| Archive for uknhcp.myfastforum.org Natural hoof care resource forums for all those interested in barefoot horses |
| Nic |
OctoberAngel has started hunting - he is the latest rehab, who came with "navicular" and poor medial lateral balance. He was truly angelic this morning - more on the blog about him!The others are all working well, apart from Hector who has re-tweaked his hamstring by flinging himself about like a buffoon on Friday, silly boy. We are now in clipping mode as well - yuk! Endless task every 2 weeks from now till January 
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| brucea |
Right...well...should I organise the lameness workup and xrays at the vets?
Link's been occasionally mis stepping, going a bit short, ocassionally going "oooh" on turning to the right - for a couple of weeks he had pulses when I took him in. This was the foot we had lots of trouble with earlier this year and never really got a diagnosis. Put him on a regime of being in the dry lot 12 hours a day and back out at night. So I spoke to the vet and he recommended a full afternoon at the hospital, full lameness workup with progressive blocks from the tip of his toe to the tip of his nose, x rays maybe scans... But over the last week or so there has not been pulses when he comes in in the morning, and he has been happier on that foot, and hasn't been snatching it or stumbling on right turns. Still does not like the really rough ground going across the yard - btu then I hate walking on it too. So - decisions, decisions - insurance time is running out and I'm not convinced completely that it is fully sorted out and there might be somethign low grade grumbling away there. So should I go ahead and get it all done? Would be under inevitable pressure to put him back in shoes to "protect his soles" (which are a good 22-24mm thick on the xrays and I doubt need "protecting" as such). Update: Nic advised today to give it another week before deciding what to do - and see if the iprovement continues. Sounds like good advice to me. |
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| horsesfirst |
oh lordy - you have to do what you feel is the right thing, no one can really advise you.
But my old girl had years of x rays and scans and all sorts of painful sh1t for various 'rumbles and grumbles' and I then realised it was diet............  
Having fixed that she went rock crunching in weeks. The point being - Brucea you know diet is an issue and you know your horse. The vet knows scans and x-rays and stuff, but how much do you trust your vet to really 'know' about horses rather than just the technology? So you might spend a lot and get no further or you might not go to the vet and then regret it. My new vet (old one retired - I didn't kill him off - promise!) is, I think, through example of old girl and Grace et al maybe getting the idea. Maybe.
Certainly when he proposed various 'things' (for old girl) and I said, 'will that change the treatment' and he said 'no' he sort of took a step back and realised what he had been about to suggest was an expensive waste of time, money and pain. I had finally got fed up of paying vets to satisfy their curiousity and experiment on my horse with no obvious benefits. But Brucea - if you are concerned, you should go to the vet if you think that will help. I've only posted this because it took me over 10 years to realise my old vet was very nice, but bar giving jabs and the odd stitch, almost useless. My new vet, will maybe with a bit of training be better 
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| brucea |
Thanks horsesfirst. Well, I think the diet is as good as I can get it, the environment is less than perfect with having to go out to grass for half the day - but then again this is a horse who has lived out on grass 24x365 from the time I bought him 9 years ago and never had these problems before so I'm comfortable with what I'm doing at the moment.
(yes, I know, no one's horse had problems with grass until they realise they had problems with grass! I've known horses on grass for years and then suddenly one day they crash with laminitis - so I'm not throwing caution to the wind.) So I'm kind of the opinion now that we will keep an eye on it for the next week - I've upped his linseed, seaweed, brewers yeast and so on for a few weeks to give additional support - if there are any signs of discomfort in the next week or so then we will go ahead and do the tests - if something obvious comes up then it is a bonus and we'll know something we didn't know before. If nothing comes up then I will know that there are still things I have to with diet and environment. I think it is the only way that I will be able to determine if it's something physically damaged, or diet/environment. He's landing heel first and isn't sparing that hoof. It's just subtle and intermittent. In any case it will be interesting to see if there are changes in the x-rays over the last 8 months. We've had horrible winds up here today - lots of bits of tree down and passed one car lying under an uprooted sorbus tree. Hope everyone is OK. |
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| cptrayes |
Radar is now so rock crunching that he has convinced two grooms at Somerford to de-shoe their horses. They are just gobsmacked at his ability to walk across the carpark 
He drag hunted another four hours today up some of the worst tracks we've been on - stones on concrete - and didn't bat an eye. A 16 year old boy asked me why he has no shoes on. I said because I knew how to manage him without and he doesn't need them. And then he asked "But why don't you have him shod?" I was a bit speechless at that, and eventually replied by asking him why on earth I would pay £80 for a set of shoes for a horse who doesn't need them! Yesterday Jazz did a ride that I did exactly this time last year. It was that ride last year that convinced me that I needed to change something - he was terribly sensitive on the stones. This year - no problem at all with sensitivity and much better concavity to end the summer. The result, I believe, of taking him off grass during the day March to October, plus additional magnesium and YeaSacc (which I have now changed to Brewer's Yeast with even better results, so far). Button the Shetland has a huge belly but seems solid on his feet. He is only two and still growing, so that may help. |
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| becnreps |
We're not having much success at this end with the rock crunching front. Repsol is still quite far from that and I am looking forward to winter as I have no options on changing his environment. Grass is still a big burden for us, I think that is quite obvious when I look at the rest of his diet and know that it is the best that it could be.
