Sparks from Horse shoes

My horses have been barefoot for the last 5-6 years. This summer I decided that I tired of them walking the edge of the trail, brushing me into trees, and being hesitant to really move forward on a rocky trail. So I put shoes on them for the rest of the summer and probably thru hunting season.

I took them out for long rocky ride last night to see if the shoes made a difference in my horses attitudes. ( and it absolutely made a huge difference).

We got going a little late, left the trail head at 6pm for what I hoped I could ride in 3 hours and be back before dark. Well my expectations were bigger than what I could actually do. We didn't get back to the trailer until almost 10pm. So the last 30 minutes we were riding in dimming light as dusk settled in.

During this part of the ride, I was following my daughter and we were pushing the horses fast to get back to the truck. Of course being the return to the trailer section of the ride, The horses were more than happy to cooperate and we held a fast trot or canter for the last mile or two.

As we traveled along in the growing darkness, I was reminded just how many SPARKS fly off horse shoes when they strike rocks. Utah has already had over 400 wildfires this fire season. It is a terrible year for fires. And while we are not seeing the problems that Colorado is, it is a year for concern.

So my question. Has anybody ever seen a fire started from the sparks off a horse shoe? Maybe I should have left my horses barefoot. Even though we don't see the sparks in the daytime, I'm sure they are present. Just more visable at night. I'd really hate to turn around and look back and see a column of smoke rising off a trail I just traveled.

A couple of photos from last nights ride. They are a little fuzzy because of how late it was getting and the low light conditions





Leaving the parking lot


Looking back on the climb up. The trail follows the river for 7 miles up the canyon then climbs up the draw you can see in this photo. So we came all the way up for the lowest point visable

A couple more
Leaving parking lot at trail head


Lots of green as we climb up the draw


Looking at the opposite side of the canyon. This what the area directly below us looks like,. Very steep

I've heard of fires being started from sparking shoes but have never seen one start myself or know anyone that has. But, I did grow up on a farm and saw more than one fire started by sparks coming off equipment and landing in dry grass. So I have to say it is definitely a possibility but don't think the chances of it happening are real high.

Utah's Governor has been very vocal about not target shooting any more this summer. He claims that many of the 400 wild fires Utah has had this summer were started by sparks from people shooting guns.

Now myself, I've never seen bullets spark like they show in all the movies. In fact I've often commented to my wife that I want to BUY some of them sparking bullets. Since my copper or lead bullets don't spark when they strike a rock.

At any rate the Governor has called a ban to all target shooting because of sparks, So I wonder if a ban on horse shoes could be forth coming.

I don't know about fires from sparks but I have to say WOW great trial ride pictures
BEAUTIFUL

Thanks, They are a little out of focus. I was loosing light fast and the camera just isn't fast enough on it's speed settings to capture the photos in dim light from a moving horse with out loosing some of the crispness. I should have gottenoff and stabilzed the camera for a better shot.

The best part, Is that I left home at 95° and most of the ride I was wishing I had worn a long sleeve shirt. It cools right off on the mountain.

Lead and copper bullets wont start a fire but if you are in the prone position shooting I suppose your muzzle blast could. I would be more worried about black powder guns than smokeless.

If your Gov. Is a nut case or one has their ear they could go so far as barring horse shoes. I would think they'd find it easier to ban everyone from leaving pavement first.

Probably close the forest first

Gov is pretty sensible guy, Just being faced with high firefighting bills and reports fire were started by poeple shooting.

Gorgeous scenery!!! I can see where it could happen with super dry conditions but it is probably a slim to none that it will happen.

Great pics, glad you decided to use the proper footwear for your horses. Kinda neat seeing those sparks, huh? When was I a crazy youth, me & my friend would gallop down paved roads at night to see the sparks fly from the hooves.