As promised - first update

ImmyS

ImmyS

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So as some of you requested that I kept you up to date on my ex racers barefoot progress I thought I would start you off with just a little update and a video.

So this evening I took Celine out for her first walk without shoes on, I was going to use her boots but as the roads around here have just been resurfaced so are lovely and smooth I thought it would be a shame to not take her out bare and give her feet some good stimulation providing she was comfortable.

Just head out for about 10/15 mins and she was so happy to be out, I could barely keep up with her! we had to pull in to some stoney drives but she didn't even flinch. I'm really happy with her progress so far but it is still early days so expecting set backs.

and here is a little token video, please ignore my hideous commentary voice, I just love listening to the clip clop of her bare hooves! :)

[YOUTUBE]pGG-GcruFY0[/YOUTUBE]
 
Thank you - yes she never really used to track up unless asked to really walk on, she now seems track right up or even over track slightly! Just hoping her heels will start lifting and she will start losing the excess toe, taking her shoes off has made me realise just how flat her feet actually are!
 
Also a quick q when I do get on her again even if sound without should I boot her up the first few times to make sure she's comfortable with the extra weight etc..? :)
 
LOVE THIS gives me hope for my little tb mare who's front shoes are coming off this week.

Your girl is lovely :)
 
AmiRobertson said:
LOVE THIS gives me hope for my little tb mare who's front shoes are coming off this week.

Your girl is lovely :)
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Oo good luck! Let us know how you get on, Celines have only been off a few days so we can track their progress together, will be interesting to see and compare :) any specific reason why you're going barefoot?
 
ImmyS said:
Oo good luck! Let us know how you get on, Celines have only been off a few days so we can track their progress together, will be interesting to see and compare :) any specific reason why you're going barefoot?
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Most of the story is here http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=610988

So it's a bit of a kill or cure situation to for us but she can look forward to whole summer of being a baby and having a 6month holiday in the field :) yes we should definitely track our progress. Feet are so interesting haha
 
AmiRobertson said:
Most of the story is here http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=610988

So it's a bit of a kill or cure situation to for us but she can look forward to whole summer of being a baby and having a 6month holiday in the field :) yes we should definitely track our progress. Feet are so interesting haha
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Just read all and looked at the x rays. I think barefoot may be the way to go and it's obvious you've taken all necessary precautions before doing so. I know you say you want her to be turned away but a few walks a week out in hand on the roads could be invaluable to her rehabilitation and building the necessary sole to build that protection, but I'm sure someone with more expertise would know more about that. But then as long as field sound, after field rest you could then start the roadwork in hand etc..
 
I think that will be the plan as soon as I know she is field sound. She looks sound in walk at the moment but in trot she is definitely short. However she can not be that uncomfortable as she has been behaving like a bat out of hell in the field at the moment :) definitely think a couple of in hand walks a week after month or so in the field will be great and it will help us rebuild our bond as with what we have been through lately it is a little damaged.

I am planning on having physio out every 3-4 months as she saw her on Monday and said she had a lot of tension through her back from compensating on her feet. She showed me some great massages for legs though which gets dizzy licking, chewing and yawning like there is no tomorrow :)
How come you decided to do barefoot?
 
AmiRobertson said:
I think that will be the plan as soon as I know she is field sound. She looks sound in walk at the moment but in trot she is definitely short. However she can not be that uncomfortable as she has been behaving like a bat out of hell in the field at the moment :) definitely think a couple of in hand walks a week after month or so in the field will be great and it will help us rebuild our bond as with what we have been through lately it is a little damaged.

I am planning on having physio out every 3-4 months as she saw her on Monday and said she had a lot of tension through her back from compensating on her feet. She showed me some great massages for legs though which gets dizzy licking, chewing and yawning like there is no tomorrow :)
How come you decided to do barefoot?
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Sounds like a great plan and I hope barefoot turns out to be the right thing for you both :) it will be a good journey and will as you say rebuild that bond through spending extra time just doing the little things like walking out in hand..

Well celine came to me being shod on all fours since a 2 year old and although she has never been 'unsound' so to speak she has shown little niggles, like find turning tightly difficult, stumbling etc., and with typical underun heels and long toes I've worried about her future soundness with potential navicular, tendon and ligament strains, concussion etc.,, I took her backs off last November and she's been doing incredibly so I thought it was about time to go all the way as she removed one shoe anyway I saw it as a kind of sign that now was the right time.
 
ImmyS said:
Sounds like a great plan and I hope barefoot turns out to be the right thing for you both :) it will be a good journey and will as you say rebuild that bond through spending extra time just doing the little things like walking out in hand..

Well celine came to me being shod on all fours since a 2 year old and although she has never been 'unsound' so to speak she has shown little niggles, like find turning tightly difficult, stumbling etc., and with typical underun heels and long toes I've worried about her future soundness with potential navicular, tendon and ligament strains, concussion etc.,, I took her backs off last November and she's been doing incredibly so I thought it was about time to go all the way as she removed one shoe anyway I saw it as a kind of sign that now was the right time.
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Sounds very similar to dizzy. She has been stumbling and really struggles to find her balance. If celine's feet were xrayed I wonder if her pedal bones would be in a similar position to dizzys. Two is such a young age for shoes and I fully believe that dizzys pedal bones are in that position because they haven't been given the time to develop properly :(
My insurance is paying for her feet to be xrayed every 4 months so I can see what's going on inside the hoof. It's quite exciting to know that I can watch the progress and would love to know how celine is getting on too!
 
I would suspect her pedal bone probably is. It is such a shame they aren't given a chance to develop, in anyway really. I bought celine as a 5 year old, she looked about 2 though and has grown a good couple of inches over winter, she's only just started to fill out and look like a 6 year. Bless them. Definitely keep me informed on dizzys progress :) x
 
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