Funny this Bruce, its like me with Repsol, I only noticed just how sensitive he was to the grass when I started restricting it ...! Also, I'm wondering if there's 'something in the grass' this year at our yard. An owner of a normally barefoot (or I should say 'unshod' really) big (fat) cob has had him shod this year as he has raspberry ripple hooves and is very footsore. Also, another horse who is very lami-prone, is on the same routine as he has been for the past 4 years and a couple of months ago was struck down by a bout of laminitis. So maybe everything has been against me this year. I have just been booting whenever I ride out further and go on more rocky tracks as he is completely 100% sound on the tarmac and softer routes that we go on regularly. I had the physio out yesterday and am relieved to know that he is completely fine - no stiffness or soreness whatsoever. I was expecting him to be quite bad as I have been keeping him in more often and he has been very footy on the tracks backwards and forwards from the field on a few occasions but the physio commented on how flexible and soft he was - I must be doing something right!! 
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| Sarah |
What a fab ride the Isle Estate fun ride is. Lovely sunny day to ride along the banks of the Severn and have the option of jumping 100 optional jumps, most of which Fari flew across. Super stuff and a lovely day.
S x |
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| horsesfirst |
I think it has been an exceptionally difficult year fructose in grass wise. Warm (enough) and in some places quite wet.
'Madam' the little QH has just been placed 3rd in a tiny (in all respects) jumping class. One small step and all that 
Bit of a b**ger that no one noticed she was barefoot - although short of time etc etc I did whip the rasp out and have a go at her fronts - while she snoozed with her head on my bum. (did I mention how big it is?)
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| brucea |
My wife said this is how it is with people too - if they are intollerant of grains or dairy produce then when they start on the exclusion diet, any indiscretion produces an over-reaction and folks can be quite surprised. But after a period of time soemtimes the offending food can be reintroduced and tollerated well in small amounts. |
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| horsesfirst |
Is that why Madam tried to whip my S&V crisps off me?........... | ||
| cptrayes |
Horsesfirst - how big it is as in her head, or your bum? 
C |
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| lazeearabians |
Me and barefoot since June arab did a 15 mile pleasure ride on Sunday. Booted all round and glad I did as we were up on the Mary Townley loop and a new section of the Pennine Bridleway. Although we shouldn't complain that they keep adding new bits to the Pennine Bridleway the new section we rode yesterday has been surfaced in very sharp stones - not ideal for any horse... shod or barefoot. He coped absolutely fine in his Easyboot Gloves whereas I saw some of the shod horses step on stones and do the head bob for a few strides. The shod horse I rode alongside did trip quite a lot whereas we were surefooted all round - despite the very rough terrain. I'm much more confident trotting along rough ground these days knowing he can actually feel where he's putting his feet. Finally killed the Gloves on his hinds though - but we've got loads of milage out of them this year... many more miles than we used to get out of his shoes
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| horsesfirst |
cptrayes - her head is small but made of lead. When she naps she all but dribbles. My bum is table like so very convenient resting point when one is having a manicure and feeling a little tired after jumpies..........
lazeearabians - I love the gloves too, although Madam has graduated out of them for the most part now. Old horse had feet like granite so never needed anything (after I'd sorted out her sugar thang) |
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| brucea |
Well - my lessons are always learned the hard way - I never put anything in my back pockets because when you're trimming a little pony he just has to investigate and if he thinks it is something tasty - like the stub end of a pack of polos for example - it just has to be bitten.
Aside from the sheer excruciating pain of being bitten there, it caused great hilarity for the onlookers. |
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| horsesfirst |
bum is too big to allow anything in the back pockets.................. | ||
| dorisday |
Well, I sat on a wasp last week in the saddle. On the way home along a brambly track with lots of rosehips, leant forward to pick a handful for superstar beneath me, sat back down and WHAM! Bloody wasp launched his bum into mine and it was agony! Still got a lump there now . . . | ||
| sarahh |
Kate that is hilarious, i just laughed out loud. your poor bum. bruce, yours too.
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| brucea |
Well Kate - you got it in the end!
brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it! |
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| Nic |
Since we're in confessional mode...here's my admission...had to go for a wee au naturel in the middle of Exmoor a couple of days ago and sat on a nettle - first time ever, and will make sure it never happens again - not as bad as a wasp sting but an itch in an embarrassing place
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| brucea |
Sometime, just sometimes, it's good to be a bloke! 
