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HorseAdvice.com » Horse Care » Hoof Care, Hoof Trimming, Shoeing Horses » Care of the Hoof: an Overview »

	Discussion on Diva Mare Transition to Barefoot V
Author	Message
Member: kpaint	Posted on Tuesday, Mar 30, 2010 - 8:29 pm: It appears I have been posting on Part III rather than Part IV lately... So here's Part V and I'll try to be better chronologically. I think I need my own folder for all of my Diva Feet discussions. And of course Diane should get one for Hank and we won't hog up the Discussion Screen with our multiple parts. Diva was a hoot this evening. She was ready to do something. She was a bit impatient while I was checking the feet and doing some Furimenator Work and getting a good bit of hair all over myself and in my mouth some how. I'm pretty darn pleased with the soles on the hinds. Hope the trimmer confirms what I "think" I'm seeing as far as sole thickness. The fronts are better, but still not much sole depth at the apex of the frog to the toe. She walked out just fine on soft, soft ground on the way to the road. On the pavement I heard clip clop clip clop and thought of Diane. We hand walked a little over 3/4 mile. She likes to fake being a lumbering elephant, so I put some of her favorite "cookies" (made at Blue Ridge Distributors in Tennessee with no perservatives for heaven's sake.) in my pocket before we left and you know for sure she was as bright eyed attentive because she KNEW I had those cookies even though she didn't see me put them in there. That Cookie Nose Knew. She would literally talk for those cookies. She hasn't had any for quite some time. She got a cookie at the half way point and when we passed the drive home to go a bit farther. She had some trick training with those cookies, so she knows those cookies mean business. It's hilarious to watch her eyes just begging for a verbal command so she can do it and get a cookie.
Member: scooter	Posted on Tuesday, Mar 30, 2010 - 8:58 pm: Vicki was she walking well on the pavement?? I hadn't heard clip clop in years with Hanks hoof. I was excited to see you heard it too. Hanks foot falls always sounded muffled on pavement, don't know why for sure. I have many theories tho Folders is a GREAT idea... DrO.??? I really need another part bad...I'm ready to give up, I can't tell if his hooves look better or worse You are SOOO lucky to have found a good trimmer.
Member: kpaint	Posted on Tuesday, Mar 30, 2010 - 9:55 pm: Yes ma'am. On pavement. No hesitation. Now gravel was a waaaaaay different story. Nose almost on the ground and a look of "You have to be kidding." She picked her way carefully across the short piece we have to cross to the barn. Is it the concavity that makes a better clip clop? Where are your latest pix of Hank's feet? And she was so eager for those stupid cookies, she goofed up and reared 3x (on soft ground) thinking I had asked for a rear. Her eyes are like blue lasers when it comes to those cookies. I was surprised she offered the rear given her front feet aren't "crunchers" yet, but we were on very soft ground at the time. So then I had to ask once just so we would reaffirm HOW AND WHEN she is supposed to rear...She complied. She made my week with her attentive eagerness this evening. And I feel extremely fortunate to have found the trimmer!
Member: scooter	Posted on Tuesday, Mar 30, 2010 - 10:08 pm: I just posted Hanks pics I couldn't restrain myself any further. Being sound on the hard pavement is a VERY good start!!! She'll make the gravel soon, Hank just quit dragging his nose on it about a month or 2 ago. I don't think the clip clop is concavity...Hank doesn't have any!! I think he just puts his hooves down harder (or normal) rather than trying to tippy toe and walk "light".... that's one theory... I have others if you don't like that one LOL.
