I'm Really Getting the Hang of This

I trimmed Cherry again today, and I'm proud to say that the whole thing took less than a hour! Including scrutinizing her feet and walking her out after, it only took about 50 minutes. This is less than half the time it took the first time! Progress!

One reason it's taking less time now is that I'm trimming every two weeks instead of four or five. It appears that two weeks or just under that is the right time to trim. I base it off of where the hoof wall is in relation to the sole, as I want to keep the wall off the ground until all the flares have grown out. As soon as I notice that the wall is longer than the sole, out comes the rasp.

So shorter trim intervals means there's less there to trim. Today I barely scraped at the seat of the corn, rasped a tiny bit off her heels and re-did the mustang roll. I think next trim it'll be time to back up her toes again, but we'll see.

The other reason things are going faster is that I'm much more comfortable with the tools now. At first, I was so afraid of taking too much hoof off that I barely scraped at it. Kind of like a timid child will barely brush the horse with their legs and whisper "walk" because they don't want to hurt the horse. Well, it's a horse, it takes a lot more than that to hurt them, just like it takes a lot more than one pass with the rasp to damage the hoof. Now I'm more confident and rasping goes much faster.

One thing I've noticed lately is that Cherry's stance has changed. She used to stand with her feet kind of tucked under her body, usually not squared up at all. Now she stands square more often than not, and her legs go straight down to the ground instead of being angled underneath her.

That was a big realization for me, and now I look for it. Sometimes she stands funny just for the heck of it, but most of the time she stands square now. I also note how some of the other horses stand, and one in particular never stands square. She doesn't look particularly comfortable, and usually has her front legs splayed out. It's interesting because I've never paid that much attention before, but now it just screams at me.

There's something else I've noticed too. Cherry seems much more relaxed lately and more, I don't know, "dopey" under saddle. It's actually been freaking me out slightly, because I'm used to her being very "get up and go!" In the past, being chill usually meant that something was wrong. But I can't find anything wrong. Perhaps it's age, perhaps it has to do with the changes in her hoof care.

Under saddle she's been different too. I'm not sure how to describe it, just very relaxed and not in a hurry to do anything. Well, besides get back to the barn at dinner time. Again, this worries me a little. Thinking logically, though, I feel better. She evades and communicates displeasure by going up. Head up, shoulders tense, back hollow, gaits very bouncy and uncomfortable. If she gets agitated enough she'll either rear or bolt. None of this is happening. Head is low, back is relaxed (not exactly engaged, but not tense and hollow), gaits are slow and smooth. I'm not used to this at all. It's rather nice.

Maybe some of this is due to age. She is 20 after all, it's not like her body isn't slowing down. I'm hoping that with consistent work she'll be ride-able for several more years. But I also think this is partly due to her "new feet" and the fact that she's much more comfortable now. Whatever it is, I like this new Cherry!

The Hoof Boot Saga Continues

A few weeks ago I decided to order the Easyboot Bares. Of course they arrived right in time for the fall rains, so I had to try them on Cherry's dirty hooves and pretty much decide to keep the damn things then and there. I made the wrong choice.

You know why they're called Bares? Because you can BARELY get them on! Ha ha! Wasn't that silly, kids?

If you can't tell, I'm a trifle upset. Mostly with myself. Once again, I ignored my gut reaction in the favor of faulty logic. As soon as I opened the box I was like, "Huh, these look tiny. Did I get the right size?" Not a good sign right there. But I soldiered ahead anyway.

"Using technique rather then strength, gently ease the boots onto the hoof toe first......" So says the instructions. I tried. I tried so hard to use technique. Instead, the only way I could get them on was to force them. Stupid fucking boots.

I did manage to get them on. I also managed to cut my finger and throw out my back in the process. Good times!

The first time she wore them, Cherry seemed quite happy. They weren't as tight as the company says they should be, but they didn't shift and they didn't rub. Despite the rough beginning, perhaps they were going to work after all.

