| Archive for uknhcp.myfastforum.org Natural hoof care resource forums for all those interested in barefoot horses |
| Sarah |
May 2008Foxy (new jumpy horse) still happy at all paces over my tracks, will start ponying out this weekend.S x |
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| cptrayes |
Foxy being the one I referred to Nic? A navicular write-off? Owners desperate not to have to put him down???? Totally sound already? 
Mine- Zippy's little contracted "foalie feet" (at nearly four) are now responding really well to proper trimming. The soles chalked up two days ago and I was able to really reduce the heel height, which has made them look like a really nice pair of front feet  .
Jazz is concaving up more and more as the event line from the tieback operation reaches ground level. The worst foot is one he had concussion laminitis in - where it is clear from the deviation in the event line that he still has a much faster growth at the toe than in the rest of the foot. It's not a "bad" foot, just not as nice as the other three and that toe pulls the heels forward with it given half a chance. I trim it twice as often as the other front foot. If he was shod it would end up seriously different from the other. Sound as a bell on hardcore and limestone chippings
George - firing on all cylinders and ready for his first affiliated One Day Event at Rodbaston on Wednesday. Wish us luck. C |
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| hobnob |
Good luck Caroline!! | ||
| hobnob |
Diet tweak will be complete by the end of this week. Stopped Topspec Antilam and now feeding: NAF General Purpose Supplement, Yeasacc, Linseed, Salt and MagOx in handful of Hi Fi Lite. So far so good with definate improvement in footiness but time will tell  Also has nettles and cleavers out of the hedge!!
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| Nic |
All hunting pones plus Ghost are having a very well-earned week off, so no performance as such down here today 
Jack - sweetie-pie and trogging out as usual, bless him. Dex - jumping very fluently and both owners and I are thrilled with his progress. Bill - not quite sound - arrived with navicular and very lame on left front, about a month ago. Gradually improving but no point rushing him - will probably start working him after this week. BTW, at the moment all are getting grazing at night, and on track during day. So far so good although the grass is very late up here, and we are likely to take Bailey and Ghost off the grass as soon as it warms up. |
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| Sarah |
Yup 
Ponyed him out yesterday, totally sound on all surfaces including being very hard to catch before hand and romping around without a problem on my hard core. Will pony out again today and get piccies. His feet are very contracted Caroline. Shoes are obviously off but I haven't trimmed them at all yet but sole at heels is exfoliating nicely. Trouble is his frogs are mank, with nasty central sulcus infection in at least one so taking heels down needs care. Will post a pic later to show just how mank!
S x |
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| rose |
The grass ia growing like mad here so I've taken my laminitic prone girl off the big field and in to her summer (bare) paddock.
No pulses to feel but tender walking on the roads which is new. Sound on grass and in the school and hacking out in boots. Fed hay, alfalfa and sugarbeet both unmolassed, formula 4 feet and mag-restore. |
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| cptrayes |
I love it  but for goodness sake, how many more do Nic, you and the rest have to prove it with before we can stop vets and farriers telling owners to shoot their horses?
I would have had him myself but he's too small for me! Have fun - let me know when you're going to Kelsall farm ride and I'll join you there. C |
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| brucea |
May already! Seems like it was January last week. Link and I went to the beach today, have not been there for over a year. Fantastic day - three firsts for both of us.