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| stormybracken |
My previously rock crunching NF is rock crunching if I lead him but not if I ride him at the moment, although fine on fields, roads, and gravelly tracks. I cut out lucie stalks a month ago but doesn't seem to have made a difference to either his weight, stamina, or rock crunchiness so won't worry about re-introducing them if/when his weight/stamina tell me he needs something else. Interestingly I had divided their field into "bare" for day-time and opened up the second half for "some grass" for night time, and the "bare" paddock now has more grass than the other! Due to incessant rain flooding the bare paddock (has it really been only two days?) I've now opened up both halves for foreseeable future before landowner chucks me off for ruining his land. They have clearly been spending many more hours in the so-called "bare" paddock due to 2 x wheelbarrows worth of poos v. 2 x piles of poo in the other.
Obsession is a wonderful thing. |
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| SueH |
Due to commitments et.c Jake has now had 3 weeks off work except for lesson last wednesday and quick 50 min hack Friday where is jogged round the lanes happily. He's now clipped (bib) ready to go back into work at the weekend and get rid of some that belly. He continues to exude good health however after a summer of lots of exercise.
Clay is looking heaps better - his skin has healed well. I think it will take quite some time to get the skin & coat condition really good, its still a little dry but his coat is getting a good sheen so we are on the up. His feet manage the hard concrete and lane tarmac - we continue to do very short walks. Will wait till Sarah sees him next week before doing any more than that with Renegades etc. I have upped his linseed to lL jug full and they are on 3 x 500 i.u. caps of vit E per day. |
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| horsesfirst |
Despite less than good environment and definitely not enough work, Gracie is continuing to improve foot wise. Some decontraction, heel first landing in walk and improved confidence in her barefoot tootsies. Although footy on stones over concrete.
Pictures can be seen on her blog http://danceswithgrace.blogspot.c...t-i-didnt-get-kicked-in-head.html[/url] |
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| brucea |
That's quite good changes in her feet aren't they! Well done! You must be very pleased with her. Isn't it just amazing how quickly the hooves can change given the right diet and environment - and what happens on the outside is just a sign of the things going on inside.
Well, Becky drove our little chap Bramble out today for about 2 miles - far enough for him a the moment becuase he's been recovering from a bout of RAO and he had also been a bit short on his right on circles. He did really well, looked quite sound in a driving-pony-who-paddles kind of way and had a few short spells of trot on slight downhills. We came back through the fields and he offered a bit of canter so we let him go for a hundred yards but brought him back to walk quite quickly. Little chap was very pleased wiht himself - driving is his thing and he hasn't been fit enough for a while to do it. I rode Link out alongside. I think I will arange to get the lameness workout and the xrays repeated - there is still something niggling away there on the right front. Nothing big but a snatch when he is turning to the right. Sound enough on straight lines and left rein - but I do notice he tends to throw the right front out a bit more - like snapping the knee straighter when he walks forward. Good heel first landings so not sore in the back half of the hoof. Didn't stop him having a right blast up the field though! Blew away the cobwebs for both of us! Took the fronts off another Clydesdale today in the yard. Going to have to get a bigger pair of shoe pullers - the ones I have barely fit round the shoe!!! Enormous things - like dustbin lids. Can hear them clanging when they hit the tarmac. Goodness knows how much concussion they must cause! P.S - I have found a great use for old shoes. We use them as weights when we go boat fishing for cod or ling. Just put some braid through the nail holes, attach a swivel, and you have a good 12oz boat fishing weight that you don't mind losing. Much more environmentally friendly than lead weights.
Click to see full size image And the results tasted pretty good too! |
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| sarahh |
Boy & I have had a fun morning team chasing in treacherous conditions. It has been raining all day & we were the 3rd class around the course so not only was it very wet, it was very churned up too. But the pony was AWESOME! One slip when he tried to whizz round a right angled corner to catch up with the leader, but SO surefooted other than that, up and down the side of a hill with huge drops & banks etc ... 28 fences in all & he did not put a foot wrong! couldn't hold the bugger, he was 14.2 hands of pure power & muscle but how he enjoyed himself (and me too!)
Best bit was talking to a lady who is thinking of going barefoot. She got to see barefoot performance first hand & liked what she saw. May stop grinning soon...
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| dorisday |
Sarah, that is just brilliant! Well done you and Boy! How was your ankle? | ||
| SueH |
Sarah ye ha! well done to both of you 
How cool for people to see the awesome power of barefoot performance
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| cptrayes |
I am SOOOOOOO jealous! 