Member: kpaint	Posted on Wednesday, Mar 31, 2010 - 7:29 pm: Diva Mare received an A from the trimmer. The hinds are great. The fronts have great concavity she said, but the sole is still thin. Time. More walking on the road. She said to ride or hand walk her on grass, dirt, sand, or road. No gravel without boots. She measures a 1 for the Easy Boot Gloves. Trimmer says she thinks the hoof shape is probably finished remodeling and we're just waiting for tougher, hopefully thicker soles. Might be a year, but I can still go in boots. She didn't think the front frogs were particularly puny. I had her give me her opinion regarding how close Diva Mare tracks and she said she is very close in the hinds. (although, she has never kicked herself, hope she doesn't ever..) Conformation wise she is pidgeon-toed in both front feet although the left is worse than the right. She held up a straight edge to divide the entire front of the leg into halves and the lower leg at the fetlock/pastern definitely turns in. She did this after she had trimmed and was convinced Diva was balanced. I asked again about trimming more frequently than six weeks given the conformation issues. She said no; however, I think I might use the RR in between visits as the toeing in gets progressively worse as time advances during the six week period before trimmer comes again. She thought her weight was good. The biggest difference I saw in the fronts was the increased thickness/density of the waterline. 18 weeks ago it was a sliver. Today it seemed at least 4x as wide. Very encouraging. We are through the toughest times I think. Diva had a small bruise at the sole of the left front toe (at about 11:00 on the sole) and trimmer said this is from the toeing in as that little place didn't get as worn as it should since there is greater weight placed about 1:00 on the sole, and so it (the 11:00 spot) being "too long/tall" in that place (longer than wall) put extra pressure on that spot and created a small bruise (1/3 size of a dime). She said not to worry about it. ! I worry any way. It's my mom job. To over complicate things as much as possible. My son filmed the entire trim and the trimmer was gracious about it and did Diva a bit slower so I could see. The only strikingly different belief my trimmer has stated is about the 1/3 and 2/3 theory. She doesn't agree with it, and the AANCHP philosophy is that 50/50 is optimal. Balanced in her training (AANCHP) is side to side and top to bottom. I think of dividing the sole into four equal quadrants (like a 4 pane window). She said that is balance. Diva's toe measures 3 1/4" from coronary band to toe. She said if Diva was 1/3 and 2/3, then the toe would be too short and the measurement would be less than 3 1/4" and that is not desirable for Diva mare.
Member: scooter	Posted on Wednesday, Mar 31, 2010 - 10:05 pm: Vicki I kind of agree with your trimmer, if I can get to 50/50 I'll be happy as a lark. Hank also is a BIG built horse (even when he isn't fat) his hoof would be really tiny at that other measurement. when doing his hooves tonight I thought they looked kind of small (of course that could be because I'm used to his big flared clod hoppers. Are you going to post pics of Divas trim?? I'd love to see them Your trimmer sounds awesome!
Member: kpaint	Posted on Wednesday, Mar 31, 2010 - 10:06 pm: Video is downloaded and most of it is in 1 to 3 minute clips per foot. Son did a good job and the audio is pretty clear even with the WIND we had today. I'll have to learn to post video where ever it is that Diane posts. I haven't downloaded the still photos yet.
Member: kpaint	Posted on Wednesday, Mar 31, 2010 - 10:13 pm: Diane, we cross posted. Where do you post video? I won't be posting still photos tonight. Too tired to organize them and resize them. Diva and I got an A; however, with all my focus on Diva Mare, I have let thrush get away from me on Windy the hoover hafie. Sigh. He had it in the right front and I couldn't seem to get ahead of it. Now he has it in all four feet. !!! And he had been getting Thrushbuster...but that will be another discussion.
Member: scooter	Posted on Wednesday, Mar 31, 2010 - 10:18 pm: I do it in my picasa web album. Photo bucket lets you do it too... or youtube. Do you use Picassa for your pictures? if not I would highly recommend it, you can resize in 2 seconds and it organizes for you You also get a free(2GB) web album where you can upload videos and back up your pics.
Member: kpaint	Posted on Wednesday, Mar 31, 2010 - 10:23 pm: I'll have to try Picassa. I've always used Web Resizer and it takes too long and doesn't always work. Or. It could be operator error. I'll give YouTube a try, but not tonight. I'm off to bed.
Member: stek	Posted on Thursday, Apr 1, 2010 - 11:09 am: Vicki, glad to hear Diva mare is doing well! Very gracious of your trimmer to allow the job to be filmed, what a great way to review what has been done. Re: the 2/3-1/3 vs 50/50, I think it depends on the horse. Some horses have a naturally more round foot, whereas others are more oblong, 'mule footed' as one of my old farriers used to say. I wanted to ask about the pigeon-toed-ness .. how old is Diva and is your trimmer attempting to correct her conformation? I have a pigeon toed gelding; over the last 6 years we have always tried to give him a balanced foot, and that has improved his pigeon-toed-ness to the point where you can't usually see it when he is standing, but when you pick up a foot you can still see that the leg turns in a little from the knee down. If I don't stay on top of it he will go right back to being pigeon toed. He goes fine though so I don't worry about it. I think the balanced foot and having him sound is more important than trying to straighten him out.