First time for Link in a trailer on a proper outing - loaded like a dream, bit of work needed on the return but 10 minutes groundwork and it was solved. So will work on trailer loading again today. First time on the beach barefoot!!! It's amazing, normally when we go to the beach he was pulling and raring to go, a bit of a handful so I was kind of braced for it - but yesterday evening he was calmly marching out, relaxed, inquisitive, and "playing" with the feel of the sand underfoot. Soemtimes it surprises me just how much a behavioural change barefoot can bring in its wake - one new behaviour is pawing at almost anything new and patting/testing surfaces with his feet to "feel" what they are like. First time on the beach without a bit and bridle - just his Parelli headcollar and 12' rope tied as a rein. Didn't once feel I needed more. Did about 15 miles (it's a long, firm and all sand beach, you could do 30 miles if tide times allowed!). We had some really great canters and a few brilliant lengths of flat out gallop! It's so noticeable the smoothness of the ride at canter and gallop now he's barefoot. Clumped over the hardcore path to the beach no trouble at all. Feet look great after some good saltwater and a sandblasting! Apollo is crunching, no problems there, cob feet. Helping his mum recover her confidence after a very bad riding acident (in a riding school on another horse I hasten to add) Bramble - small weely improvements with odd daily setbacks. He's quite sound in boots but soles still woefully thin with some springy bits- they're geting better gradually and gaining some depth - but very slowly does it. Supplementing copper as well as magnesium now. Grass here is so green it huts your eyes. |
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| Jane |
Magic - two events in the last week - first one HORRENDOUSLY slippy and treacherous going.... the boy did well, all things considered.
He didn't slip once in the stressage and only had one little slip xc into a fence that was subsequently removed as too dangerous after previous horses had totally TRASHED the take off. I think we actually got off lightly compared to the studded shoeys. Then yesterday we blasted our way round an Intro Regional final, to miss out on qualifying for the Champs by 3 penalties, sob! So feet fine. The wimpy feeted ones started on equimins hoofmender in April and Dan is already significantly improved on stones.... and that's with MANY more hours on spring grass. Not letting Magic get a sniff of the hoofmender as his feet are far too hard and I don't want to make trimming any harder (or more frequent!) than it already is! Dan also had a very high worm count (2000+) so I'm currently experimenting on the worming front... Magic has his first pre novice on Sunday aaarrrggghh. He'll love it but I'm wibbling already! |
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| brucea |
Just a quick pic - Apollo having fun at the Beltane festival today in Aberdeenshire - carrying a celtic prince and princess.
Click to see full size image And Bramble was there too for the outing, greeted all the children and there was a "pony painting" event! He was a wee champion. First time ridden after his laminitis attack - only for about 50 yards though. Progress. 
Click to see full size image |
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| Wendy in France |
Lutine had a slight niggle with a swollen hindleg that got me worrying about a tendon issue because of a peculiar patch of oedema over the back of the tendon. However, a day of bandaging and Ice Tight showed it was not tendon related.
Took her out for a ride yesterday in her boots and she stormed round for over an hour. Ended up out longer than anticipated as she threw a complete hissy fit about coming back home past some cows in a field so had to double back and take the long cut home. She's now climbing and descending hills with ease even in trot and she feels really strong and well. Front hooves are looking good and show an event line about half way down - dunno what that could have been except possibly an immune system thing that was going on with her a while ago. We did a fair amount of trotting on the road yesterday and she felt REALLY sound and powerful. |
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| Em |
Its brief
Drummer is rock crunching even though his frogs are nearly non existant! We cantered happily up a stoney path on Saturdays hack and his feet are growing like mad  my poor back!
Shadow is harder to guage, he is definitely happier on the stones than he was and his feet are getting harder (read that as blunting my rasp quicker ) they don't grow very fast but they are growing and changing daily!
I have been riding him in boots and frog pads and he seems to like this combination, is comletely sound in walk, is sound in trot on grass but not so happy on concrete. I'm happy with this, its a definite improvement. He is happy to land heal first without me on him but I have no idea when my weight is added! My biggest problem with him is he trips over his own feet when he is in boots! I'm wondering if they are getting a little too big!
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| Sarah |
Foxy meeting his new friends two weeks ago, he is the bay looking slightly unsure.
His footware when he arrived, note the graduation. 
Took them off two weeks ago. Yesterday he went six miles on the road, ponying off Fari at walk and trot. Happy boy and totally sound on these hooves. 
I have done no trimming, only taken the shoes off. S x |
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| Em |
You need a mustang roll on there though sara 
Only joking, wow! Have missed what was going on with said pone but what type of shoes are they? Being Niave I know but I have only heard about different shoes and never seen them! 