C |
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| brucea |
Had a couple of trips to the quarry today with the trailer and got another 3 ton of pea gravel - for £11 a ton unwashed - that means it still has some sand in it. Looked pretty clean to me though
Always surprisess me how little ground a ton of pea gravel covers - so I'm chipping away at it a few square metres at a time!
The kids will sleep tonight - they did most of the shovelling! They'll get an extra bowl of gruel though. Making a huge difference to the ponies feet. It's really nice to walk on. |
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| Nic |
Well done Sarah and Boy - wonderful stuff - any photos?!
Child labour is a marvellous invention, isn't it Bruce 
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| sarahh |
Don't get too excited everyone, the fences in the team chase were only up to 2'6!
Photos weren't great, but can be found here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php...amp;id=624516766&l=9d4398b8e8 |
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| SueH |
photos look good to me !
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| stormybracken |
Looks great fun! | ||
| hobnob |
Looks great Sarah ! The 2 coloureds look great together - my fav !!
We are doing fine mid October. Still only moving elec fence at night with soaked hay and Fast Fibre and additives. Feet are fine. I must post some hoof pics on my blog, especially the ones from 2 years ago when the frog only covered a tiny section at the back of the foot! Both pones are in their full winter woolies and are getting a bit sweaty during the day sometimes. Look dead cute though !! |
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| brucea |
very still, wet, stuffy and warm here. Classic Autumn flush weather - need to be vigilant.
Well - Mathew J coming to look at Link tomorrow. Decided that I wanted a completely fresh pair of eyes before I put him through the whole lameness workout thing wth nerve blocks and so on. Quite looking forward to hearing what he has to say. Well Mathew's been - WOW - what a guy! Just a breath of fresh air and helped me to understand the mechanics of how my horse is loading his front feet, and why. Confirmed that some of the things going on are continuing signs of beneficial development but I need to do some more things with diet and nutritional support.
Have decided I will try to get the xrays done again just to see the changes since January, but have the confidence now to go up against the vet's recommendations to shoe with wedges - I knew it was not the thing to do but needed that confidence. When I showed him the shoe that came off that foot against the foot itself, Mathew commented on the huge amount of internal modelling that must have gone on to allow that level of decontraction and change of shape - and that the process of internal remodelling would cause pain at times. I just wish I could re-run the conversation again a few times because I need to absorb it all - so many pieces fell into place with a loud clunk. I had the laptop with me so we had pictures of the xrays, but I also had some old pictures of Link before his shoes came off and he always stood with his weight more on the front of his foot - now when I look at them they seem exagerated versions of what I see today - so even his standing position has changed over the last two years since going barefoot. I can't help it, but I feel a huge burden of guilt that I have caused him all that discomfort and didn't realise just how bad his feet really were. |
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| stormybracken |
Just remember you are doing EVERYTHING you can to help him, there must be lots of positive changes about him you can think of, and you are deliberately helping him now and learning from his past.
And helping people like me in the process, who can see similarities between your horses' experiences and ours. Thanks |
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| Nic |
Bruce, glad you've found Matthew such a great help - he is definitely one of the good guys
Grass is still problematic here, and Bailey has to be off the grass completely even now, which is later than normal. We've had very warm sunny weather the last week or so, which has caused problems for lots of people. Other than that, the horses are mostly doing well - Hector has had a recurrence of his previous muscle injury, not surprising as he just won't do quiet and steady and is his own worst enemy. The hunting boys are doing well - now into their third month and thanks to the GPS, we've recorded that both Felix and Charlie have clocked up nearly 200 hunting miles; even Jacko and Bailey have done over 100 miles each
I will be fascinated to find out how much they do over a whole season! N |
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| cptrayes |
Bruce you're doing just fine. The alternative to some discomfort for Link now would surely be more discomfort later and an early death?
Jazz has thrown two ginormous spavin lumps. By some absolute miracle, he is sound even on flexion tests, so my guess is that they are already fused and the lumps are an outward sign. So - did barefoot help him go through spavin with no pain? Or was barefoot in any way responsible that the horse I bought to replace a horse with spavins has also thrown spavins? Anyone else had spavins after going barefoot? I can't see any reason at all why they should be linked. The pictures won't load until I faff around putting them into Powerpoint and resaving them, so if you want to see take a quick look at todays Smartiesdiary.blogspot.com posting called "Piaffes, pirouettes and perfect changes". C |
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| Roobarbs Mum |
Mr Roo is still going well on all surfaces, just got to build up some stamina as he's getting tired quickly. He's moving to our main yard on Sunday so I'll be able to do more with him. His feet seem to have got bigger - is that a good thing? They don't look flared and I can't feel any alteration in the angle when I run my fingers down them.
