Having a "blue" day :(

[now_loves_mares]

Hmmm. Probably a bit of a pointless post but I'm hoping that typing will be cathartic and I'll feel better.

This morning was the farrier visit, and my mare has this year started being a t*t to shoe her hinds. History is that I've owned her for 2 1/2 years, she's always been fine to shoe. Last year she developed a hoof crack and under vet supervision I changed farrier and the crack is growing out (v v v nearly gone now, hurrah!) However the new farrier is brilliant technically, but struggles to get her hinds done. She is a chestnut mare and can be a bit stroppy about the odd thing, but this is becoming a ridiculous, irritating habit. I took her to the vet in the summer who found nothing, was then using sedalin each time but hadn't used any today as I needed to turn them out afterwards. Eventually I gave her some sedalin as she had only 3 shoes done, but that made no difference and for everyone's safety we had to give up

It's so annoying as all my riding has to be hacking as I don't have a school - not great without a shoe

I then noticed my other horse has a small cut and a swollen leg - have turned her out as cold snow and moving about is the best thing for it, she is a bit of a wimp and gets very puffy legs with the tiniest injury.

Anyway, for no reason at all really, this brought me to tears this morning. I've no idea how to get my horse shod, I was so embarrased by her behaviour, she was trampling all over me which is a great way to make you feel good about yourself, suddenly feel all crap about everything. I don't think it's winter blues, as I had a lovely long hot holiday recently, so have only really been dealing with winter for a couple of weeks!! I'm sure I'll snap out of it, but I tried a "if I could, what would I do RIGHT NOW that would be the most fun I could think of" and couldn't conjure up a fun image at all, horsey or otherwise

Right now, I'm all for selling both retards and becoming one of those people who goes shopping on a Saturday and has manicured finger nails

. Of course I know that would send me right over the edge in the bored/depressed stakes, but well I told you I was feeling rubbish

Cheer me up and tell me why we do it??? Or offer to take them both off my hands for the price of a couple of bottles of pinot noir

Sorry for the dribbly pathetic post; I have been loving my horses lately but today - pah.

 

[Flibble]

Me too I am feeling crap again. My horse had a nasty accident this morning and it was completely my fault.

I was impatient to put him in the arena while I mucked out. For some reason he threw a wobbly as I turned him out not sure why. Bolted across the arena as I notice the bottom gate was open. My fault I should have checked/ been patient.

He blitzed through it onto concrete lost his footing came tumbling down and scraped his head.

I would rather have been stabbed than have this happen to him.

I couldnt find any more cuts and put him back in the arena as I thought he was best to chill for 20 mins. He was quite dazed.

When I brought him out we trotted him up and he seemed ok but I know the poppet will be sore.

I am absolutely dreading going downn this afternoon in case I find swollen legs or 3 legged horse. Thank goodness he had thick rugs on. I sort of hate me today.

 

[now_loves_mares]

Oh poor you, I know we've all done stupid things and thought "aaahhhhhhhhh" a few seconds too late. I hope your horse feels ok.

Mine did at least make me smile by rolling in the snow the second we were in the field, before I'd even taken headcollars off.

 

[BBP]

I know its not a solution but does your mare need to wear hinds? Was the crack in the front or hind? If you could keep them off for a bit and give her a few easy experiences with the farrier she may start to settle? Is she very big/young? Ive groomed for a few 5yo 17handers who struggled with their balance when being shod behind, key was not to lift the leg so high - im assuming that she hasnt started to develop anything like arthritic changes in the hocks/fetlocks/pelvis as you said the vet found nothing?

As for why we do it...because we are mental. Horses have an inane ability to get injured (whether we forget to check the gates or whether we have done everything to perfection!) and make us feel like crap, so it must be cos we're mental.

I hope you both feel better soon!

 

[now_loves_mares]

[ QUOTE ]
I know its not a solution but does your mare need to wear hinds? Was the crack in the front or hind? If you could keep them off for a bit and give her a few easy experiences with the farrier she may start to settle? Is she very big/young? Ive groomed for a few 5yo 17handers who struggled with their balance when being shod behind, key was not to lift the leg so high - im assuming that she hasnt started to develop anything like arthritic changes in the hocks/fetlocks/pelvis as you said the vet found nothing?

As for why we do it...because we are mental. Horses have an inane ability to get injured (whether we forget to check the gates or whether we have done everything to perfection!) and make us feel like crap, so it must be cos we're mental.

I hope you both feel better soon!

[/ QUOTE ]

Hi - well firstly yes it must be cos we're mental, because no rational explanation fits

THough I've spent years persuading my OH that I'm not, so I hope he doesn't see this

Does she have to wear hinds - hmm, not sure. The crack was in the front, she's a fairly tough bird; I'd be more up for taking them off if I could ride in an arena more, but roadwork is my main exercise at the moment (another sore point but we'll leave that for another day!). But let's face it, she's going to be made to work on 3 shoes as I'm not giving her time off for bad behaviour

She's an 8yo 15.2 WB/ISH so quite strong and neither too big nor too young! The vet didn't do x-rays as she wasn't reacting in any way to manipulation/flexion tests at all while he was checking her. He said he could do them but suspected it was more likely in her head, hence the sedalin route. I'm not sure if it's possible that she just doesn't get on with this farrier? She never seemed at all difficult to shoe with either of my previous ones (first change was due to moving house, I don't just keep changing them for fun!)

 

[jendie]

You may not need hinds. My mare was barefoot when we bought her. We hack 5 times per week, including several miles of country lanes, and although I've needed to shoe her in front the hinds have never been a problem and are still shoeless.

 

[Echo Bravo]

Sedalin takes an hour so I'm told to take effect. But do feel for you as one of my mares the last three trims has started playing up and she had her feet seen to every 6 weeks since she was a foal by the same farrier and i cannt find a reason why.