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| Sarah |
Mustang roll????!!! Nah I'm experimenting to see if you really need a barefoot trim on a hoof 
No idea what they are! Mark thought them an inventive hybrid. I have called them a graduated-egg-heart. They are made of aluminium though so they must be good and just the trick
Said pony was diagnosed with navicular, early days yet but he seems just fine. He was sound in the shoes although his gait was a little strange. S x |
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| Em |
Oooo another Navicular case I expect you'd have a strange gait if you had to wear shoes like that!
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| Terry |
Not surprised he has manky frogs, if you were in the early stages of osteaprosis(brittle bones, you know I can't spell!!) and a metal fixture was applied to the area tightly and you couldn't wash you would have an infection!! ( and made to stand in a small area in your own urine!)Look at what he had over his frog!! it's unbelievable to think people think this is providing support and comfort to the horse!
At least he is stomping over things so you know my philosophy, get on those rocks and watch those frogs plump up nicely!! Terry |
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| hobnob |
Nice bit of descriptive writing there Terry
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| Terry |
I like to keep all amused by simplifying things, that's me really, simple and straight forward, no b***********t !!
Terry
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| Jane |
Nice feet Sarah! Hope you have loads of fun with him!
Our pictures are up from Moreton Morrell and Broadway. Moreton Morrell is easy go to our blog at http://magicsownlittleworld.blogspot.com/ Broadway a LOT more challenging: Honestly THE most disorganised way to show photos - not even in time order! http://www.everybodysmile.biz/cotswoldphot...equestrian.html None of them as nice as the MM ones. At least he's getting a bit less extravagent now a days - no wonder we have started making the time easily- he's not spending three days in the air anymore! Click on: Saturday Broadway XC, choose page 9, row 14, 3rd along then next 3 on following row. Same page, all of bottom row. page 17, all of row 12 and next 2 on next row. Saturday Broadway SJ - pg 3, row 13, first 2 on row. |
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| sarahh |
My two not in work at the moment due to me having a cracked rib & muscle tearing from a fall from Boy, so no performance happening here!
Feet are looking good, albeit in need of a trim (which i also can't do due to the cracked rib), cracks on Tylers back feet and growing out nicely, been keeping on top of the maintenance (until breakage of mum occurred!) Have started using Copra Meal and seeing definite improvement in Tylers condition, without and detrimental effect on feet, so looks like a good thing! They're stabled in the day, out at night at present and seems to be working well for them
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| brucea |
Wow - take care there Sarah and rest up. Plenty of pain killers so you can breathe properly eh?
I cracked three ribs winter before last in an unfortunate collision with a mounting block on the way to the ground - ended up with pneumonia and off work for 4 weeks 
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| Yann |
Tess not quite as confident over stony ground in hand but so far we've not had any raging hot coronet bands or pulses, even when it was hot and wet. Some signs that her feet are flaring a little again and the soles have infilled a bit. Storming in her 4x4 Renegades though, so as long as she's OK round the field and yard I can live with that.
Rio also slightly less confident over rough stuff, but hard to tell exactly how much as she's been a bit off since the weekend, not really sure if it's in the foot or the limb, but again no significant heat or pulses, just one back of foot slightly warmer than the other. Looks more or less sound trotted in the field, but definitely isn't on the concrete yard, boots don't make a lot of difference there either. She does have a split heel on the problem foot though which might be the culprit. |
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| sarahh |
Yep, codiene is my friend!!! And i was warned about the pneumonia risk...did you not practice deep breathing exercise more like torture!!!
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| brucea |
Everything seems like bl**dy torture when your ribs are cracked! Try not to laugh or sneeze! | ||
| SueH |
JAKE (navicular/bone spavin TB) Remains fine in boots . Performance on hard ground unbooted is definitely still off . Actually its a bit strange: He's short in stride when he walks onto concrete path from grass paddock BUT if I then pick feet and walk him round on this path and tarmac road, he improves a bit. Its like its the change in surface he has to get used to. I guess it would be same for me going from grass to hard surface if my feet werent developed enough for hard surface, I'd have to adjust my foot placement and there would be a few awkward strides - not sure if you can make this analagy though as he's only like this now grass is growing? 