Member: kpaint	Posted on Thursday, Apr 1, 2010 - 11:39 am: Diva mare is 12. Her left pidgeon-toe is more pronounced than the right. The trimmer is balancing the foot, but not trying to make adjustments for conformation. Just balance. Her left is noticeable toeing in standing and walking even after a trim and will have a more slanted wear pattern than the right soon after a trim. I don't care appearance wise if she isn't conformationally perfect--she's not a show horse--just concerned for her health and function. What surprised me about the 1/3 2/3 theory was how many sites online advocate that as the Gospel. It is very hard for me with my lack of knowledge/experience to sort the information "out there", and pick the one best piece of info to act on for Diva mare given her conformation, her work load, her environment, her diet, etc. I have reams of paper in binders...Ha. I'm a Hoof Nerd. I know my trimmer thinks I'm a nut even though she says she likes questions and horse owner's who want to learn, etc. She HAS to wonder though at some of my questions...which are probably common sense to her but "rocket science" to me. I don't have the knowledge/experience base she has so every little detail seems to be a big deal...LOL
Member: kpaint	Posted on Thursday, Apr 1, 2010 - 11:44 am: Oh. Another line of thinking/trimming that my trimmer didn't agree with: She didn't agree with a 4 point trim which snubbed the toe and lost the round shape of the foot and rockered the toe. Now that might be a loaded sentence, because I'm not sure how she (and everyone else for that matter) interprets the vocabulary in that sentence! I didn't press her for more info on that sentence as I wasn't getting a 4 pt trim and I had other more pertinent questions to pummel her with.
Member: stek	Posted on Thursday, Apr 1, 2010 - 12:06 pm: You are sure right .. it's all about how the vocab is interpreted! The only 'horse gospel' I believe in is that there is no such thing as always and never. I think there are rules of thumb, but every situation is unique. When I encounter someone who is adamant and inflexible about any point, I try to take what useful nuggets they have (usually there are some) and back carefully away from the rest...
Member: scooter	Posted on Thursday, Apr 1, 2010 - 12:08 pm: I may be wrong, but the way I took it on the 4 point trim was that rockering of the toe and "snubbing it" was more to fix pathologies in the WL and walls (cracks). If you look at the end of the video I posted the hoof is round and becomes more "normal" with loading of the hoof taking place at the "heel platforms"... that was my interpretation anyway Hank with all his WL problems is a perfect candidate for it, Diva maybe not, just a modified version in which I think the "barefoot trim" is.
Member: kpaint	Posted on Thursday, Apr 1, 2010 - 12:17 pm: I sure can see the need for the 4 pt as you explain it Diane. I didn't press trimmer for more info at the time. She may well agree with you. ? We did have some short conversations about P.Ramey. She said his foundation training was AANCHP, and then he went out "on his own" and was very experimental. She was careful not to be negative.
Member: scooter	Posted on Thursday, Apr 1, 2010 - 12:28 pm: I think it's all about what works for that particular horse. What works for one may not work for another. I think all the barefoot big names and farriers have alot to offer. We just have to figure out what fits a particular situation and the horses hooves in hand. Actually I am of the opinion that SOME horses NEED a little extra toe and some need it rockered right back... it's case by case, finding the trim that suits you own horse can be the hard part! especially with the thin soled ones, they aren't quite as forgiving of our mistakes.
Member: vickiann	Posted on Thursday, Apr 1, 2010 - 7:37 pm: Right on, Diane!
Member: kpaint	Posted on Thursday, Apr 1, 2010 - 9:01 pm: I agree Diane. Which makes it difficult for this thin soled owning novice. Info overload and experience underload.
