Barefoot, Rockley and Winter!

[wingedhorse99]

It was intended to be a question about roadwork. I don’t think my horse’s history and background are relevant to the question. I was trying to ask whether sand, stony tracks and rutted semi tarmacked roads were nearly as good as tarmac or whether only work on tarmac / concrete was suitable for keeping hooves strong and self-trimming.

I realise there are loads of variables, main one being the horse themselves as to how much stimulation feet need. And as my horse’s home conditions are totally different to Nic’s there will be some trial and error. I am not looking for an absolute answer e.g I don’t want the amount of hacking or the mileage of hacking on different surfaces. I asked for a view on whether it is only work tarmac / concrete that keep hooves strong and self-trimming or whether mixing with sand, stony tracks and rutted semi tarmacked potholed roads would also work.

 

[criso]

Just speaking from my experience, lots of work over different surfaces is great and stony tracks and old roads would be fine. But and this is where we get to the each horse is different, stony tracks can be the most challenging surfaces, smooth tarmac is stimulating without being demanding and most horses get to the point they are good on tarmac quite quickly.
The advantage of him being at Rockley is Nic will have taken him past the initial stage and you will be able to ride on different surfaces there so you know how he is progressing.
You may find you need to boot initially for longer rides when you get him home, you may not, that will depend on your horse but it sounds like you have a good variety of surfaces to work with.

 

[Kat]

Wingedhorse if you have specific questions perhaps it would be sensible to post your own thread rather than hijacking Loubiepoo's and taking it off at a tangent with your aggressive responses.

 

[HashRouge]

My biggest concern at the moment is that he hasn't travelled in 3 yrs and its almost 4hrs to Rockley! (Any advice on that one, anyone?)

Whereabouts are you SuseP? When my sister's horse went to Rockley earlier this year Nic recommended a transporter who takes a lot of horses down there. He was excellent, his box was lovely AND he even has a TV monitor in the cab so you can keep an eye on your horse. My sister's boy has travelled badly in the past and been a terror to load, but he traveled perfectly there and back with this guy

 

[Lancelot]

Can any barefoot owners or Rockley Rehabs give me advice on how you cope through winter when the ground is muddy and wet or frozen solid, the roads can be icy and tracks and bridleways either solid mud or solid ice? This is when I'm going to need to keep working him to stimulate the hoof and growth. Our yard also has a nice waxed fibre indoor arena and an outdoor sand/rubber arena which doesn't freeze too badly at all that I can use. We also have a treadmill which he can walk on for 20-30mins if things get desperate, although I appreciate this is no where near as stimulating as tracks and road work.

Thanks guys!

I bought Solar home at the beginning of February so was in a similar situation to the one you will be in. You may find your chap approaches hard rutted icy ground more carefully. Solar did but as Nic pointed out he was just being sensible about where he put his feet. I don't remember the roads being much of a problem, I find smooth-wet-with-rain concrete can sometimes be slippery but road tarmac is usually fine. I would always avoid icy roads anyway, just from a traffic perspective rather than a barefoot one but you may find that choosing a particular time of day to ride (if you're able) gives any ice a chance to thaw - I was going out early afternoons. Muddy ground isn't an issue for us whatsoever and as Solar has never been particularly foot-sure that was a really nice surprise - he is tons better than he was in shoes over this type of going.

Re the treadmill - I'm sure on the Rockley blog there is footage of Bryan (BBB) using a treadmill and judging by the massive success his rehab has been I imagine the use of one would not be detrimental

I'm more worried about how I'll cope without him for 12 weeks!

I know this feeling very well, 12 weeks flys by though and you'll soon be gearing up for having him home

My biggest concern at the moment is that he hasn't travelled in 3 yrs and its almost 4hrs to Rockley! (Any advice on that one, anyone?)

Solar wasn't well travelled by any standard - he had hardly been anywhere, in fact I personally had never travelled him anywhere!! I was lucky that my friend had a horsebox and we spent a few weeks beforehand loading & unloading, driving up the road etc. If you're able to do that it might help? It was about 3 hours for us to Rockley but he arrived perfectly fine and un-stressed so I do think that practise helped.


Good luck all of you, wishing you and your horses all the very best

 

[Leg_end]

Wow, there are a lot of HHO horses off to Rockley soon! Leg_end, what's up with yours?