Heels have grown and he is due for trim but he is def still not as good as he was in Feb when vet came out and grinned at how fab he was on concrete, so I def think nasty  grass causing problems.
now on his summer paddock to reduce grass as much as poss. I WISH I could get non-chem grass killer (my friend would not be happy if I hardcored all her beautiful paddocks but I feel like pouring boiling water or something on it all and killing it secretly!!) sheep are on the way though - soon I hope. Riding now everyday for 1-2 hour. Jake was happy even on big rides (3 hours) up on Holywell common in boots (for knarly bits). Small crack extending upwardly from lateral opening in hoof wall (old abscess poss) on front left is still creeping up - annoyingly. Still treating with white lightening gel/cotton wool plug replaced daily. Crack right on edge of old crap horn and just about to move into my beautiful new horn .
Have increased Mg supplementation back up to 50ml scoop - I did reduce as SS advised if I fed lucerne at 2kg p.day that would be sufficient. Wish i hadnt as have re-read everything on this and I was right in first place (as evidenced by Jakes new hoof growth nice n steep Doh!  ). Anyhow, getting indep nutritionist's advice once I've dont forage analysis and will take it from there
X Sue Mineralcheck results from analysis on his mane poo pood by nutritionist (aparently not a good pic of neddie health) so I'm getting paddock forage analyzed and then she will advise. |
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| cptrayes |
George did a clear XC in his first ever attempt at it, in an affiliated Intro. Absolutely totally surefooted on a grass dressage arena, showjumping up to 95cm (3ft 1) and on the cross country. The only horse out of 200+ there who had no shoes.
C |
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| cptrayes |
Sue I noticed with my fit eventer who became a chronic laminitic that the very first sign was actually soreness on SOLE pressure. As if the whole sole suffers as well as the wall laminae - and why wouldn't it? I don't think I'm the first person to have reported this, I remember reading about it somewhere else some time ago. It would account for why your horse is better when you pick out the feet.
C |
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| Em |
Thats really interesting because Shadow (navicular) is very similar, I was worried about grass but I think its more down to the hard ground with him. Whe its soft he strides out beautifully but when it goes hard he hates it but he kind of walks ut of it and his stride improves the more he moves. Put his boots on and you can see him sigh in pleasure at his slippers!
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| Yann |
Mud packed feet being less comfortable than empty ones is one of the signs of LGL, I think it is something that's been widely noted and I've seen it with one of mine in the past.
My two aren't at anything like their respective peak performance levels but they are much better now we've had a week of warm weather and next to no rain, to the point where they're now out 24/7 and haven't shown any adverse effects. I strongly suspect that will change again as and when the weather breaks, will resume stabling as needed when that happens. |
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| Nic |
SueH, you've hit the nail on the head, and its as Caroline and Yann have already pointed out... The first sign of dietary issues, way before you get any visible changes in the hoof, is sole sensitivity. Of course this shows up as footiness on hard uneven ground - on grass there is no pinpoint pressure so they cope much better. Ironically of course its usually the grass that is causing the problems...
The good news is that if you catch footiness at this stage it goes away as fast as it arrived, and you will find that once off the grass, horses go back to being rock-crunching within days. I sympathise with your managment dilemma - its very frustrating to know what is causing the problem and be unable to solve it.
Nic |
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| hobnob |
Nearly 2 weeks on new diet and a real improvement. Now feeding Hi Fi Lite, salt, magox, linseed, yeasacc and NAF general purpose supplement. Small net of soaked hay twice a day and 24/7 turnout on dry mud track and small amouth of grass. Feet also seem to have changed this week (very hot and ground like concrete). The OSF which has always looked longer and more oval than round has changed quite suddenly. This frog is also beefing up to match her NSF!! Interestingly one of her bars grew loads and then disappeared in a fortnight - she must know whats shes doing I suppose. Walked out WITHOUT boots yesterday along a stony rough hard mud track and I nearly lost her  She was raring to go bucking and plunging like a goodun and cantering on the spot. I may have reported that the Mgox made her 'wild' a few weeks ago but I think I am just seeing a pone who feels really good on her feet!! Hope it continues - fingers crossed.