Member: scooter	Posted on Thursday, Apr 1, 2010 - 9:14 pm: Me too Vicki,. Where are Diva's pics?? Maybe they will help me figure out Mr. sensitive soles
Member: kpaint	Posted on Thursday, Apr 1, 2010 - 9:39 pm: Just loaded the first 1:42 video on YouTube. It takes 20 min to load 1:42 video. The focus/clarity isn't as good of course on YouTube as it is on my computer. There are three parts of the left front. I haven't been able to "string them together" yet, so it's 3 parts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4usgm9HahA that's the link for "Diva Mare Barefoot Transition #1 My user/author name is Kotapaint1
Member: kpaint	Posted on Thursday, Apr 1, 2010 - 9:52 pm: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gAEkZ1h_J0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMiZEvU1sLE This is #2 and #3 of the LF video on YouTube. The baby talk is not me. I'm the unsure sounding voice on the audio!
Member: scooter	Posted on Thursday, Apr 1, 2010 - 10:05 pm: you tube keeps freezing up on me so can't view them, I tried other videos and they wouldn't work either...probably this haunted Windows 7 So now I have to have pics
Member: scooter	Posted on Friday, Apr 2, 2010 - 12:05 am: Windows 7 was haunted I got it going.. her hoof is looking really good Vicki!!! CLIP CLOP
Member: kpaint	Posted on Friday, Apr 2, 2010 - 7:44 am: Diane, here's LF after trim. I think the picture is distorted after resizing. The video on my computer looks a bit different.
Member: kpaint	Posted on Friday, Apr 2, 2010 - 7:48 am: The waterline is much more visible on the video which is a much better camera than my little digital still photo camera that I took this picture with. You can still see the small, but red, bruise at about 11:45 on the toe (center of toe wall being 12:00) Trimmer said not to worry about that bruise.
Member: scooter	Posted on Friday, Apr 2, 2010 - 8:09 am: Vicki, Hank gets those little bruises too, I think a lot of horses do. They don't seem to bother him. Do you have a lateral view? Her hoof is really coming along!! Vet is coming today, if he brings the x-ray machine I am going to do Hanks LF...the one with the blob, for curiosity sake.
Member: lilo	Posted on Friday, Apr 2, 2010 - 10:10 am: Excellent videos, Vicki. At a lot of reassurance from the trimmer that the hooves are doing OK. Lilo
Member: kpaint	Posted on Friday, Apr 2, 2010 - 10:30 am: Thanks, my son took them. I have video of each foot, just haven't had time to load on YouTube yet. It takes about 30 min per foot to load. The trimmer is very tolerant of my hand wringing paranoia.
Member: kpaint	Posted on Friday, Apr 2, 2010 - 11:26 am: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4Ez_Ryvb5s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyB9CNzY270 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=944gGMtx98c YouTube video of Right Front.
Member: scooter	Posted on Friday, Apr 2, 2010 - 7:12 pm: Vicki thanks for taking the time to put these videos up, they were very interesting and educational Divas hooves are really starting to take shape. Remember what started this, her loosing her canter. I still am curious to see if that changes. Hanks sure did.
Member: kpaint	Posted on Saturday, Apr 3, 2010 - 8:37 am: Thanks Diane. I hope they continue to improve. The hinds were never too bad although the toe was longer than desired. The front, the long toe and heel contraction is gone, but the toe sole is still no way ready for rocks. I think the damage we caused with shoes and icky farrier work the first 15 months she was here is gone. Now it's the sole building/toughening left--from 11 years of shoes. I have the hinds video to still post and more digital. She has her canter at liberty but I haven't been aboard yet.
Member: kpaint	Posted on Saturday, Apr 3, 2010 - 9:19 am: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tek8DG60Nd0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYJ-LU7eFgw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuGXpvOcB6g Right Hind March 31 Trim And for all of the advice and posting HA members have done, at least the videos are something I can contribute, because it's rare that I would have any advice.
Member: rtrotter	Posted on Saturday, Apr 3, 2010 - 12:39 pm: Vicki, Great job on the videos. Diva's feet look fantastic and I think your trimmer is doing the right thing. I especially liked the close up of how she used the nippers. She did not use the sole plane to lay the nippers against all she took was outside wall and just to take down the high spots. This is proper nipper management. Where most people get into trouble is they do not do it this way and when they angle the nippers, it is at the incorrect angle resulting in too much being taken off and leaving the horse sore. Excellent Job! Rachelle
Member: scooter	Posted on Saturday, Apr 3, 2010 - 12:44 pm: Vicki I think you have educated yourself very quickly and caught on fast, not all people are that committed. It seems to be a subject with differing opinions. I have always found "brainstorming" a very handy way of coming to the correct conclusions or at least get many different idea on "how to skin a cat". Divas very LUCKY to have you.