So I used them again.

They went on a tad easier the second time, but both Cherry and I were getting pretty fed up with the installation production. And it was a production.

We went for a ride, no issues per say, but I noticed she still interfered with the boots. WTF?! I bought these stupid boots so she wouldn't interfere! Nope, no dice. They're heavy too. I dropped one and it went "clunk" on the ground. The Old Macs are way lighter. I prefer lighter hiking boots to lug soles, so I suppose my horse would feel the same.

The third time I used them was disaster. They went on okay, but they just didn't look right. I don't think the shape of the boot and the shape of Cherry's hoof are in harmony. The whole heel area was just not right. Once again, ignoring my better judgment, we went for a ride. Cherry started out fine, but soon started walking funny and moving in this strange clipped gait. Oh goody. Lame horse? Or was I right and the boots just did not fit?

I took her back to the barn and swapped boots. Old Macs secure, we went back out. Her stride didn't improve right away, but over the course of the ride she started moving much more normally. At the end she was back to a nice swinging walk. Still interfered with the boots a bit, but nothing major.

So I guess we're going to stick to the Old Macs. They fit reasonably well and they go on very easily. They do tend to rub occasionally, though. Either I do the pastern strap too tight (likely) or they just rub a bit. If they rub again, even if I'm vigilant about strap tightness, I'll bust out an old pair of my socks for Cherry to wear with her boots. Hey, I like socks with my boots, so why can't my horse wear some? Yes, she'll look ridiculous, but since when have I cared about that? Never, or would never have bought her spotted butt in the first place.

Oh well. Now I know. Knowledge is expensive.

Next spring, I'm trading those stupid boots in for a pair of either Gloves or Edges. I'm thinking Gloves, if I can manage not to set fire to the Bares before then.

New Stuffz

I just ordered a new pair of hoof boots. Unfortunately the Easyboot Edge was back ordered, so I got the Easyboot Bare. If they aren't good enough, I'll "upgrade" them for the Edges. They'll get us through the winter, which is all I need. I actually like the tread on the Bares better, less aggressive and more like an actual hoof. I mean, how many wild horses weak hiking boots?

For now Cherry's wearing the Old Macs. They're not miles to big, but enough too big that they interfere with her gait. For now though, I'll take a little interference and clipping over a lame pony. With her boots, she's sound on gravel, without them she's not. So she wears them.

I just hope the new boots get here quick, and that they fit.

On another "new tack" note, I made ground driving lines today. I went to the hardware store and bought some rope and a couple of scissor snaps. It's just poly rope, nothing special, but it feels nice in the hand. That's why I bought it. All the other rope was either too thick or too stiff. The only drawback is that the rope is quite luridly colored.

It's got black, bright blue, red, and teal. Teal? Did I say teal?! Oooooh! Yes, there is indeed teal in the rope. I guess the rope color isn't such a drawback after all! Ahem. Anyway, they really are quite bright. At least I won't lose them.

Hoof Boots Revisited

Cherry needs hoof boots, like yesterday. My lovely Old Mac's don't fit anymore because they were sized for her awful flared feet. Now that the flares are substantially reduced, they're far too big. Surprise surprise.

So now I am on the hunt AGAIN.

I've pretty well made up my mind, though. Barring the possibility that they simply will not fit, I'm going to buy a pair of Easyboot Edges for Cherry. Those are the ones with the caterpillar screw on them. They seem to be the best option at the moment.

I'd love to have a pair of Easyboot Gloves, but I'm not comfortable committing to a boot with such a narrow margin of fit at this stage of the game. Maybe those will come once her feet have fully transitioned.

As for extra pads, I'm on the fence about them. It sounds like a good idea, but I'm not sure if Cherry really needs them. She's not an extreme case by any means, just tender on hard surfaces and rocks. We'll see. If she needs them, I'll buy them.

