8" thick or more than 1 1/8" wide. Rubber, aluminium, plastic, or other non-metallic shoes are exempt from that rule. Toes for PBs cannot exceed 4 1/2", HA toes cannot exceed 5". Pads of about any mix are allowed as long as the toe length is not exceeded. Bands can be attached to the shoe or the pads. Materials for shock absorbtion are allowed between the foot and pad as long as they are not included or altered to add additional weight.

The shoeing rules are wide open for abuse within the rules. The complete rule can be found in the USEF rulebook in the Arab section.