| Archive for uknhcp.myfastforum.org Natural hoof care resource forums for all those interested in barefoot horses |
| Nic |
JulyOff we go again...Time fairly flying by
Nic |
| sarahh |
Both pones continue to be doing well. Still on 24 hour turnout, and i will continue with this unless i encounter and issues (keeps costs down  )
Tyler does have cracks in his hins, but these were present when i got them and have not travelled any further up than where the new, tighter wall starts from when i got him and chucked all the minerals at him! Boy is doing a fab job as a barefoot ambassador, happily going out and competing on an almost weekly basis and returning home in the ribbons. Smiles all round here in all
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| cptrayes |
Jazz is now out full time without his mask on with normal pulses and no leg filling, even though we have had rain and sun. Thankfully, it's only the early spring grass that he has any problems with.
July has not started well apart from that. All three horses have fab feet, but they may not look so good by the time my shattered arm is fixed enough to rasp them again. NB, when trimming your horse's feet it is not advisable to poke him in the bum with a rasp handle when his hind feet are pointing towards you  
I'm going to be setting off airport arches for the rest of my life! C |
| brucea |
Oh NO...sounds dreadful. Do take care. Don't over do it.
There's a little lad in our yard shattered his forearm falling off a pony and needed pinning - he was really sore for quite a few weeks. I learned a couple of years ago - the hard way - not to stand over a back leg when you're tubbing it - the pony's hock is a perfect fit for the human eye socket and I got a wonderful shiner for Christmas. Caused great hillarity in the yard. |
| hobnob |
All pony feet fine but came home from work today to find hardy native-type pone wet and shivering - its JULY !!!
She's now stood in eating hay with fleece and summer turnout rug on and really toastie - ears have been dried with a soft towel and wet fleece taken off and replaced with a dry one - spoilt bunny !! 
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| brucea |
Bramble so much better now - had his first little rider on board yesterday - only about 1/4 mile but he was moving really well and showed no signs of footiness at all. Looking forward to VERY slowly bringing him back into work. |
| Yann |
Seem to be past the worst again at long last, Rio is doing pretty well bootless again now. Still needs booting for anything really rough but otherwise fine.
Tess's feet look shocking at the moment but she's doing better than she was too. |
| brucea |
Was rounding up herds of cows today with Apollo and moving them between fields. Wow!!! What fun that was
Short fast gallops and quck turns and skips really challenged my balance in the Parelli bareback pad - he was completely "into his zone". He's brilliant at it! Now I need a western saddle if we're going to do this regularly...still grinning! 
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| SueH |
Jake - Still on diet paddock 24/7 (we didnt move to yard with track in the end for various reasons ). Paddock quite bare now, but instead of strip grazing, I am givng small amount of hay am and pm to try to reduce sugar intake.
Fronts: Still booted [with pads and prosthetic frogs] when ridden on hard ground but very happy on soft without. Frogs still recessed but prosthetics fitting less well now especially on left so hoping this indicating frog development. Have notice deep central sulcus [compared to v v shallow one in hinds]. As a precaution, I think I will go back to frequent spraying whole underside of hoof with cider vinegar UNLESS anyone can suggest better ? Hinds Hooves look ok, coping well, frogs SO much better than fronts, much more prominent, wider and harder, but that's understable as they are getting worked so much more than crappy front ones. I did stop the linseed as I was worried about Jake's weight but I put him back on pretty quickly. I did a re-think and given he is so stiff on going out so cant really leave out linseed. Weight will come off slower but its a balance and he is getting exercised every day weather permitting. I did think Jakes hinds hooves were struggling on hard ground, and it didnt make sense since his hinds look quite. I've come to realise its more his joints which need very carefull warming up. His hind hooves get worn down at toe to straight line at toe after a ride out on lanes if inclines come to early in ride, as he scrapes them due to initial reduced flexing of joint on incline - gotta make sure we stay on flat initially. x Sue |
| sarahh |
The Boy pone and I won a showjumping class on Weds, big thing cos I have lots of other placings but very few 1sts. He was offering me the most fantastic turns and jumping big spreads at such angles that they were almost sideways. Got me to thinking and it seems to me that what I have this year is a far more athletic and willing pone than he used to be. Then I thought about the changes since last year... And it was the loss of 2 things, shoes, and a fair bit of weight due to the change in diet in order to go bare. So a bonus impact there, not only does he have healthier feet but also much improved performance, which I had hoped for but didn't know if we would get. Cool eh! Well, either that or when baby horse came on the scene he decided he had better up his game. Wouldn't suprise me, he is a cob
X |
| Yann |
I've found it a really difficult step to take but I finally bit the bullet and put a muzzle on Tess the Tb  She only wears it from first thing in the morning until lunchtime then comes in for the afternoon. So far she seems to have failed either to get particularly upset about it or turn into a toast rack, I'm going to give it a couple of weeks to see if it gives us any improvements.
