*tentatively sticks head in*

[- Vet Tech - 2011]

horseluvrelisha

Bahahaha, goofy gelding face! Love it! heart He's a cutie.

Was he the one who used to bolt? Also, was it you who rode an Arab(?) named Eagle??

He is still just as big of a goof as ever.

Yes, he had a horrible bad habit because of inexperienced people. He has been so much better, he loves to have a good run, and I let him so long as its on my terms (he still tries but he wouldn't be as entertaining if he didn't). He was actually having hoof problems for a while, we had a long period where he was just out to pasture but he's been sound now for a good year and a half. I have a theory though, I think he has some deep set in thrush that makes him sensitive in the heels causing his "navicular" type pain aka caudal heel pain (he's barefoot, sound and itching for a good run - it's been too wet). If my order would hurry up I could test this theory....

Eagle is my baby, or I wish he was MINE. I haven't gotten to work with him in a little while since I had to move Riley due to financial reasons. He is the only other horse I will ride bareback and bitless. I have too many aches and pains to take another fall lol.  

[horseluvrelisha]

Haha, I'm feeling impressed with my memory now! xd

Thrush = teh sux0r, Silver and I had a run-in with it last year because I'd just moved him to a new barn and his heels weren't getting trimmed down enough so they got contracted and ick, it was the first/only time he's ever been ouchy, made me scared! I have since switched farriers twice (Jesus, it shouldn't be this hard!! you know that feeling? lol) and really really like my current one. smile So does he, which is good, haha, he just had something against my last farrier because he was an a*****e to her and he's always SO well-behaved!! He's been an angel for current farrier so far though, so woooo.  

[- Vet Tech - 2011]

horseluvrelisha

Haha, I'm feeling impressed with my memory now! xd

Thrush = teh sux0r, Silver and I had a run-in with it last year because I'd just moved him to a new barn and his heels weren't getting trimmed down enough so they got contracted and ick, it was the first/only time he's ever been ouchy, made me scared! I have since switched farriers twice (Jesus, it shouldn't be this hard!! you know that feeling? lol) and really really like my current one. smile So does he, which is good, haha, he just had something against my last farrier because he was an a*****e to her and he's always SO well-behaved!! He's been an angel for current farrier so far though, so woooo.

Well, relying on a well-known local farrier my horse ended up with long toes and incredibly low heels. He started landing toe-first annnd eventually? LAME! Eventually diagnosed with Navicular based on improvements with nerve blocks and slight changes on x-rays. I tried every shoe combination, a different farrier, I contacted a world-wide-traveling farrier and multiple veterinarians regarding what else to do with my horse because shoes and medication wasn't enough to keep him even pasture sound. No one gave me hope, let alone an answer. Well I'm just too darn stubborn to accept that there HAD to be an answer. I started reading about natural hoof care (the trim similar to the wear on wild hooves) and how its being used to treat hoof pathologies such as laminitis/founder, navicular etc. and I went out on a limb because what other choice did I have? Traditional veterinary medicine and farrier care was failing to help my horse.

The trimmer was incredible, so patient with Riley. He was sore for two weeks after removing the shoes, still lame but the difference was he would finally move around the pasture again. She gave me hope when we spoke on the phone and when she came for the first trim, she also educated me on what was causing the problem, how it was effecting his movement, and what that was doing to make him so sore and how she was going to correct it. She commented that she had to let his heels grow that's how bad it was (long toe, little heel) and flat soles. I did as much with him as I could to get him moving. After about two and a half weeks he was 99% sound. He was improving with each trim after that. I keep on a 4 week trim schedule. I do chiropractic care and stretching exercises with him. We needed hoof boots for trail rides this spring, we've had abnormally wet weather and I think there is some deep-set thrush in the frogs that is causing him to be mildly sore this spring.

I'm a real fan for natural hoof care now, the difference is incredible. I certainly learned no two barefoot trims are created equal. I think our transition would have been smoother if I was properly equipped with hoof boots (his size was on back order). I'm hoping to ask my boss next week about taking two weeks off because I got an e-mail return when the next natural hoof care specialist course is (two week course plus six month apprenticeship).

Personally I will never shoe another horse. Although I don't know what I would have done if I didn't have such a great trimmer in the area, and not just the good work she does but her patients with Riley each step of the way.  

[horseluvrelisha]

There are some horses out there who really do need shoes. My horses are not some of those horses, haha - few Arabs are. I've used a barefoot trimmer, wasn't really any different than my normal farriers since my horses are always barefoot anyway. They do not need shoes, never have, and if Silver goes on tough trail rides we also prefer the boot route. smile *high five*  

[Dante_Sonata]

Oh, I remember you~ (OK, so maybe I remember Silver; I remember horses better than people.)
I've got Dio, brothers Bandit and Dante, Ruby/Rubaiyate, and Tanner and Magic, in case you also remember horses better than people. xD

Welcome~  

[horseluvrelisha]

I recognize your ponies AND your avatar/username, wooo! =D Nice to "see" you again, lol!