Repeat Offender

Henry

...I love this horse, and Trakehners as you now know are clever and cunning.  They are sharp and light on their feet, they can tip toe and pirouette.  They spin, side step and do fancy Prix StGeorge dressage maneovers in their field.  So is it any surprise they are also very good at shifting shoes...however strongly they are attached!?

Farriers have scratched their chins in amazement at the level of cunning Trakehners will adopt to get a shoe off in fact.

...but Henry takes it to a new level.

He'd get the Gold medal for shoe-shifting if it were an Olympic sport.

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm sure they don't lose them more often than is to be expected, its supremely muddy and wet everywhere, and galloping around - which isn't optional at WW -  is a risky strategy if you want all shoes kept on.

But Henry can twist them too, which is a task in itself!

Poor farrier Dean.

Henry is a repeat offender, and look at the twist in that shoe by Lemmy, even the cat can't understand it!

TCJpart72 Feet

FEET...again & wisdom from STEVE:

Tom & Henry have lovely shaped feet, Steve works hard with pure skill and years of experience to ensure their shod feet are an extension of their own-grown feet.  A perfect angle, a lovely round even shape and rasped with ever decreasing fineness of tools for a mirror-finish, their feet are picture perfect and beautiful.

Steve is a third generation farrier, likely born with a rasp in his hand!!  I found him on the Worshipful Company of Farriers website, it can help you find farriers in your area, but always back these contacts up with recommendations if you can.  At least 3 people mentioned Steve to me before I called him, Jenny was one of them!

Tom & Henry took an instant like to Steve, a quiet humble man, comfortable around big horses...he shoes everything from Shires to Shetlands...and anything Steve asks them, they do.

Tom, as you know is inherently distrustful, is so comfortable with Steve he sometimes falls asleep, poor Steve has to hold him up!!!

Once he's done the boys are noticeably happier on their feet, prancing about and moving with such grace...of course they have just spent  the last few days with hoof boots on one foot each, and although they can get on and move about unhampered (and the boots really do a brilliant job), elegant and floaty they are not. 

T&H show-off their new pedicures, without exception they'll hang about in the yard until Steve has driven away (they love Uncle Steve), they go straight out into their fields and frolic about in a look-at-me type of gorgeous fashion typified by the Trakehner....everything they do is simply stunning.

To replace any worn horn due to riding over hard surfaces, and lots of roadwork, although it doesn't need much to wear the horn down in my experience, is what shoes are for.

A well shod horse will have had his way of going assessed by your farrier and Steve hand-makes T&H's shoes every visit so they are a perfect bespoke fit. 


I never tire of watching him and his craft, it's just so skilled and slick.

Of course one day Steve will retire, so I have to consider the possibility of going barefoot, I don't mind about not riding, I don't do much roadwork anyway if I can help it.  Steve will still come I hope about  every 8 weeks once barefoot, but he wont be bent over an anvil just a cup of tea!

Appreciate the experts who tirelessly work for the benefit of your horse, you may not realise the skill that's involved, Steve doesn't give me a blow-by-blow when he's here but I know he works a special shoe to help Henry's dishing.

A few things to remember:  Lessons Learned from Steve:

• he likes clean dry feet, always have a towel handy if you've brought your horse straight in from the field, even now in July....it's very muddy out there.
• he likes a picked-out foot
• he likes me attached to the front end and not getting in his way
• he doesn't like Tom or Henry biting his bum...or rubbing their heads on it either.....in fact bums are out of bounds.
• he likes the kettle on, but always says no to a biscuit!
• he doesn't like treat feeding
• he likes chinos, and always turns-up looking very smart in a shirt and shiny boots, and changes
• he doesn't mind how long the job takes, he does the job right, he is never in a rush
• he doesn't like any topical hoof treatments like moisturiser or hoof-hardener, left on it's own a hoof  should be perfectly capable to adapt to any natural conditions like wet or dry
• he likes the Queen
• he doesn't believe a horse that is fed correctly should need any additional supplement for the feet, he says wild horses have brilliant feet
• he loves putting the world to rights....as does John, they love a good chat
• he gets upset when he sees horses with badly shod feet
• he loves wildlife
• he is always right about the weather and gives Countryfile a run for their money
• he will look at the berries in autumn and tell you whether it's going to be a cold winter
• he wishes more vets would ask for help and call a great farrier to help with feet problems, because some emergency footwork can cause more problems than they fix. My vet (Louisa), thinks Steve is a sweetie!
• he wont eat cake unless home made by our Mum's
• he knows all the poisonous weeds, I always show him plants I don't recognise