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| SueH |
Jake - update post trim:
Fronts: Front frogs have developed sufficiently ( using the prosthetic frog in boots whilsts riding 1-2 hours per day) so that after trim on Wed, frogs are touching the ground YIPPEE. So prosthetics will now be mantlepiece ornaments and we down to just normal comfort pads in boots. Hinds Outer hinds sometimes have little chips + outer heel is much more developed that inner heel on both legs. Also, the wear at the toes which I have been noticing, is actually towards the outside of the hoof, again, on both legs. Obviously his hoof placement is compenstating for a structural imperfection further up in the body. Now just imagine how shoes would interefere with this. I had a lesson (bare, no boots, in paddock) with new teacher who doesnt know Jake - when she managed to stop laughing at my "naughty monster" who does a really good impression of Kevin the teenager - thought he looked great fine on the front and actually not at all stiff in the hinds. Obviously a soft paddock helps everything for Jake but was still great to hear. My friend who hacks out ocassionally said she watches Jake alot and she just cant see anything wrong with him now, he looks fine. Time for pony to start new things and stop focussing on poorly feet which I have been doing - so stressage here we come. This is gonna be such a laff: Jake (aka Kevin) will probably eat the flowers, snog all the mare, and then buckeroo when they hoot the horn. I'll be starting at Marion Back unaffiliated as its local - if anyone ever goes, look out for (or avoid) tiny chestnut tb and lots of commotion - that will be us...... x Sue |
| cptrayes |
Is this supposed to be a horse only update  ? The horses are all absolutely fine even though they have done no work and had no trim for two weeks. My broken arm is more important right now 
It's fantastic! I have complete mobility in it in spite of also having a double dislocation of the elbow. I've had no pain to speak of. There's a limit to what I can lift but it's getting less of a limit each day. I'm really looking forward to showing everyone who's going to the conference next week my eight inch scar from where they put the plate in
Since it was bust by a horse kicking me when I poked his bum with a rasp handle, Nic has invited me to give a talk on health and safety . I think she was joking
C |
| sarahh |
Looking forward to inspecting that scar! And marvelling at your pain free movement, I'd be a wibbling jelly, having seen the pics on your blog!
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| evie |
finally was able to take h's heels down yesterday now she's working for a living her frogs have really improved, as have her DCs. feet magically became foot shaped again, to some extent - 8 weeks of good growth so far though, big angle change growing out nicely and nasty abscess hole that blew out a large portion of her frog has grown out in record time. her feet are going to be so dinky!
still doing hacks of any notable length/terrain booted, she's more comfortable over nasty stuff these days but feet still wear rapidly and heels on one hind are low but steadily coming back. sooti's feet are worrying me, uberming and contracted. EP coming out in 10 days so will see what she reckons, might have to cleantrax and do some work in pads. sound as ever though! |
| hobnob |
Mid July report:
LGL pone still stonking and having a few mouthfuls of long grass each evening. Still wearing boots on front to 'hack' out as we have some very stoney tracks. Old mac boots now do up on one smaller hole on outer strap than they did a year ago. Big ripple on both pones feet nearly reached to bottom I assume when I started trimming myself and slight angle change also. Has alot of wet weather lately and front frogs a bit smelly so we had a scrub today. Couldnt see an awful lot trimmed a flappy bit of frog that was shedding and that was it ! Despite lgl episodes in April, May and June no ripples showing up near the coronet which is good I guess !! |
| brucea |
Mid July report from Aberdeen
Wet and windy. Grass still seems to be growing like mad. Link is fine, feet looking great. Significant improvements to his feet all round, hairline, firmer digital cushion, better frogs, concavity etc... All the abscess and swolen leg problems behind us now. I must post progress pics. Apollo....great fun and greedy as always. Transition has been so easy with him! Throwing out a fair amount of tough horn growth and needing trimmed every 2 weeks. Bramble. Has been much happer on his feet since the layer of false sole came off and he is gaining a nice concavity. All hooves looking much better and toes have significantly shortened now. I am optimistic about bringing him back into work starting this week, very gently of course. We are all so grateful for his recovery from this episode of laminitis, and appreciate so much the help that we have received from Anni. It's good to have our pony back this sound, he's a much loved little chap.