Member: rtrotter	Posted on Saturday, Apr 3, 2010 - 1:02 pm: Diane, I think half the battle is won when you hit the right trimmer in the beginning. There is less of a learning curve if whomever you use can explain to you why you are having problems and then go about fixing them. Its like having an aged well educated horse and a green rider. The horse knows what to do when given the right cues and the rider learns that by doing certain things he/she will get the horse to do things right. Now as much fun( not) as it is to deal and learn with a green horse, putting two greenies together does not make for a short learning curve. Same goes with going barefoot. I think a lot of your problems with Hank's feet was because your farrier does not realize what he is doing wrong and you had to teach him, although I still do not think he knows what he is doing. But the important part here is that now you know and can correct it as long as he does not butcher his feet first. Rachelle
Member: scooter	Posted on Saturday, Apr 3, 2010 - 1:11 pm: You're sure right there!!! I still am struggling with Hank, I wish I could just let someone else do it. "as long as he does not butcher his feet first". . You and Julie M. kill me with your verbage
Member: rtrotter	Posted on Saturday, Apr 3, 2010 - 1:24 pm: Diane, I actually thought about that word as I was typing it but what other word can you use that describes what most farriers do to a horses feet. In some cases they do such a poor job that that's exactly where the poor horse winds up! Rachelle
Member: kpaint	Posted on Saturday, Apr 3, 2010 - 1:33 pm: Thanks Rachelle! I feel better that you see good things on the video. My trimmer said that she used to not use the nippers, but as her client load got up to 300 horses, nippers were quicker and helped with her arm fatigue. My son took the video; he's my video/computer man and my daughter is my photography expert. Too bad daughter is away at college or she could help more often. She was home yesterday and she helped me pick out a better digital camera so hopefully the digital photos I post will be better. I didn't know how poor they were until I saw the video comparison on my computer. But. The little "purse camera" I had was five years old at least...and with today's technology, that is ancient. Sad part about that is, I paid the same price last night for a much better camera as I paid several years ago for the tiny purse camera. At least that part of technology is nice--prices coming down. I'm really comforted that you think Diva's feet look good. You can tell from the audio on the video that I'm apprehensive as heck about the whole process! I'm a hand wringer about it. I was never a hand wringer in the classroom!!! But horses can't talk! Diane, I have busted my can trying to learn in the time I had available as much as I could and I really appreciate that you and the other HA folks for sharing, commenting, posting photos, etc. (There is soooooo much hoof info to wade through online and sort. So many opinions...) It really, really helps a novice like me. Sometimes I feel like a giant "suck" since I take, take, take information from you all and rarely have anything to give. So I don't mind taking the time to post photos/videos. I'm just slow! And I am a definite fan of brainstorming. I rarely arrive at my destination is a straight line. Diva is the direct beneficiary of me not having a classroom to teach and create for; I have an itch to learn that isn't being scratched anymore! Of course she was unfortunately the direct beneficiary when my learning was severely lacking. Now I know enough to be dangerous I suppose.
Member: kpaint	Posted on Saturday, Apr 3, 2010 - 1:42 pm: I definitely agree with you Rachelle about getting experience/educated trimmer in the beginning of a transition. I went through three farriers before I found the trimmer and since I knew zero, I had to keep putting shoes back on her to address her lameness even though it didn't address the cause. But. At least her feet weren't incredibly awful nor did she have any pathology although we do have some conformation issues.
Member: kpaint	Posted on Wednesday, Apr 14, 2010 - 5:19 pm: Well, the feet are still holding up to firm ground, road ground, soft ground, small soft stone in the dry lot but no way do the Diva Feet travel barefoot on larger stone/gravel drive. She'll take about two steps and gives me a look like "You cannot be serious". There is about five feet of gravel that she might walk out onto if she isn't paying attention or if she is trying to avoid the manhole grate. I cleaned and used Betadine on the footsies last night and this morning.
