Best Horseshoer Is Wes Champagne

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Honest to god Richie, this is silly. We're going to now debate who the 'best' farrier is and take a swipe at someone who did the best they could with a tough, likely impossible, situation?

First of all, Ian McKinlay isn't a farrier. He is a hoof treatment specialist that specifically treats problem feet, and has been respected and appreciated by horsemen for decades. His methods have been adopted by young veterinarian podiatrists widely, and no one will argue that he has advanced the progress of understanding hoof care.

Ray Amato is generally recognized as the East Coast's top smitty.

Steve, I was groggy when I made that post. It was very late. It came out totally wrong.

Here is what I meant to say: McKinaly is obviously great at what he does. He is one of the best in the country. I'm sure that he did a great job with Big Brown. But as you said, he did the best he could with a pretty much impossible situation.

One of my trainers regards Champagne as the best. He asked Champagne earlier in the week what he could do with Big Brown's quarter crack if he was the one working on it. Champagne said there was nothing he could do.

My point was really that there was nothing that could have been done that would guarantee that the quarter crack wouldn't bother the horse.

I guess my only criticism of McKinaly is that he should not have basically guaranteed the public that the quarter crack was a non-issue.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

Steve, I was groggy when I made that post. It was very late. It came out totally wrong.

Here is what I meant to say: McKinaly is obviously great at what he does. He is one of the best in the country. I'm sure that he did a great job with Big Brown. But as you said, he did the best he could with a pretty much impossible situation.

One of my trainers regards Champagne as the best. He asked Champagne earlier in the week what he could do with Big Brown's quarter crack if he was the one working on it. Champagne said there was nothing he could do.

My point was really that there was nothing that could have been done that would guarantee that the quarter crack wouldn't bother the horse.

I guess my only criticism of McKinaly is that he should not have basically guaranteed the public that the quarter crack was a non-issue.

We all have speculated that it was an issue but we really dont know if it was

[the_fat_man]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

We all have speculated that it was an issue but we really dont know if it was

You might find THIS interesting.

Hope there's no rule against posting a link to another forum.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by the_fat_man

You might find THIS interesting.

Hope there's no rule against posting a link to another forum.

You posted a professional, 2nd hand redboard. you cant be serious

[the_fat_man]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

You posted a professional, 2nd hand redboard. you cant be serious

Not about the betting; the comments about the horse 'pointing' after the workout. I haven't seen that tape; nor do I know what 'pointing' is, if, in fact, it's something; or whether the horse was doing what was claimed.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by the_fat_man

Not about the betting; the comments about the horse 'pointing' after the workout. I haven't seen that tape; nor do I know what 'pointing' is, if, in fact, it's something; or whether the horse was doing what was claimed.

If the guy has to make a phone call to determine what he saw how do we know what he saw in the 1st place? you could have been a sage with this "info" before the race, now it is just redboard, 20/20 hindsight. I have had horses with quartercracks get them patched a few days before the race and run fine. i have had some that went fine for a day and went lame again. it is hard to believe that there were 400 people and cameras watching the horse everyday and noone except this guy who doesnt know what he is looking at saw this?

[the_fat_man]

I have no interest in the expertise of the poster (or his clocker); let's look beyond the BS.

What I'm interested in is whether horses actually 'point'.

If they do, does it follow that if they're sore then this would be indicated by heat in the area?