Hmmm Nic - thought provoking idea. I wonder if we should try gently introducing him to driving without his boots and see how he gets on. I've always been concerned about the effect of the impact on weakened laminae - although now he has a good tight white line maybe I can be less concerned.
Bruce, TBH, so much of what we all to has to be based on that great scientific principle "suck it and see" There just isn't enough research out there, and everytime I learn something I only just seem to catch up with what my horses have been telling me all along
The fun of barefoot is being at the cutting edge Let us know how you get on, and have fun this weekend!
Snips (aka Madam) made her Mum Sally very proud today. They successfully completed their very first clear round (first for both of them!) Barefoot natch, but nobody noticed... but maybe they would have if they'd had one down Beautiful day and if we ignore kicking Pics in the field, Snips couldn't have behaved more perfectly. (An equine two fingered salute maybe - because normally Pics has to give Snips a lead over everything.)
Hacking over the South Downs afterwards Snips found the flints and sharp stones a bit of a challenge, but was fine on tarmac and grass. Her frogs are a bit rubbish and I swear her heel bulbs have deflated over the winter.
Last edited by horsesfirst on Mon Feb 23, 2009 11:52 am; edited 1 time in total
I just can't seem to make my girl completely comfortable this winter. I don't really know why.
I have just tried her off grass for 24 hours and then reintroducing limited grazing for around 4 to 6 hours per day. She had hay and her ordinary feed overnight and she is significantly better on her pins today although I booted her all round to do a 2 hour hack.
When I rode her out on Friday she was very reluctant going down hill and not at all keen to canter, today with 24 hours off grass she was much more forward going.
So I did my first poo pick of the year - such a joy!
Friday hacked Jake (unbooted) rougher bridle paths just to see how we are doing - I do get off on knarly steep bit, but he romped up it amazingly well going uphill. I was pretty gobsmacked. Much better doing this out of boots than in. We hit grass trails after this section and he was off.
However much Less keen coming down knarly section, takes his time and stops for breaks, presumably as heel does more work, so maybe just that bit too much too soon. Really its no change as Jake not keen coming down this knarly section in boots either cos even the best boots in the world slip over the smooth stoney bits. He was no worse for wear but we'll pick an easier decline for now.
1.45 hours sunday on tarmac roads - jumping (literally ) onto grass verge where possible to give heels a break. Loves romping up tarmac; slows up/avoid loose gravel ontop of smooth surface. Takes steep declines very slow [always has - prob due to stiff hock rather than navic].
Just to keep everything in balance Sally made sure to fall off in spectacular fashion on Sunday. Snips did a super downhill jump over a ditch but Sally decided not to.
Snips going well over tarmac and jumping in the woods. Had two hours eating new grass in the early morning. Feet are not wearing down. Will try to do more this week.
Athletes Foot Spray seems to be having good results on Pickles rubbish front frogs which are improving significantly. The substance of the frog is better and the sulcus no longer resembles the grand canyon. I will continue and if progress is still good I will move on to back feet which are currently deteriorating. If only my OH paid as much attention to his feet .....
Will be keeping careful watch now - this week temperatures set to rise to 10 deg and above. So considering getting Jake on to grass-free pen during the day at least.
Landlord on holiday. I am charged with keeping an eye out for burglars. I am not sure what I am supposed to do with them if I find any because the instructions didn't cover that bit So naturally being efficient we combined two jobs and trotted the girls ride and lead up his gravel drive...
The trotting was their idea, not mine and so was jumping the line of bricks at the end. I am guessing they are not feeling footy today
The brakes did come into play before we actually ended up in the house...
I know I really shouldnt speak too soon but we still have no pulses or footiness despite being out on GROWING grass. The green shoots are definatley coming up through and I am sure this time last year when it warmed up after a snowy bit I had to put lgl girl on the track. Still having hay in field but am cutting it down as grass increases. Have cut out H i Fi Lite now and on Fast Fibre as I was trying to eliminated sugar. It MAY be working so far but I doubt it will last. Will keep checking those pulses twice a day !!
Seems really strange to see them in an actual field grazing instead of on the track.
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There just isn't enough research out there, and everytime I learn something I only just seem to catch up with what my horses have been telling me all along 
Let us know how you get on, and have fun this weekend!
Snips couldn't have behaved more perfectly. (An equine two fingered salute maybe - because normally Pics has to give Snips a lead over everything.)