I'm still trying to read as much as I can about barefoot and trimming etc but there are only so many hours in a day Also, don't know whether it's my age or not but I only seem to be able to remember half the info
Took Angel's shoes off yesterday to give her feet a holiday over winter. I'm going to measure them at the weekend and size up some new boots and see if I can persuade her to give barefoot a try. I'm pretty sure it's just an attitude problem with her as her HR never changes and she won't even trot on grass when ridden but will happily piaffe and tart for the boys on a really stoney lane
Lucy |
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| cptrayes |
Lucy if they were too small they'll get bigger and if they were too big they'll get smaller. It's magic, this barefoot lark innit????
C |
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| horsesfirst |
Little QH went XC schooling today. 1st time over xc in her life so we stuck to 2ft and under, but went a bit mad with the variety and included water, ditches, steps and spreads.
Many fences had road planings for take off and landing which a few shod horses' owners moaned at. LQH didn't blink an eye and jumped like a seasoned professional. Oh and these were the feet that the vet declared incurably flat and definitely needing shoes
PS 18 months ago she was a failed in hand western horse with really bad feet |
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| sarahh |
Boy & I went clear today round a 3 foot xc course. With no slips, trips or stumbles. He was ace. Not bad for a little 14.2 coblet!
Excuse the poor quality, but here's a couple of pics Showing you those lovely hinds... 
Click to see full size image just landed.... 
Click to see full size image 
Click to see full size image |
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| hobnob |
Just an update to say we seem to be growing a big lumpy back of frog on both fronts of late. Frogs have never been amazing but that may be changing ? | ||
| horsesfirst |
Let's hope they are going in the right direction for you hobnob
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| Roobarbs Mum |
Thanks cptrayes - I think they must have been too small as they don't look out of place now.
Angel's feet are hideous she's got big holes where we should have white line and her walls have all flared out on the quarters. Her frogs are huge but seem to be shedding. The soles are all cheesy and crumbly and there are no bars to speak of. The heels are under-running as well. Oh well, things can only get better
When I've figured out how to get my photos off the camera and on to here then I'll post them up so I can get some advice about what to do with them. At the moment I'm just taking her for short walks round the block and back but there is a good mix of terrain - hard tracks, tarmac, sand & grass. Lucy |
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| SueH |
Clay sound in walk (heel first ) on hard surfaces, sound in walk trot on soft surfaces (beautiful trot). yet to test trot on hard surface. Currently up to about 20mins in hand per day unbooted, [now his sole sensitivity has been addressed by diet]. Ponying out with his chum Jake is next job. Trial hack for 15 mins in boots (I'm tiny 6.5 stone and he's 16'2 so not much to carry ) : terribly worried whilst tacking up but lots of reassurance, and he relaxed - this guy has lots of bad memories. Has been ridden in flash/dropped noseband before, appears to enjoy freedom of halter. Seems to relax even more when I mount up.
Hated the trailer (owner said he'd reared up and knocked head in one so refuses to load in trailer. He bolted off twice first time I showed him mine). Seems to really worry about what's going to happen when he sees saddle, trailer, halter etc. and his only (albeit todate very effective ) defence has been to stiffen like an ironing board, use his shoulder and bolt off. Seems genuinely suprised at release of pressure as part of our communication (he almost fell over when I first started rope twirling: I released on a try and he seemed to expect me to keep pulling and pulling). Now he's getting a bit of faith in release we are starting to have a converstation. Very food orientated : After 3 short sessions, confidently strode up to trailer and planted both feet inside for bit of grub. He's not in yet but he'll get there. Clay's left fore - his transition from 'Pingu' to horse
EDITED TO ADD on arrival shod 
Click to see full size image july 09 (about 3 weeks after de-shoeing) 
Click to see full size image sept 09 - notch cut by vet following abscess 
Click to see full size image oct 09 trim #2 
Click to see full size image 3 angle changes visible : lowest Pingu-stylee is from winter conditioning feed (loadsa grain  to keep weight on) ; mid section is I think when he comes off grain and goes onto poor grazing; highest band is his new diet with me.
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| horsesfirst |
Great changes well done you!
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| Nic |
Well done everyone, and particularly Sue and Clay!
You'll get there - the first time Jacko saw the trailer the same thing happened, and it took a few weeks to get him within 10 feet of the trailer, but he now self loads and is a great traveller. Come to thnk of it, Jacko used to bolt even if you tried to lead him in or out from the field
N |
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| SueH |
Thanks guys I'm even more pleased with Clay as last night I trotted him up on some smooth tarmac as test and LOVELY & SOUND
(very nice paces indeed )
Diet is the key but Sarah also advised wisely to let him alone in the beginning as his feet were so compromised. So for first two months he just plodded round the paddock (and settled into his new home and herd member Jake) and improved on his own. Now he's ready for exercise and my job is clear:- get him moving in his comfort zone. Already Clay is moves very well and happily on smooth tarmac without boots AND I am making mental note NOT get too addicted to booted work. It was remarkable how Jake zoomed up in performance after working more out of boots. I have promised myself to keep monitoring Clay's comfort zone so I dont end up over using them. I am tempted to ride out unbooted but carry them and just slip them on if I find he's struggling. |
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| SueH |
Have updated last post to include shod picture.... | ||
| brucea |
We have been battered by heavy rain and wind for the last 3 days - hope it;s not as bad everywhere else. Many of the fields are flooded and the local rivers are higher than I can remember ever having seen them. Quite a number of the roads are impassable for ordinary vehicles.