Member: scooter	Posted on Wednesday, Apr 14, 2010 - 7:10 pm: YEA for Diva, so she has reached your spectrum of usability??? I get a little stutter step from Hank occasionally on gravel also, I ride him every night on it a little longer each time, and he is doing VERY well. Have you been riding her at all?
Member: kpaint	Posted on Wednesday, Apr 14, 2010 - 8:02 pm: She has met my spectrum of usability for NOW. My time is still really tight with work here on the farm and in the office and getting this last kid out of the house and graduated from high school and doctoring feet and reading about feet and worrying about feet....oh yah, and the usual life chores in the home and with the spouse, etc. LIFE is just a wee bit busy right now. And gearing up for husband to be gone for 3 weeks in the month of May. ! And getting the corn planted. Like everyone, too little time. So. No. I haven't had a leg on her since Dec. 7. But we do some round pen work, walk the road, and foot care. And of course the stall care for the Diva Bed. I'm itching to work on my tack room. That discussion I started in the winter? There are good ideas on there, but I haven't had enough time to finish it! My organization is not complete! And of course I have been spending extra time on the Hafie who has thrush. And mowing grass.
Member: scooter	Posted on Wednesday, Apr 14, 2010 - 8:17 pm: So you don't hide your dishes in the oven like I do huh. Huge time saver!!! OH and hide the laundry in the closet and live out of the dryer for clothes?? and live on frozen pizza and grilled burgers??? LOVE summertime!!! never enough hours in the day. We gave up our hay ground so don't have to do that this year, YEA!!!, got the calves weaned. I just wish I didn't have a job out of the house mmmmm the horse house! Weird year for farm stuff, I have seen corn going in the ground the last couple days....very risky IMHO. Usually the corn don't go in until the 2nd or 3rd week of May around here, hope they don't have a bunch of frozen corn! Thank goodness hubby is very understanding of my poor summertime house keeping, he knows that's my horse time.
Member: ajudson1	Posted on Wednesday, Apr 14, 2010 - 8:57 pm: Those last 2 posts were just what I needed to read. I was just thinking "when do I get to have time to ride?" I groomed all 4 today, took the clippers to a spot on each side of their necks for 1st shots, ended up tweaking 12 hoofs, checked for thrush, fixed some fencing, swept the barn. When I finally got out to the barn! Monday we battled a small fire in our woods! Tuesday was wasted hanging around town waiting for car repairs which didn't get done on time anyhow. Could have been back home by 9, instead it was 12:30.. When we did make it home, dog had swelled leg that needed tending...sigh. I have some seeding to do, IF it every rains up here! Laundry is on number one son's bed in varies stages of being folded; 3 weeks til he comes home from college and needs the bed, lol! Dishes?? Time to buy paper plates! And cooking can wait til next fall! We've got a very early spring up here too. Horses were on pasture today for an hour, in a good year I figure May 1st is the earliest they graze. I know I've mentioned putting up hoof pics on my own discussion...ya ya, it's still on my mind, but like you guys, too much to do, too little time. If the rest of the family would just do their own cooking, cleaning, and laundry, ha ha! Oh thanks for reminding me the tack room needs organizing too!! O.K., back to hoofs ladies! At least if we are all getting busier, those hoofs might get a break from our tweaking and surprise us with good form and tough soles, right?