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| Sarah |
Had the the most wonderful hack yesterday on the Clywdian hills with Morris and Fari. Fari fronts booted as it is very stoney in parts, Morris bare with a what stones attitude.
Did about 10- 12 miles on a variety of roads, tracks and stoney paths. Morris definitely rock crunching and Fari happy with his front boots. What a beautiful day too. Morris had lots of sheep training, a spot of meet the donkeys and got really good at opening gates and pushing them open and shut. Most impressive from a horse which last time it saw a gate cacked his draws when it rattled and moved towards him. Tonight it's ponying out for Foxy, the up and coming rock crunching horse
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| brucea |
Bramble, our little lami pony, has taken a little back step this week and seems more footy than he was. Feet are hardened up nicely, soles are coming along well, and he was walking out great in his boots, the only things that have changed in the last week are adding copper supplementation - but he did get a few forkfuls of really nice hay over the last few days. They have really poor old hay in the dry lot, and they seemed to be a bit too hungry. Maybe the better stuff is too much for him.
One of the folk in the yard said he was cat leaping around and squealing when some other ponies were moved so he may just have overdone it. Trying to be positive for him, but it is hard to watch him pottering around.
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| hobnob |
I know how you feel Bruce - when my pone was going in and out of lgl last year she would seem 100 percent and then start hooning around the field and put herself back a stage. The positive thing is that they feel well enough to do the hooning around in the first place
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| brucea |
Yep, three steps forward, two back, leaves one small one in the right direction.
Maddening thing is his soles are firming up again, his hooves are lookign better than they have been for the last 6 years!!!!! Not fair
Have upped his magnesium back to the loading dose for a few days, but he doesn't really like it in his food and doubly hates it if I add a cooks pinch of copper sulphate. So I have a cunning plan involving MgO powder, spear mint herb, peppermint oil, xanathan gum and a little boiling water. Going to make my own sugar free mints. Trick the little bugger into eating his magnesium. I'll let you know how it goes! |
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| SueH |
Thanks ever so much to Nic Caroline, Yann for info/advice. Very worrying and frightening but forewarned is forearmed. Clearly need to go into this and address grass issue with Jake.
Long term we looking at buying place with land and we can go grass free. Short term grass free not an option as no grass-free turnout, and if brought into stable, he would get very stressed as he couldnt see the others. So compromise is diet paddock (barest patch I can find on property but with access to hedgerow plants) and sheep to nibble as much as poss away. Will feed this information back to Clare Macleod when we get nutritional analysis done. Currently awaiting grass analysis from D&H - although evidently whatever its nutritional value is, its gotta go!! I will also bring him in off grass as soon as I am back from work every day and give him soaked hay in net instead and then put him back late as poss. I will also put soaked hay in diet paddock. My friend raised eyebrow at putting hay in paddock for horse who needs to loose weight, but surely its better than eatin grass....?? Sheep situation interesing: 2 rams arrived last night - father and son, ( humping each other this morning) Other horses reacted badly but strangely my normally psycho-unsociable horse who will not tolerate other males, is the only neddy the rams have taken to. I did open up diet paddock last night to give him room to get used to them (never been in with them before). Well all 3 separable now (Rams ramming Jake whilst he licks/chews fleece). This morning J back restricted to diet paddock, the rams are apparently now camped out at the edge watching him (not ventured in yet still obviously worried about the other horses). I was going to buy a second horse but maybe its gonna be a ram instead....? X Sue |
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| brucea |
Good to hear he likes his rams.
