Crystal gets a trim!

I tried to get photos of before/after - and yes, it is all my own handiwork. My farrier of 9 years suddenly stopped returning calls and after many years of working for a farrier and then watching for 20 years, I'm trimming my own horses.


Right front before & after


Right hind before & after


Left Hind before & after

Crystal is pretty cow hocked by nature, and on both of her back feet, the outside wall was very flared and much longer than the inside wall. I trimmed the outside walls down so they were shorter, but without doing it dramatically. I don't want to change too much too quickly for her. But even after the trim, she still held her weight on the inside walls. The good thing about being your own farrier is that you see their hooves every day and can make adjustments as needed.

I actually am impressed with my skills at this point - I no longer ever see cracks or big flares between trims because I'm there to take care of it before it gets to that point. Everyone has stayed sound and happy (where a couple of mine would get sore when my farrier trimmed the sole too much).

Both of Crystal's front hooves are about to shed a large amount of sole - I didn't want to pry it off before it was ready, but it is coming loose. But I will keep an eye on it as I pick them out every day. It is kind of weird looking on the bottom of her hooves right now, with a separation between the wall/sole area at the edge of the white line, but I suspect it will be corrected easily when she sheds the sole. I'll also be able to trim her hooves a little shorter at that point - they're still longer than I'd like, but not nearly as crazy as they were!

Injuries - of the human sort!

What a frustrating year for injuries for me! Almost a month ago now, I bent my ankle way too far to the outside when I stumbled just plain jogging to open a gate at the end of the driveway - enough pain to make me suddenly feel ill and shock-like. I'm doing pretty well now, but still sore. I used a brace for about a week, walked on it more than I should have, and then muddled through limping to help it get stronger. I have not yet attempted riding with it, but that is next on my list. I think I'll go with Sweetie first. :) She's always the safest bet, and doesn't mind being lazy (so long as we stay up in the ring!)

I have also started doing some hoof trimming on my own. My wonderful farrier of 9 years suddenly stopped communicating - I have called him a few times to reschedule, but he has not returned my calls. So, I am trimming my own horses right now. I have been watching the process for the last 20 years, and actually bought the tools about 5 years ago. I can say with certainty that I am improving each time, and I'm actually not half bad. You really have to focus on what the hoof looks like to start, where you want it to be, and then BALANCE. I have also learned how much easier it is to do my horse of 18 years who pretty much holds the hoof up for you compared to a 1/2 draft mare that doesn't like to hold her feet for you. :) And then there is the aspect of being completely relaxed and patient with the horses. I get a little nervous/concerned when the kids are with me in the barn when I need to do a trim, and the horses can tell. But when it's just me in the barn, they are much better behaved!

I trimmed two horses all the way around this Sunday morning (in lieu of using that time to ride... *pout*) and my back is pretty sore - it is much better today (2 days later) but on Sunday evening, I had a few shooting pains in my back that made me catch my breath when I bent over. Some advil, and some ice along my spine really helped make it feel better. But I am again being very careful about my body!

I guess I am being forced to realize that my body is not quite as limber/elastic as it once was, and I am putting more thought into my own safety. I ride 16/17 hh horses, but am pretty sure that the next mount I get for myself will be about 14 hh :) Much closer to the ground! A nice quarter horse will do. :) Not that I don't love my TB, I DO! But she will always have the quick reaction of a thoroughbred, and is very sensitive to any stimuli from me or around her. Even after years of showing, trailering, and pleasure riding, she still reacts quickly to things (although not as severely as she once did). But I still trust her more than any other horse in the barn - well, except for Arthur the pony, but I'm far too big for him. :) Sweetie has been with me through so much over the last 18 years - we've done so many things together - I know how she will react - she is nothing if not consistent in her behaviors.

I guess this concern comes from not riding as much as I had been. I felt this way when I started taking lessons again over a year ago. But I haven't had a lesson for about 6 months now. As cliche as it sounds, I just need to get "back on the horse."