Member: kpaint	Posted on Wednesday, Apr 14, 2010 - 9:35 pm: Diane, I've been known to open the ovens and there are forgotten pans...oops. Once in awhile I preheat before I check for pans...oops. Then I smell it before I see it. I do quite often use the dishwasher as a clean storage cabinet and use clean dishes out of it rather than put them away. And socks seem to be what are in the dryer because I run out of time to sort 500 white socks and figure out whose socks are whose... And if I eat one more cold ham and cheese sandwich I will puke. And the horsey stuff I bought at Equine Affaire and brought home Sunday night was still in my truck until Monday night and now it all resides on the kitchen counter. Still in the bags. I walked in with the saddle and a small bag and husband said, "Is that all you bought?" thinking he was getting off cheap. Ha. I said, "OH NO, the truck is full." His face fell a bit but not a word was said--he is leaving after all in May for a 3 week hunting trip (in this crappy economy). So if we go broke, I'll hide my horsey stuff from the bank and the IRS. They aren't getting it. Last night I was so tired from the 15 hour day instead of going to bed, I went to the barn and groomed horses. Repetitious "wax on, wax off" with the curry and brush. Did it for two hours in almost total silence. Refreshing. ANd I must tell you Diane, I used the leave in hair conditioner you mentioned on another discussion--infusion 23 or something like that--on the tail and mane of my "thrush" Hafie and it looked so much better this morning and whiter and softer! He had to stand for a long time in the aisle for his feet work, so I did the hair for some more fun while he worked away at the hay in the hay net bag I hung to busy him. Which by the way was another HA discussion purchase someone posted. The hay net has a draw string at the top and a metal ring at the bottom and has small holes. Windy, the super Hoover Hafie spent an hour and a half working on one very thin flake of hay. I actually split a flake to put in there. It was hilarious to watch him work away it. He stood stock still for all that time with the exception of everything from the neck to his lips! That area was hilarious to watch. So ladies. I am a HA nerd copy cat, someone tell me a product works great and I'll go buy it because I am a rabid newbie horse nerd.
Member: scooter	Posted on Thursday, Apr 15, 2010 - 7:59 am: The infusiom is awesome I like it way better than any horse products. Angie looking forward to your pics. I have been leaving the "barn" dirty and riding instead.. giving it a good clean out on the weekends. Decided I have been spending way too much time taking care of them and not enough time in the saddle..what Hank needs more than anything. With Sam shedding I saved a month already!!! I want to get him back under saddle too. Vicki, I still am curious if Diva's canter is back undersaddle! Get that new saddle on her and try her out!
Member: kpaint	Posted on Thursday, May 6, 2010 - 10:04 am: Update: Trimmer was here for six week trim yesterday. Diva girl has grown some foot. Her waterline was about as thick as an eyelash in January. Yesterday it was 1/8" or smidgeon more in places. Very cool. Sole is better but still too delicate for rocks of any size. Trimmer said that she'll be a year candidate and maybe not then. We'll see. She was optimistic about the sole when she considered the improvement with the waterline thus far. She may be a BOOT GIRL on rocks/rough terrain forever. We'll see. Sole is fine on concrete, pavement, sand, pasture, hard ground, #12 stone (very fine). However, that is with light work. Not sure what a lot of concussion on hard surface for prolonged period would do at this point. Her feet are small. Her easy boot gloves are 0 on the left front/hind and .5 on the right front/hind. Interesting they are different so she bears more weight on the right side of her body according to trimmer. I asked if that would affect her ability to turn. I feel she turns easier/better to the right. She said perhaps as that side is more used to bearing more weight and a tight turn would put more weight on the inside. Hmmm. Interesting. probably a good thing that Diva mare is not a competition horse. LOL side note, thrushy hafie is much, much better. Trimmer gave me high marks on everyone's weight. yay. another side note, dull creamy winter coat all but gone and the golden palomino diva girl coat is here. another side note, trimmer double checked my new saddle and pad and pronounced them a good fit. so at least I have one other opinion!
Member: scooter	Posted on Friday, May 7, 2010 - 7:47 am: Vicki sounds like Diva and Hank are about the same. He is doing well except on big rocks, he does slow a bit if I ride far on the pavement. I don't think he will ever have rock crunchers either, but I don't ride on rocks. Bonesy with his nice concave hoof is slowing on the rocks also. I think this wet weather is softening everyones soles up a bit. If Hank stays sound in his environment that he is kept and rode on I will think I have accomplished something. Hope Diva continues to improve. How do you like the gloves????
Member: kpaint	Posted on Wednesday, Jul 14, 2010 - 9:30 am: Hard to believe it's July 14 and the trimmer will be here today. It has been an absolute madhouse treadmill for me during May, June, and thus far into July! I shouldn't complain as my original "Empty Nester/Turning 50 Grand Plan" was to actually begin in August 2010, so really I AM ahead of schedule with the horsey plan. But I'm embarrassed somewhat to say I haven't even ORDERED the boots yet. I'm going to do it this morning. To further confess, my trimmers have been broken for over month and I haven't had time to get those repaired or even really look closely at them myself. Bridle paths look like the punk rockers from the 80s... I finally took shears to the Hafies as theirs are soo think I had to keep changing the halters until I was finally out of holes on the darn things to make them any bigger. Pathetic. Horses have been happy to languish in front of fans, graze in the earlier am and later evening pm, trot in light work in the round pen, play in the water when cold hosed, and in general beg for food and appear to make fun of me working while they play. So. I'm off to see what grooming I can accomplish before the trimmer comes this afternoon. I have blocked this day out for horses. First time I've done that since...March? I dunno. Yada, yada... I shouldn't whine. I spent a lot of time in March and April on horsey stuff. Oh. And try to find a camera. I still haven't used the new one I bought...for crying out loud.