Cherry needs to move so that her feet can be healthy, but she doesn't want to move except on grass. So I'm going to put boots on her to encourage her to move. And so I can ride wherever I want instead of being limited.


On another note, I trimmed her again today. This time I did all four feet, just redoing the mustang roll and backing up her toes. She moved better after I'd finished. Not totally comfy (at least on the concrete), but better. I watched her standing around in her paddock for awhile, and was very pleased to note that for the most part she stood square and comfortably. Good sign!

Ground Driving

I've decided to take up ground driving! Why? Cherry and I desperately need something new to do. We're bored, quite frankly, and when Cherry is bored, bad things happen. Also I need a way to get her moving that doesn't involve me sitting on her. Lunging is out, since circling does nothing for her joints, and it bores me.

So ground driving it is!

I don't think I'm ever going to hitch her to anything, though the thought is sorely tempting. How cute would Cherry be as a cart pony?!?!?! Damn adorable. Buuuuuuuut I know nothing of driving, short of the fact that there's these leather strap things that somehow connect to poles that are attached to the cart. Yeeah. Maybe I shouldn't be driving.

I might, might, get her used to something dragging behind her just for fun this winter. The log drag is notoriously Cherry's least favorite event on the obstacle trail courses. While never resulting in blind panic, she usually hops sideways up the trail while keeping a bugged-out eye on the evil log pursuing her, snorting and blowing the whole time. Fuuuuun.

Anyway, the point of ground driving is not to advance to "real" driving, but as a new thing to do for both of us. She walks, I walk, and hopefully we both get a bit of exercise.

So far I've done this twice, and had a pretty good time doing it. I do need actual lines, though. Right now I'm using two roping reins clipped together and a lunge line. They do not weight the same or feel the same in my hands. I'm thinking of making some lines out of rope from the hardware store. They really just need to match and be long enough.

Cherry seems to have taken to driving pretty well. Of course, she's old and broke, and thus will pretty much do whatever inane thing you ask to the best of her ability, whether she totally understands you or not.

So far we've only had a few communication mix-ups. The first one was when I asked her to back up for the first time. I guess she was afraid she was going to run into me or something, because she backed up like she was negotiating a rocky trail on the edge of a bottomless abyss. One step. Look. Really, Mom? Back up? Okaaaay. Two steps. Look. Are you sure? We got over it, though. I did have to stand to the side so she could see that she was not in fact going to run me over.

The second communication fail was all my fault. I asked her to turn right, but I didn't turn right with her, I just kind of long lined her around the turn. Long story short, line got wrapped around her butt and she ended up confusedly backing up from the pressure on both reins. But I learned something! Now I know that I have to follow her through turns so the pressure on the lines remains even and doesn't start pulling on her face. Poor pony, she looked at me like she had no idea what I wanted, but she was doing the only thing she could think of.

And I've learned something else. Driving is kind of hard! In the saddle you have so many aides available. Hands, seat, legs, weight, voice, but driving you only have two: hands and voice. It's hard to get your point across when you only have the reins and voice commands. You can't back them up with shifting your weight or applying leg. It's far easier to confuse your horse with such little actual contact with him. In a way that's good though, it's a new challenge for us!

Trim #5? 6? I don't remember

I've started doing Cherry's hooves every two weeks now. I might even have to go to doing them every week.

The whole trimming thing is a good news-bad news situation.

The bad news is that she's gotten MORE tender on gravel of late. As in, the last 3 weeks. She's back to barely being able to walk up to driveway without hobbling. It's awful. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong.

The good news is that her feet look the best they've looked in 3 years. She doesn't look like she's foundered (which she hasn't) anymore. Her feet are not full of chips, cracks, and ugly flares. Her hind feet look pretty damn spiffy. I look at them and think, "yes!" It's a gut reaction. Her front feet...... well, we're working on them.

Yesterday I trimmed her right front hoof. That's it. I trimmed only her right front hoof because I did not trim it enough the last time. Way too much heel, and the bars were sticking up past the level of the wall. So I fixed it. I also rasped a tiny bit off the left front, but not much.

