..a pedi 'cure'...

...the farrier came...hoo-bloody-ray!
Don't let it be said that I'm stuck in my ways, or am unwilling to try new things.  But having spent eight weeks barefoot the boys are finally sound again with shoes back on.


Barefoot doesn't suit every horse or sensitive owner (mentioning no names), but they are happy clomping about the yard now, and so I'm happy too.

Yesterday afternoon Steve's van rattled down the driveway, the boys were right out in the fields grazing.  They waited until he'd parked and walked to the yard, and put themselves into their stables to wait for Steve to shoe them!  You couldn't make this stuff up.  Suffice it to say, Tom & Henry invited farriery yesterday, and got it.








See the pictures:

Happy hooves, happy horses, happy butler.

shoeless and stealthy...

...and how a good idea was a lesson in hoof care...

Steve was ill, so rather than force him to shoe the boys regardless I took this as an opportunity to see how the boys would fare barefoot.  Early on they seemed fine, likely because the weather was dry constantly,but since the heavy rain, and subsequent hoof wall changes due to the environment, all has not been easy.  Tom and Henry are sore, and I can't bear it.

Some advice has been, that it's inevitable for your horse to have this sore period before he's used to being barefoot, but it breaks my heart every-time I see, particularly Henry, tip-toeing across the rough part of my yard.  Another thing barefoot people tell you about, multiple terrains, rough and smooth, but I can't do it anymore and suspect Tom & Henry can't wait until Steve's van comes rattling down the driveway so they can have steel shoes nailed to their feet, sounds so antiquated doesn't it?  But anyone who watches their horses struggling with being barefoot, and has a heart, will understand why, your farrier and his furnace are your friend. 

Steve is cool, he'll undoubtedly give me the 'told you so' eye roll, with back up from John, but I needed to know didn't I? And now I do. Tom and Henry need shoes.

Tom and Henry had hoof-boots on yeasterday, plonky and undignified they do a good job, but constant waering and movement rub around the bulbs of their feet and their fetlock.  so not a permanent option.

Suffice it to say I called Steve again today, wished him ok and literally begged him to come and shoe them, thank you Steve.

...new shoes....

...after a winter of  being 'shoeless and idle'....
................................the boys had a pedicure today.

A  combination of Steve my farrier needing some time off and my own experimental side wondering how T&H would be shoeless during the unrideable months of winter, meant the boys have been without shoes since October.

Surprisingly, they were absolutely fine, I wouldn't want to add this as a permanent approach to my strategy, but as a well monitored experiment, it proved most interesting.

They have remained unridden and have been fine, a little sore on the rough concrete patch in my yard but sound on the flat.
 

Remember also, they have been in at night during this time too so have spent lots of time on soft ground woodchip and rubber floor,....and outside: actually very soft...rain soaked mud!





Steve arrived today, not in his usual van, but in his car kitted out for farriering. Tom and Henry were grazing (yes, we have grass), and brought themselves in from the field, walked over to Steve and Bob's your uncle. he said their feet were a very good shape and condition, phew!

....now I just have to tackle the mud....wonder how long that'll take me?