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| cptrayes |
I was able to stop muzzling Jazz during the day when the pulses disappeared from his feet at the beginning of July. Since then, the grass has not affected him and after a break of 3 weeks due to my broken arm I rode him out today and he was completely rock stomping again.
I'm relieved to say the least. Next spring I will muzzle him early or keep him indoors during the day in April May and June. C ps my arm is fantastic too. No problems at all, scar all healed, riding with no trouble at all. Doctor's not happy, but life's too short to worry about falling off and breaking it again! |
| Jane |
My three - all going great guns. All better than ever and on more grass than ever - it may be down to the hoofmender!
Lami rehab - immobile on arrival 22/6 - really sound, even without boots and on the nobbly concrete. No longer desperate for sugar/grass. Going for in hand walks in boots to exercise and browse some trees. New boy - shoes off 29/6 - he STILL hasn't noticed - easiest transition ever! IR horse - went down hill rapidly for no apparent reason. Back on dry lot day and less starvation paddock at night. 5 out of 6 ain't bad I suppose! |
| evie |
Some more yeeeehaaaaah Hera photos - this time from the Welsh TREC Championships last weekend.
G2s fared excellently - 22km competitively plus 8km back to the venue, over some of the worst terrain I've ever traversed. Riding along Offa's Dyke atop one of the Black Mountains through horizontal rain was slightly surreal - pony was completely dry on her right side, wet through on her left! Barefoot over dirt & grass tracks for the PTV including a 320m gallop through a cornfield (along one of the tractor tracks) - yeeehah indeedy, and she flew all the jumps. Technical obstacles were ummm trashed, mostly, but she went through the water so I'm very happy! 
Click to see full size image |
| Yann |
Things are improving here too, the grass is still growing but seems to have lost its oomph. Tess also lost hers as a result, so it was off with the muzzle and bigger dinners and she's right as rain again now. Feet still so so on rough stuff but I carefully trimmed them the other day and they look almost normal again.
Rio is doing very well too, did a fairly tricky hack with boots in reserve in my bum bag the other day and didn't need them, only went careful on a downhill stretch with scattered stones on a hard surface, strode out everywhere else. She's otherwise on top form Moving fields for a few months very soon, so the muzzles will be on standby, I'm still popping them on during the day if I spot any potential signs of trouble. |
| jane stevens |
next EGB ride fro Otto and Ecliptic"Tally Ho" is Otto and Ecliptic's next EGB ride in Wiltshire on Sunday 27th feet are very strong almost like iron Wearing out rasps quite quickly now!
Since coming back from the Bowker Conference I have taken toes back even shorter
Ecliptic had bruising appear on his heel bulbs after the last ride any ideas 
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| brucea |
I last posted that we were bringing our lami pony back into work now we feel he has made sufficient progress.
He's moving really well, still the occasional stride that says oohhh but they are few and far between. The problem we have now is keeping him at walk and working gently - he's feelign a bit too good in himself and wanting to charge around like a maniac!
He has a new playmate in the dry lot - an older horse, behaves and presents like laminitis but xrays show no rotation or sinking, worse on one front foot, wants to keep his weight on his heels so looks like he is in the lami stance, in heartbars. Any ideas Owner beside herself with worry.
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| cptrayes |
laminitics don't have to have rotation. Mine didn't yet he stood that way too when he had a flare-up.