Unfortunately an elderly local farmer lost his life today trying to rescue some stranded cows in the flood plain of the River Don. We have no dry rugs for the horses, or jackets for us and the children! evrything is soaked! Hopefuly it will lighten up tomorrow and befin to fine down. Hope everyone else is OK around the country. On the Dengie Alfa pellets - certainly beign eaten up wiht great gusto - we'll see if that makes a difference. |
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| stormybracken |
Much warmer but still very wet down south, and am in the "to rug not to rug" dilemma with my IDxTB. I KNOW he's a horse and won't melt, he's not clipped, and has plenty of shelter, is not being ridden so doesn't need to be clean, and I need to get his diet right, but after dramatic weight loss two winter's ago, and over-rugging last winter, this is now my next quandry!
This is combined with the "increase field size due to mud v. too much Dr.Evil" decision. They've finished their first ever course of Verm-X powder, adding mint was the answer to persuading them to eat it. No colic or footiness, hurray! Just hope it works. I abandoned the pumpkin seeds as wasn't sure if the poo nuggets (love that description) were revealing tapeworm bits or seeds! My hairdresser says she's read that pumpkin seeds act as wormers for humans, not that I'm in ANY WAY obsessed about any of this. Needless to say rock crunching NF is thriving, no rugs (or worry) needed there! |
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| Nic |
Bad luck Bruce - was hearing about the terrible weather you were having - hope its now eased a bit...
Foggy and mild down here, very humid and wet, and there is even fog in the barn
SB, FWIW my old horse is the only one not clipped but I rug him (also ID x TB) because he hates the wet and chills very easily once he is soggy, besides taking ages to dry out. I used to have another IDxTB though who removed his own rugs, even when he was clipped, until about January - horses for courses! N |
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| stormybracken |
Mmmh, interesting. He's always hated the wet, though has been OK so far this season although nothing like brucea's weather conditions, but I am watching and waiting. His NF friend removes his rugs for him, bless. Possibly if his diet is improving he won't be so sensitive, but it's reassuring I may not have been imagining it in the past! | ||
| SueH |
Jake and Clay both TBs not rugged except for one bad night. Its not too bad here + track sheltered. Jake has always loved standing in the shelter out of draught, rain: he trots up to field shelter as soon as it starts to spit - hates getting wet. Clay just likes being with Jake. So, ex racer and confirmed claustraphobic Clay has learnt the positives of standing inside a shelter, from agraphobic rainaphobic Jake and is now very much a fan.
The downside is that if they spend lots of time in their, their not moving just pooing with ocassional foray outside to roll and play. But really, its only when its really bad weather and then all the horses just stand and weather it out. Jake doesnt like his head getting wet so even in a rug he'd prob always go inside. The big but is exercise : I am greeted each morning by two bundles of dried poo-mud and bedding on four legs I am considering rugging so I can actually exercise them without architechural digging operation to find a horse - takes forever and I need to be time effecient and ride before work to keep up frequency of exercise with dark nights coming.
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| hobnob |
Both ponies went out for a mammoth hack today. We went cross country so to speak, no roads, just over fields and ditches etc. Feet performed really well and they both fell asleep when we got back !! | ||
| brucea |
Well - it has finally stopped raining this morning. All our rugs are sodden, all our waterproofs are sodden and we're just all fed up of being wet! The ponies have just had enough!
Bramble has always strugled with his feet after a prolonged wet period - but on the pea gravel he has stayed perfectly happy. Think I have found a nice private yard we can get from the middle of November but not quite there yet. Strange, when the prospect of moving is thrust in front of you , you begin to see all the other things that you have been unhappy with in a much sharper light. |
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| SueH |
Clay up to about 40 mins a day unbooted mostly at walk, on tarmac lanes. Sunday he went furthest, over an hour on lanes and offered trot [sound] on long stretch. Starting to chill out, less of a brace when I pick up reins now.