The necessity of shoeing means we have experts visit our horses regularly, use this interface wisely, your farrier for example might notice your horse putting on weight and you may not, he might notice, but the trick is to ask and listen.

Our horses rely on us, don't let them down.

another...SPECIAL EDITION

HOOF BOOTS:
...and how we can't live without them...

Like many things in the life of outdoorsy types, the weather can and does effect everyday comings and goings.

The immense amount of rain we've had during this spring and summer has meant the grass has grown, the mud has appeared , turned to dust and appeared again, and hooves have needed attention in ever decreasing time frames. 

So it is I find myself in a horse-related-common-predicament most horse owners will appreciate.  A week earlier than usual, T&H's hooves needed attention, they have just outgrown their shoes very fast.  Happily John had foreseen this and booked Steve early.

BUT, Steve had a 'shoe-and-show' at the East of England Show planned so he was coming Sunday instead of Saturday.  Saturday was nice, but Sunday it chucked it down and I had to concede Steve couldn't come.  By then I was forced myself to remove one of Tom's shoes.  I only do this if it's easy and the fear of damage to the horse is high, Steve would not approve of my technique, but I just can't seem to wield those heavy pliers in one hand, so kneeling down I rest their legs across my lap...and use 2 hands! (don't tell Steve).  Both Tom & Henry stand perfectly still, not tied up whilst I do this too, they are very good boys.

So, by Sunday Tom was hobbling about, his foot now sore, so I put a hoof boot on: size 5.  My favourite is the Easy Boot, I'm buying more once I've finished typing!

Then, and it's Tuesday night, of course drama can't happen here without Henry being involved, it just wouldn't be right, Henry has pulled one of his now loose shoes off somewhere, I still can't find it even with Coco's help, so the smaller hoof boot has gone on him too, size: 4.  One minute hobbling about, the next perfectly comfortable and happy. 

Tom and Henry are not put-off or slowed down by the attachment of hoof boots, so they go about their usual routine with them on.  We have mud here, but the height of the Easy boot covers the pastern and happily the mud isn't that deep...if John Craven is right though, it'll rain for another 3 weeks in all likelihood...note to self, stop watching Countryfile!

I recommend these hoof boots, they really allow the boys to get on with life and I don't worry about their feet getting sore...and of course it stops the horn wearing out more before Steve can get here...hopefully Friday...but who knows, it might still be raining.

UPDATE: 13July
I have ordered more Easyboot Hoofboots for Tom & Henry since they are so very handy, and whilst one pair are in the wash (not sure if you're supposed to put them in the washing machine, but I do), the new ones went on them this morning...I love next day delivery...their feet are all happy waiting for Steve to arrive later today.





I have also ordered some more insoles for them, and these I learn can be varied depending on the needs of your horse.  I simply wanted the common comfort ones replaced that came with the boot since my boys aren't suffering from any affliction, they just have missing shoes BUT after speaking to: URBAN HORSE, I learn there a few different types to suit recovering laminitics or those with hoof and sole damage.  In fact, the girls at URBAN HORSE specialise in all things barefoot & bitless, the natural way.  Give them a call they are very helpful.



...also, John found Henry's missing shoe!!!!!