Velvet is just lapping up the lovin' from Jessie!
Yep, she got to ride Beamer too!
When Scott got here, he did Velvet first. I asked how her feet were, and it seems Matthew is on track, the only thing Scott did differently was the way he beveled the hoof wall when he trimmed it. He said Velvet had good balanced feet, and a good start on her sole callous. And no, I didn't take any photos.
Then he did Gussie; now my plan for Gussie is to keep Scott doing her, while Matthew continues to do my other horses, since I do like to be loyal. Matthew hasn't been here since we brought Gussie home. I asked Scott about programs in Canada for training and he said there is a new organization, the Canadian Hoof Association, that is working on setting up training programs, some for existing farriers, and some for learning from the beginning. He is going to send me a link to their website, which I will put on my blog. Apparently there are only 5 properly trained barefoot trimmers in Canada.
With Gussie, this is her first transitional trim. We found something interesting- her left front and left hind both had a bruise on the frog. Huh? Frogs don't bruise! Scott figured it was from last summer or fall, something higher up that had grown down through the frog, and he also thought it may be metabolic rather than an injury. I don't know what she was eating last year, perhaps grain or high sugar content in the pasture grass. It will be interesting to see if it grows out without any problems; she is starting to shed her frogs.
Also, he had a fit kit for hoof boots, and we checked it out- she wears a 1.5 Easy Care Glove boot. I intend to get her a pair this summer so I can hit the mountain trails with her. A pair of them is just a little more than the cost of a full set of shoes, and will last a long time. No more shoes on my horses! I'm hoping that Beamer will wear the same size but I think he's probably a 1. He'll get a set too.
This is the first day of spring, and so far, it's looking good! Now I'm off to clean up my smaller flower garden , and do some pruning on my fruit trees.
10 comments:
that is another thing I miss about my old mare Catana(the "barefoot Appy ") she did fine in the mountains with no shoes, the rest all would come up sore, but she just trucked along. Nice to "met " Jesse ,will she be blogging about Velvet? Gla you have a good farrier , both sound like they are good guys and never hurts to have more than one
Where do I get information on those glove boots?
Post about the boots when you get them. I've got the VERY old EZ Boots that are all too big for Colt. It would be nice to have something for him for the early spring rides (like last week), so I wouldn't have to shoe him so soon in the year.
Velvet and Jessie look like they are going to get along just fine!
Jessie looks real comfortable on Velvet--quite a pair. I don't shoe my horses either--except the one who had the P3 fracture, but that's just to cast the hoof wall so there's less movement in the arthritic coffin joint. So far, I've never had any of mine go lame and we ride on some rocky trails. I don't use boots. I don't have a clue what my farrier does--our agreement is that he worries about the feet and I worry about riding. ;)
Sweet picture of Velvet & Jessie!
hmm sounds interesting, my farrier doesnt do "barefoot trimming", more like just a trim, but luckily noe of my horses have to have shoes either. i was thinking of getting some hoof boots as well and would like to hear more about them.
I did edit my post to include a link to the website to the boots.
My farrier does barefoot trimming, and Brandy is barefoot most of the year. The only time I put shoes on her is during July/Aug when it is so dry and her hooves crack so bad. If it wasn't for that she would be barefoot all year. Fritzy gets shoes April thru Oct. But she has such flat feet and really weak soles. I tried to let her go barefoot in the summer and it just does not work. Chance has great hooves, so excited about that! No shoeing for that filly!
I am very loyal to my farrier too. I have been using him for 7 yrs, and even though he is more expensive then others, I just can't switch farriers!
looks like Jessie and Velvet are a great pair. That has to be very satisfying for you.
Only 5 barefoot trimmers in Canada seems like such a low number. I know there are tons of horses up there. It's good they're getting some education etc growing so that can change.
Pedicures for ponys?
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