Some time this weekend I need to go through all her feet and mustang roll the wall again. I'm still fighting white line separation, and I think that's what's making her sore. She suddenly became ouchy again after I quit using the nippers and went exclusively to the rasp. Maybe what I thought was over-nippering was actually what she needed. And now that I'm using only the rasp, I'm not removing enough wall for her to be comfortable.

From what I've read, it seems like the lame-on-gravel thing is more of a white line issue than a sole issue. If that's what's going on, thank goodness. Wall is easy to remove. I'd hate to have something wrong with her sole, i.e. her coffin bone.

I've also read that it can take up to a year for a horse to fully transition from shoes to barefoot and that for several months you might need to aggressively roll the hoof (bevel all the way to the sole) to allow the separation to grow down. Cherry wasn't shod, but had horrible flares at least halfway up her hoof (judging by old pics), so I'm going to treat her as a transition horse.

So in the light of day today, I'm going to redo the mustang roll on ALL her feet. And I'm going to do it properly. All the way to the sole edge, no mercy! I might have to back up her toes too. They got stretched forward, and that causes all sorts of problems as well.

I've got so much more to learn about hoof trimming it's staggering. I feel terrible thinking that I might be harming my horse, but deep down I feel that my fuck ups are minor, and that in the long run she's going to benefit from all of this.

Trim #4

On Sunday I trimmed Cherry's hooves.

They look great. However, she's a bit tender, and I don't know quite why. Hard surfaces (concrete, gravel) are ouchie for her, but her paddock and the grass are not. She's perfectly sound out in the field, but gets gimpy on the gravel driveway and the concrete barn isle.

I'm trying to figure out why. I took off hardly any sole. Just scraped out the flakey stuff from the seat of the corn. On a good note, her heels want to come down now! Lots of dead sole at the corn this time!

From what (little) I know, there's two possibilities for why she's tender. One is that I accidentally rasped a bit of toe callous off when I was rasping her heels. It didn't look like much, but maybe it made a difference. The second possibility is that I took off too much hoof wall. Which is true, I did. I'm still fixing those horrible flares and white line separation, and I did go a trifle overboard. I was careful not to rasp too far up the outside of the hoof wall, but maybe I did in my efforts to remove wall contact with the ground in the problem areas.

I guess I'll just have to see how it grows out. I'm happy to say that the white line separation is now confined to problem spots instead of being present around the whole hoof. Hooray! The bars are also starting to stand up straight. The were badly folded over, so I've been working to fix that too. Another awesome thing is that those awful stress lines are growing out, and I've figured out what's been causing them. It was the damn farrier himself! Every trim had an associated stress line, which makes sense considering she was LAME after them! That's pretty stressful for the hoof, I'd say. Since I've been trimming, no new ones have formed. Great success! Though there might be one from this last trim. This is the most tender she's been after a trim with me.

This time I waited only 2 weeks since the last trim. There was still an amazing amount of hoof wall growth. I couldn't believe it had only been two weeks. I'm hopeful that her hoof wall will grow right back and, um, sort of "fill in the gaps" of where I took too much off. I'm not sure when the next trim will be, I'll check her in a couple weeks, but she may be able to go a little longer this time.

Next trim I will definitely be more conservative. Less rasping of the hoof wall, except in the places where the white line is a gaping hole. I'm also going to "shape" her sole a little bit more. By that I mean just cut a strip off around her frog. She doesn't grow much sole, but grows tons of wall, including heels and bars.

I feel bad for making her tender, but I'm comforted in the fact that her paddock is soft dirt, so she isn't in discomfort. Hmmm, maybe that's part of our problem. Perhaps more work in the outdoor arena would help. The footing in there is awful, kind of a fine gravel with lots of rocks scattered about. Something to ponder, though I won't be going in there until she's comfortable on the concrete again.