Ponyed Clay off Jake at 7.30 this morning. Clay slightly less forward than he has been, possibly heels 'tired' from yesterday. If same tomoz, will give him day off - I also need a day off soon
Jake coming back to fitness gradually, out most days lots of trotting, lots of road work. Feet looking better again. What he has NOT lost is his flexibility. We've been working on this after Martha/Ken clinics. Definitely improving so much so its quite a shock when I ride Clay who is so straight ! One thing is that its been hard to find chums that hack at good pace consistently for fittening work. Its either walk with company or trot alone...So we have ended up on our lonesome most days but things might be looking up with company on the horizon. |
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| brucea |
Well - that's a new yard sorted out. We have found a delightful small yard, with just us and a friend, with direct access into the woodland tracks. 4 fields, all old unfertilised sward (we got 30 years of history!)
There are 3 stables, tack room and hay store. All quite compact but functional. Every field has an old cast iron bath with spring fed water! It's owned by an absolutely remarkable 79 year old lady who was an eventer and had a terrible accident many years ago - breaking her neck and having to relearn how to walk. She is absolutely delighted to have the children there, and I have the sneaking suspicion that they might just be spoiled rotten! She is extremely knowlegeable and quite pro barefoot which is even better. Unfortunately she has made up a list of jobs that she needs done when we move into the yard and top of the list is the yard drain! So all in all it feels really good and I think our guys will be happy there. There are donkeys over in the next field - that should keep the cob occupied! The main worry is whether Bramble can make the transition back to having access to grass. I think he probably can, if we are careful, and provide him the right support. He's in a hugely better place now than he was 18 months ago, and we can control access. Looking forward to the move now. Move in in a couple of weeks time. |
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| cptrayes |
Sounds great Bruce, good luck with the move.
C ps my fondest memory of your country, apart from living in Rhu (Gareloch) for 2 years from 9 to 11, is of staying in a B&B with a chain on the bath and the landlady telling us in her brooooooad Scots accent "baaaaths are ten peeeeee".
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| stormybracken |
Hurray! I've been thinking of you all. Good time of year to be moving re-grass? Gives you time to prepare for the spring. Fingers and everything else crossed...
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| brucea |
Wow...you were obviously going for the cold one. It's much more if you want warm water! Thanks all. The thing that is really concerning me is the pony moving out fo a completely bare paddock to having access to grass. Thanks to Anni's help he is in a hogely better place than he has ever been befpore - but still worried. So it will be double at least of the MgO then, and I'll begin the pro and pre-biotics a few days before we move. Anythign else that might help the adjustment? |
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| hobnob |
Good luck with Bramble - I am sure he will be fine with your watchful eye on him.
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| hoofvet |
VetsAt last! Have been waiting for a bit of vet bashing to have my say! Not a full time horse vet because I don't toe the party line with the rest of my profession. It is difficult when you believe that the vet profession currently has very little to offer the lame horse, and nothing to offer in terms of preventing orthopedic problems. Often feel like we are defrauding the horse owning public, and failing in our duty to the horse. I do however consider it my duty to give all my students an insight into natural hoof care, using my two neds as an example. I consider it my personal contribution to improving equine welfare!Have also been known to buy the odd keen one a copy of Pete Rameys book. Its an uphill struggle, but not all vets are from the dark side!! (maybe just most of them!!)javascript:emoticon(' ')
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| horsesfirst |
Welcome to the forum hoofvet. Where are you based? Why do you have to toe the party line in order to be a full time horse vet?
Any way hope you enjoy the posts here and once again welcome!
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| brucea |
Welcome hoofvet!
Anni came today and was a little concerned about Bramble - he has been "not so good" the last few days and I was putting it down to just having so much rain and his feet being wet all the time. Slight pulse in left fore this mornign, but it was gone by this evening (when it was dark). But Anni reminded us (shows how much better he has been) that he does have a hormonal issue in early spring and mid autumn and we need to be quite vigilant. Sometimes you can be so close to it all, you can miss something obvious going on. Which is why it's good to have another keen pair of eyes on the whole thing. Anni, as always, gave good advice so it's off to get the Ron Fields liver tonic Remount1 for him and the Gastrisoothe plus as well to help him over the next few weeks. |
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| horsesfirst |
Good luck with your move Brucea and I hope Bramble feels better soon. | ||
| hoofvet |
Reply from hoofvetWhy do I have to toe the party line to be a full time horse vet? Because I am not the boss! Also most owners I deal with aren't aware of the health benefits of barefoot, aren't brave enough to ask their farrier for something different, don't believe that horses work better barefoot, have friends who tell them it doesn't work, don't have the time/confidence etc to research barefoot, and don't beleive that they could do the biggest part of it all by themselves. Or maybe some are too damn lazy. You will have heard all that before, no doubt! Just have to trust that the ones that want help will hear about me somehow. Work in Scottish borders by the way! |
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| brucea |
You'll never really influence people by trying to convince, proselytise or convert them - the only way is for people to see it works with their own eyes and come to the conclusions themselves. They either go barefoot becuase they have looked at the evidence and are convinced, or there is no other solution left for their horse!