Member: ajudson1	Posted on Wednesday, Jul 14, 2010 - 11:24 am: Tee hee Vicki, your world sounds like mine! After putting another 250 bales in the barn this morning, my hay guy asked if I noticed if the hoofs grew faster when fed different kinds of hay. I said I didn't know, I seem to spend all kinds of time trimming them and have just made the decision to leave hoofs alone for a bit! Oh and I move fences, fix stuff, clean stalls, mow the arena..etc., etc., all the "horse/farm/country living stuff" we all do. I think there's something wrong with the whole picture lately because don't I have horses because I like to ride???? But geez, they could use their bridle paths clipped, I do have some tack that needs cleaning again, and hay to sweep... Going out to ride. Really. ;-) Looking forward to an update.
Member: kpaint	Posted on Wednesday, Jul 14, 2010 - 3:25 pm: Well wouldn't you know it, a salesman stopped by and took almost an hour of my grooming time! When I'm in the barn with the door up, I'm visible from the road--poor planning. I did get 2 of the 3 bridle paths done, and 2 of the 3 semi groomed, and 1 mane/tail conditioned. Trimmer was early an hour also. She was finished by 2:45. All three horses got an A for foot health. Hafies are rock crunchers like they usually are. Diva mare had real solid hoof wall as the trimmer told me she had to squeeze harder than last time. yay for that. Frogs healthy, no thrush on anybody. However Windy the Hoover Hafie is too fat. He was on grass too long a few times in the past three weeks. He is the one who wolfs his food too...looks like a chipmunk with hay stuffed in his face and hanging out... But overall. An excellent visit. So so so glad I found this trimmer. And of course I didn't take picture before or during. So, when I FIND the camera, I'll take some pix. !
Member: kpaint	Posted on Thursday, Aug 19, 2010 - 7:30 am: Trimmer came today. Diva mare has grown quite a nice foot although still thinner soles on the front that desirable still...gravel still an ouchy location. 3/8" of pigmented hoof wall measured before trim, 1/4" of beautiful waterline, and very nice tight white (yellow line). Concavity improved slightly on the fronts Amazing. And she is a happier horse. Also, I think the 2x daily Tri-Hist has made her happier as well. Not nearly the bubble wrap problem this year.
Member: kpaint	Posted on Friday, Mar 18, 2011 - 9:06 pm: Update. Miss Diva has been traveling on gravel, barefoot. Yes. Barefoot. I wouldn't put a rider on her while on gravel barefoot and I wouldn't walk for miles on gravel, but she does fine 1/8 mile on gravel 2x a day the past week. Seems to be better each day. Who would have thought?!
Member: vickiann	Posted on Saturday, Mar 19, 2011 - 9:13 am: Great to hear, Vicki!
Member: ajudson1	Posted on Saturday, Mar 19, 2011 - 9:40 am: I would have thunk it! I think any horse can go barefoot since they weren't born with shoes on! ;-) Just takes time, and deligence. Great job!
Member: sdms	Posted on Saturday, Mar 19, 2011 - 1:22 pm: Great news Vicki!
Member: melis2	Posted on Sunday, Mar 20, 2011 - 8:58 am: I would love to see some updated pictures.
Member: lilo	Posted on Sunday, Mar 20, 2011 - 9:38 am: Good news, Vicki and Diva! Barefoot is the way to go, if one can. Lilo
Member: kpaint	Posted on Sunday, Mar 20, 2011 - 4:30 pm: I'll have to see about getting some pictures up this week Melissa. She was a little slow coming back to the barn today, but on the way OUT to the pasture...she did just fine.

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