We had a traumatic experience earlier this year when Farmer Bright decided to put 100 sheep in the field with 7 geldings who went utterly stone mad. Twio of my boys and their pal cornered one and just wanted to snuffle it and investigate, but the poor sheep went into a catatonic state of terror and collapsed! The sheep dogs were useless - they just ran and hid under the Landie! However the worst moments were when the young Clydesdale decided that the sheep should really be jumped on repeatedly and severely damaged two before I finally caught him! The comment from the horrified owner's husband was as absolutely priceless as it was innapropriate at that moment - "Maybe he's just been wantin' a furry squeaky toy..." Not an experience we want to repeat any time soon, we'll keep sheep and horses apart! |
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| Yann |
I was right, Rio took a downturn and started avoiding stones on the track from the field as soon as it rained and set the grass off again, so have resumed daytime stabling for a while. I'm getting used to this lark now...
Tess didn't seem to be affected though, is no worse than she was. Loving the drier weather in her Renegades, the tracks in the woods are all drying up so we went for a bit of a beserker this afternoon, lots of massive extended trot, long canters and the odd bit of mad gallop, had no boot trouble at all Hinds do twist slightly after a while, but that's down to her foot shape and action and it doesn't seem to bother her.
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| SueH |
Sarah came to Trim Jake last week - we are keeping his front heels where they are and not trimming back as I would prefer him not to be any more uncomfortable. However, the front frogs need stimulating all the same and so I've put frog pads into Renegades (on top of existing pads). This is temp solution until Sarah builds prosthetic frog. Frog pad working well so far. Interestingly Jake seems less footy after he's been wearing them (perhaps its reducing pressure off sensitive soles ? )
Rams (Bob and Ted) have braved other side of hedge and forgoing their lush pasture to be with their beloved Jake in his diet paddock. Think Bob fears moon-burn as grazes under Jake's belly at night. The other horses are becoming used to them but I dont think Bob or Ted will leave J's paddock, true love and all that. Diet paddock now very sparse. Jake is eating the hay I put in and so his grass intake drastically reduced. Hopefully Bob and Ted will stay n grab an juicy bits. Took Jake to local eventer for lesson - did this in boots as arena is fairly stoney and want to work frogs with frog pads. She asked about his history + I explained he was bare for navicular, bone spavin. She seemed surprisingly open minded on this one (screwed her face up at corrective shoeing) - very impressed with his Renegades + J's soundness considering his history, thought he was moving very well. Rear hooves doing well, frogs harding up with the exercise. Managing to ride 1-2 hours p day. X Sue |
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| hobnob |
Bl**dy H*ll. Pone went from fine this morning to 'I can only walk down a slope asthough I've wet myself'! She is OK on soft ground, looks where shes going on rough stones and really quite crap down hill 
She is on more grass than this time last year and I think I was becoming a bit complacent even though when I say grass it is mostly dry mud. We had quite a few very wet days and the last few have been warm and dry so it must be grass growing syndrome. Also has not been walked out much either. Will start walking out daily again in front boots and I have drastically cut turnout area. The only other thing I have changed in the last 3 days is that they have had their hay not in a small holed net as usual but loose in piles around the track. Do you think that as she is eating it quicker it could have affected her feet? Answers on a postcard please !!
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| brucea |
Yes - Link's definitely less comfortable on his paws over the gravel in the last couple of days - the grass put on a flush after the rain overnight at the weekend.
You know - when he was in shoes I never really noticed the variation ...but it must have been the same..just couldn't feel it I guess. |
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| Yann |
I never knew either I suspect shoes prevent it getting as bad in the first place because the back of the foot flexes quite a bit less and the sole is clear of the ground and not subject to nearly as much pressure.
However I always used to poo poo the thing about shod horses having cold feet as Rio's were always warm, may not have been what I thought
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| brucea |
Here's a short progress report for a horse I've been helping along in a soto-voce way. Nice TB type mare about 15.2hh, recurrent painful abcesses front and back. Horse was very uncomfortable when I met her, and the owner asked me to take shoes off (it's my job in the yard it seems) but was sceptical about going barefoot.