He's been diagnosed with pedal bone oestitis in both font feet and changes to the navicular bone on LF. He's v v early in his diagnosis - he went lame in August and was diagnosed end of Sept. Prognosis was v guarded that he would even return to light work and we've tried eggbars (with wedges) for 3 shoeings and he had his coffin joint injected 4 weeks ago which has helped his stride length but not soundness on a circle

Leg_end, he's just been diagnosed with navicular, but he's also had SI pain and PSD in last couple of years so I'm hoping he'll be stronger all round when he comes home. He's been barefoot for years but ive never managed to get it quite right clearly.

My biggest concern at the moment is that he hasn't travelled in 3 yrs and its almost 4hrs to Rockley! (Any advice on that one, anyone?)
As always, wish I could tell him what was going to happen and that it will all be ok. (Ok I confess, I do tell him, but I wish he understood!!). I plan to go through my work diary today and see how many long weekends I can get away with!

SuseP, sounds like we can share our angst together! Buds can be a swine to load so I've got lots of practise penned in over the next few weeks - woohoo

It is also worth noting that many owners of Rockley (and other barefoot) rehabs have been through the mill emotionally (and financially) by the time they get to this point. The stakes are often pretty high.
After trying to get their horse sound for months/years and constantly feeling like a failure.....they then face the unknown quantity of barefoot rehab - which they sometimes have to do with little support of the vet and farrier.
By this point many owners are more broken than their horses and have a lot of anxiety about whether barefoot will work or if it's all too late and they will lose their horse after all.
And when the horse comes back from Rockley all shiny and sound....the owners are still worrying that it's all going to unravel once the horse comes home.......

It's often better to just let Nic be the guide.......

You have just defined me to a T!! I'm terrified, the stakes are v high

 

[StorminNormin]

Wingedhorse, I'm sure that your snippy comments are borne from your own frustrations and worries from having to embark on the barefoot road, just as Oberon suggests. You may also already know that the 'other' forum is where most of us barefooters, especially newbies, head for to glean very friendly advice, hand-holding, knowledge and the all-important support. An awful lot of the Phoenix crew, myself included, view here as well, and the lovely Oberon is a major contributor and one of the mods. No doubt you'll want to hop on there once your journey starts so I'd recommend a generous and mature apology to Oberon, who I'm sure will be all forgiving. Failing that, if you do head Phoenix way, probably best you change your sign-in name.

 

[wingedhorse99]

StorminNormin – Thanks. Please STOP feeling it is acceptable to write in a patronising way to others. Whilst we should all be always learning, listening to our horses, sharing our experiences and helping each other, this shouldn’t extend to assuming the right to patronise others. Both your post and Oberon’s last two posts are patronising, as is the assumption that I am new to having horses barefoot.

I am not new to having horses barefoot. The horse that is going to Rockley is barefoot but not in work. I am lucky to have access to an experienced and highly regarded trimmer. I have had previous barefoot working horses and shod horses. I am already an existing member of the phoenix barefoot forum, which I have found to be friendly. I have long read Rockley’s blog. I have a pretty good working knowledge of diet and supplementation.

 

[Clava]

StorminNormin – Thanks. Please STOP feeling it is acceptable to write in a patronising way to others. Whilst we should all be always learning, listening to our horses, sharing our experiences and helping each other, this shouldn’t extend to assuming the right to patronise others. Both your post and Oberon’s last two posts are patronising, as is the assumption that I am new to having horses barefoot.
.

I think people are simply being kind not patronising, maybe this is your issue not everyone elses?

 

[Goldenstar]

I think people are simply being kind not patronising, maybe this is your issue not everyone elses?

Perceptive .

 

[StorminNormin]

WingedHorse - your tone continues to beggar belief. So you're an experienced barefooter? Then surely you should have a fair idea of the answers to your questions, and your well-known and highly respected trimmer should certainly be able to advise?

Furthermore, as you're already a Phoenix member, forgive me for wondering but it begs the question as to why you've posted your questions here and not on Phoenix - surely Phoenix is the more appropriate place to get the best response to your query instead of hijacking someone else's post.

My objection here is related to your tone and attitude in response to Oberon, a trusted, friendly and reliable source of friendship and knowledge in the barefoot world who has worked tirelessly here for the barefoot cause. Several of us have commented that you were publicly rude to her, yet you continue to refuse acknowledgement to the fact.

Interestingly, you and Oberon have had a real buddy chat on a post on Phoenix where she was wonderfully helpful to you, and you were very friendly and grateful. Yet following on from that harmonious exchange, you insult her publicly on here - not acceptable. You haven't even got the good grace to hold your hands up and say 'sorry guys, having a bad days'.

PS - Definition of Patronising - to treat someone with condescension and/or superiority. If anyone was patronising, it was you.