I was hostile, but successful barefoot horses I know very well convinced me to be otherwise. |
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| cptrayes |
Hoofvet if you practised anywhere near me you'd have my business immediately! It is great to hear from a Vet who actually knows that horses can work barefoot.
Welcome! C |
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| brucea |
Well we have moved. Link and Apollo are in the firld by the new stables
Bramble has a penthouse suite consisting of a stable that he can run in and out of, a concrete apron, a muck heap foc climbing on, the old 15 foot high muck heap that is solid and covered in nettles and a limited area of old tussocky grass. He's in a better place than he has been for a long time so let's hope he copes wiht it. Link travelled very badly and abraded both his back heels on the door of the trailer Just needed some chlorohex spray and we will keep an eye on it. He was pretty sweated up and we had a hard stop at one point - why is it that drivers feel the need to cut up the horsebox!!!
On impulse today I picked a handful of grass from Tertowie and took it with me, and compared it with the grass at the new place. The grass from Tertowie is darker and on crushing it has a bitter and unpleasant, slightly greasy smell - the new grass smells more like fresh spinach and is drier when crushed...I didn't feel up to tasting it! But, it is interesting to notice that there is a difference and it is very noticeable. May just be difference between rye grass and fesque species. Must learn more about grass species. We'll find out in the morning how Bramble has got on. He did try to barge out but then realised the electric fence does really work! By the way - a wee hint - I picked up a fantastic solar panel battery charger from eBay for £18 and according to my multimeter it pumps out a nice heathy 15V to charge the battery even on quite an overcast day. Hopefully it will do the job. |
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| Nic |
Well done Bruce - hope the boys settle in well from now on
We've had fun in the sun at our opening meet over the weekend http://rockleyfarm.blogspot.com/2009/11/felix-says-keep-hunting.html
All the horses who missed the meet are making up for it with re-doubled boisterous behaviour
N |
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| Roobarbs Mum |
Didn't do anything major this weekend (as usual) but Alex rode Angel both days and she coped with trotting on some fairly stony paths and did a very good impression of a Jedi starfighter (Alex has Aspergers and is currently fixated on Star Wars )
Me and Mr Roo officially left the floor yesterday . We managed our first real jump in the woods. Usually we either have the front feet lift off or the back ones but this time we had all 4 .
Also managed some very grown up cantering at the back of the group with sensible strike offs-not always on the asked for leg but that's fine, I'd rather have the wrong leg than a bronc any day
Lucy |
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| brucea |
And what's wrong with that? I'm more "Klingons on the starboard bow.." though. Well - after a sleepless night worrying about the lads - got to the new yard this morning to find Bramble as happy as a lark with his hay emptied untouched, the shavings scattered everywhere, many of the nettles eaten, bouncy happy and alert - and for having had restricted access to grass, not a bit of footiness, heat or pulses. So first night over - just have to remain vigilant.
I'm sure the Rron Fields Remount 1 has helped him hugely - thanks Anni and Mathew for both recommending it, and to Anni for giving us enough to tide us over the weekend becuase I forgot to re-order it!
The remount 1 seems to have had a good effect on Bramble - the first few days he seemed very restless and we noticed silly things like his eyes were really discharging a lot of gunky matter - but that cleared up and now he's much brighter and more alert than he has been for quite a long time! Seems to have his Mojo back. Apollo and Link were completely chilled, but when the feed buckets were produced it was a mad charge across the field at top speed - then a whooonnnoooo..sh*t moment for stupid cob when he realised he might not be able to stop before hitting the electric fence! (Which works really well by the way - ECT at 8:00 is not my idea of fun )
Apollo too seems to have coped well with limited access to grass and seemed well enough in himself. Link was relaxed and his breath didn't smell bitter, and there was not a pulse in his right foot (which there is most mornings and why I had been squeezing him into in the dry lot during the days for the last few months), and he didn't have mucky gluey eyes. So Bramble got out in the field for a half hour this morning, and flew around bucking, cat leaping, rearing, braying at the top of his voice, snorting and farting loudly.
Pleasure to see it after him being cooped up in the rather small dry lot for so long. The dry lot was great, but gave cob and pony far too little motivation to move around. So... a huge relief!
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| Roobarbs Mum |
Sounds like a big thumbs up all round for the new yard, Brucea. Moving is always stressful, no matter how well you plan things
There's no way I'm getting Alex onto Star Trek - far too many episodes and spin-off for my sanity levels. Angel took matters into her own hooves yesterday after enduring 20 minutes of non-stop sound effects and having her head turned this way and that, as he was aiming his laser cannon at the incoming space ships, the final straw came when he dropped his reins, took out his light-sabre and started battling with a Sith Lord She calmly took herself off the path and through the low branches and bushes at the side and let them whack him back into the real world . When he picked up the reins again she sauntered out and carried on as though nothing had happened
Lucy |
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