Within two strides - literally - lots of black ichor burst out of the coronarry band on the front left and she was immediately more comfortable. Did basic tidy up as best I could. 4 months on the abcesses have not recurred - horse sound as a pound. New hoof quite a different line from the old More laminitis up here - and several horses just not "going right" - we have rain now and that is going to cause a big flush |
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| hobnob |
Two days later and pone is nearly back to normal. Went out last night in front boots for half an hour. Exercise seems to help, just need to get off my bum and keep it up!! | ||
| brucea |
Had an emergency vet call out yesterday (out of hours so that will cost! )
Idiot cob was left in his stable for 20 minutes - managed to get his door open and scoffed a good bit of Pura-Beet pellets. Was looking very ill when I found him, but with the good grace to look also very guilty. He's pretty good at undoing any stable door bolt he can reach, and I simply hadn't thrown the kick bolt. My last thoughts before I crashed out in bed last night was "glad we don't use compound feeds". |
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| hobnob |
Is he OK now? Are they pellets that need soaking like sugar beet? | ||
| brucea |
Yep - they are unmollased sugar beet 12 hour soak pellets. Stuffed his stupid face on them.
He's fine now and out in the field after giving us all a scare - looked really bad late last night doubled up in pain. Is he at all pennitent? Did he learn anything from it? Would he do it again, given half a chance? Hmmm...he's a cob. |
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| brucea |
A bit of good news - Bramble was ridden for the first time yesterday by my little lad - only for 50 yards then a break and then 50 yards - but it's a major milestone on his way back! Little chap was very happy to have a job again, and seemed to have no problems. | ||
| SueH |
I think I can detect minor improvement - less footy on hard smooth surface without boots- since diet regime. Jake's been on diet paddock full time with pile of hay for few weeks now. Vet had suggested diet paddock during day with access to normal grass paddock overnight but our 'normal' paddocks now just too lush even for overnite and its clear Jake needs to lay off it.
Still using frog pads in Renegades and Riding 1-2 hours p. day - walk+trot mainly with some canter work on smooth grassy sections. Maybe its wishful thinking but I'm sure the front frogs are starting to look a wee bit better. Rear hooves remain unbooted and frogs hardening up gradually. These not too bad bare on knarly track where stones big but not happy when its little sharp stones so we avoid these (we both head in same direction, he is pretty good as finding softer ground, we work together on this one). Weight coming down a little - he isnt greedy with the hay as his sugar addiction means he will eat dirt in the hope of gettin a bit of grass (or just sulk). Hope its worth it as Jake p***d off - he is sugar junky and lurves grass plus he's without a rug this 'summer' (vet's orders are no rug unless horrendous weather - J has itchy skin due to me being numnut and overrugging plus needs to lose a few pounds) and windy/rainy weather this am so felt very mean.