C |
| hobnob |
Whip the heart bars off and see whats he's like then ??? |
| brucea |
That's the unsuggestable suggestion. ...vets, farriers, yard manager...you know the scenario...shame really, 6 months withut shoes would do the lad a world of good.
Have been gently suggesting to the owner that she gets Anni to review him when she is here to do some other horses. |
| hobnob |
All you can do is use Bramble as an example that the L word doesnt have to mean heart bars etc. Get her to look on the internet at some of the amazing rehabs that have been achieved by some of the guys on here. The owner has to make up their own mind - we can just hope that the penny drops someday
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| brucea |
Well they share a dry lot now, one hobbles around and Bramble is being a prat and trying to climb on the bales , the evidence is there for the sighted.
When I gently broached the subject the response was "but he's always had shoes on and he's in his 20's now and too old to change" DUH!!!
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| jane stevens |
Tally Ho EGB rideOtto and Ecliptic went round the Tally Ho EGB 30km brilliantly - but Hazel (my Sister)and I got lost - TWICE wasted at least 20 minutes  and they still passed and acheived grade 3's so not bad at all considering we let them down
Vet asked how long Otto had been "barefoot" at vetting before the ride steward commented that she had a barefoot horse too and Vet just nodded I think with approval
Otto knocked a chunk of outer wall off from his lateral quarter on one of his front hooves but nothing serious Great Ride though |
| Sarah |
Foxy is very nearly rock crunching, just shortens up on hard or stoney downward surfaces, but then the back of his foot is pathetic and of course this will put the most amount of pressure on the structures here. Had a dodgey few days in the middle of the month but a couple of squirts of white lightening gel down the crack that is his central sulcus cleared up the infection which was causing the problem. Interestingly the lameness got worse after we had spent two days at a clinic on sand so the grit must have been very sore up there.
If you go to July on his page at http://www.performancebarefoot.co.uk/page130.html you'll see what he got up to in July. S x |
| hobnob |
What a lovely video Sarah - and bl**dy well done ¬ Can we see piccies of his feet now ? |
| hobnob |
End of July report:
Well we have had 2 weeks of glorious hot sunshine down here in Devon and a couple of days ago it rained !! Actually it is raining as I type and it is chucking it down to be honest. Back to the subject in hand - lgl pone has been stonking but not been out on the lanes too much due to my horrid work schedule at the moment so still does boots on the front on any outings. Had first slight digital pulse for about a month yesterday (in OSF only - this is normally the only one too?) after the rain followed the long dry spell - doubled Laminaze for 2 feeds and cut grass intake and now OK again!!
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| brucea |
My end July report:
Grass up here has slowed down a bit - ground is rock hard, and a few horses are having joint issues, esp the older ones. Quite a few been coughing with the dust this week. My lads all OK - Bramble out driving again - short distances with some trot - let's hear it for the barefoot approach to rehab! Link just as happy as a horse should be with tremendous improvements all round in his feet. Apollo a bit fat, cobs! His feet are growing fast and are so tough it's a real job to trim them. As for me...I've gone a whole two months without rasping my own knuckles...that's progress eh?
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| cptrayes |
Broken arm, what broken arm? George and I have been cross country training and had a great time. Jazz has been dressaging and finally got his brain in gear to score high sixties.
Footwise, being unable to trim for four weeks because of the arm was interesting. Jazz and Zip just grew feet that were too long, both with flare. George's feet grew to a certain length and then started to self-trim, with the edges breaking off just where he wanted them. Very interesting, and no doubt why he has such great feet. C ps Nic/Sarah, we need August, soon be Christmas !
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| SueH |
End of July report.
Jake recovered well from virus by end of July. Galloping round paddock doing his twisty buck by 29th. Happy to hack out - did little lite rides. Coat improving but still looks unimpressive but vet said virus will do this and it will take longer to come back. Putting more hay out but still only seems to be eating about 9 kg a day. Spends time starring at long grass in what I call fat paddock. On advice from nutritionist we had added Safelimb vit&min supplement + extra Vit E ( since he gets so little grass which would provide all this) + salt. We are continuing with seaweed and magnesium, linseed, cider vinegar all at levels as before and checked with nutritionist. No return jumping yet for this NJH but def on the mend. x Sue |