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| Sarah |
Had a fun time with Fari this weekend. Went to Somerford Park with my riding club. He had lessons in dressage, show jumping and cross country. Very pleased with him and his hoof performance as the photo below shows, jumping from road planings under water on to road planings landing. Cool
Edited to add, I forgot to say that he did a 8 mile fun ride as well on Monday and was popping the jumps there too. Ye ha! |
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| Yann |
Rio hacked out enthusiastically twice this weekend without her boots, the current regime seems to be working at least some of the time
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| hobnob |
End of May report:
Changed to NAF Slimline yesterday. Pony 99 percent at the moment but has been an up and down month. Finally cannot put fingers under back of foot as frog has now beefed up and I have been able to very gradually lower her heels over the last 5 months. Had no pulses for a few weeks but odd days of footiness downhill unbooted. Been very wet for the last week weather wise. Have taken off additional Mgo as she wasnt acting right on it. Jumpy and depressed looking. |
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| cptrayes |
my rockstomper Jazz is feeling stones he's never felt before - he's now out in a fetching baby blue muzzle, and I can tell you that he is NOT happy but if it stops him going over into full scale laminitis, that's fine by me
Has anyone any advice as to whether he needs it on all the time or just during the day? He is a fit horse and probably only a 2.5 condition score, maybe three at the absolute most. His legs are filling and he has strong pulses at the cannon bone but none in the fetlock. He is not lame at all, even on a tight circle, but he isn't walking fluently with earth packed inside his feet and he is feeling stones that he would not have felt last week. C |
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| hobnob |
If he is out 24/7 you could muzzle him during the day and let him graze normally at night when the sugar is lower. | ||
| Nic |
I've replied on the main forum, Caroline
We have had a fun weekend, with hunter trialling on Friday which we took 4 horses to - full report and pics on the blog www.rockleyfarm.blogspot.com Then Felix and I went stewarding at the Exmoor point to point yesterday - lots of racehorses gallopping about.. but the sun was shining and it was lovely safe day with no serious falls or problems. Felix behaved outstandingly as we had to stand at the paddock entrance and then walk past the crowds while a dozen racehorses gallopped past him a few feet away Then off we went to the start and had to watch them all gallop round a couple of times before going back to the paddock Felix was pretty peeved that we couldn't gallop as well
Nic |
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| Jane |
Well done the Rockley gang!
Magic and I guinea-pigged at a lecture demo on friday night, he was in his element, with HIS 'people' all fawning over him and saying what lovely feet If his head got any bigger he wouldn't fit in his trailer! More on the blog...
Had the usual 'you can't do any roadwork then' when people noticed the feet. I just did my usual routine of smiling sweetly and explaining that we event and do LOTS of roadwork but its just cos he's got very good feet
Dan is doing very well but I am struggling to get him to gain weight on the limited grass... but more grass and he gets the walking on eggshells look when he has mud packed in his feet, sigh. |
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| brucea |
Just want to tell everyone - Bramble had his first little walk out in his driving harness and cart last night - only 500 yards with one child on board and all at walk with his boots on - but his little face was something to see.
Afterwards he stood licking his cart - he absolutely loves his driving job! Was a bit of work to get him to just walk - he wanted to tank off at trot! A wee small step on the road back to normality. Hooves are looking good - thanks Anni for helping us through this. My daughter was quite emotional - this is the last summer she would have been riding her pony as she's so very quickly growing out of him and laminitis has meant she is losing much of that remaining time - but she can still drive him and she was delighted to be back in the seat! |
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| hobnob |
Well done Bruce and Bramble - hope for all things good for the rest of the summer !!
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| brucea |
End of May/into June report
Bramble - much improved and feet looking really quite good - still a way to go yet before he can really come back into work, but we give thanks for the recovery he has had. Fronts looking good with concavity developing, frogs widening etc., small improvements and all in the right direction. The big crest he has always had has all but disappeared on the MagOx, and he is maintaining his weight on the light side which is better for his feet. Apollo - no problems with gobble guts after his escape into the feed bins! Feet just stonking, and rasping them is a sweaty job! The abrasive sand/clay surface really suits him. Link - now I really notice the difference in his ability to walk over the rough ground when he has been on grass for a few days. I try to let him have as many days off grass as possible but the dry lot just isn't large enough for 3 and I can't extend it easily, and he becomes very unsettled for his herd (he's very much Alpha). Had tried a muzzle but he just has a tantrum and paws it off. Altogether I'd say his transition to barefoot has gone well, but is not complete yet. He's had a fairly unballanced back foot - inbound, but that is levelling up now and approaching something normal looking and he's going well on it. I'm learning that the most useful tools in my trimming bucket are time, patience, and observation. |
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| cptrayes |
Sarah we need June
Meanwhile from May, check this lovely foot from George's first ever event. 
And while we're at it, here's the XC and the XC from his second ever event. His third will be a PN. He's foot perfect, never slips, rock crunching. 
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| Sarah |
What a way to end May  Way to go George :0)
S x |
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| cptrayes |
Have you spotted how he started June
Unbroken to PreNovice in three months! C |
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