HHO's "Bear" project pony...

[Marigold4]

I don't intend to "trim" as such, just round off the edges so hoping a radius rasp type thing will be good for that?

I wouldn't trust myself trimming!

I do have a rasp somewhere I've just never used it eeeeek

I went on a course to learn basics and have a fab new trimmer linked to the course who has taught me how to keep my horse's toes back. She showed me how using drawn-on lines and protractor, took photos of angle of rasp and made a video of her doing it. I rasp twice a week. Over the course of 12 weeks his feet have been transformed.

 

[Michen]

I went on a course to learn basics and have a fab new trimmer linked to the course who has taught me how to keep my horse's toes back. She showed me how using drawn-on lines and protractor, took photos of angle of rasp and made a video of her doing it. I rasp twice a week. Over the course of 12 weeks his feet have been transformed.

Thanks! What course did you go on?

 

[tristar]

Tristar can i get a radius rasp or is that cheating ? I think that’s all I can handle!

I do love hacking this horse he’s such W a pleasure. Although he does now have emergency draw reins on after his acceleration across the stubble ? Still he doesn’t feel remotely unfit. Really striding out in his boots and powering up hills. And the CS looks better. Really pleased.

We will get there!

View attachment 79024

lovely photo, glad to hear he is hacking well
have you ever tried standing mart,? i swear by them for head up sudden acceleration


i have never used a radius but sure they are handy.

i started with a normal rasp, with a handle, which gives more control, and followed the line of the slope of the hoof to start, but did not have new angle growth, just flare mainly, if you look at the sole side you will see where there is excess growth around the outside of the white line, then put your rasp flat on the top side of the hoof narrow side flat coronary band to bottom of hoof wall and you may see a gap between the edge of the rasp and the wall, that is your flare, usually more to the sides of the hoof wall, but yours looks to need his toes to come back, for one thing

its hard to tell someone how to do it, but if you just start taking off bit you won`t do harm, cos as we know it soon grows again

i don`t know if the radius is to just smooth round the edge, but you need to rasp downwards to welcome in the new hoof, any how good luck!

 

[Michen]

lovely photo, glad to hear he is hacking well
have you ever tried standing mart,? i swear by them for head up sudden acceleration


i have never used a radius but sure they are handy.

i started with a normal rasp, with a handle, which gives more control, and followed the line of the slope of the hoof to start, but did not have new angle growth, just flare mainly, if you look at the sole side you will see where there is excess growth around the outside of the white line, then put your rasp flat on the top side of the hoof narrow side flat coronary band to bottom of hoof wall and you may see a gap between the edge of the rasp and the wall, that is your flare, usually more to the sides of the hoof wall, but yours looks to need his toes to come back, for one thing

its hard to tell someone how to do it, but if you just start taking off bit you won`t do harm, cos as we know it soon grows again

i don`t know if the radius is to just smooth round the edge, but you need to rasp downwards to welcome in the new hoof, any how good luck!

Yes he's always in a standing martingale but I still didn't manage to catch him the other day with it on, so with respect to his ligament that doesn't want that kind of behaviour I'm sticking with draw reins for now, they are only used if needed and so far haven't been!

Thanks for the advice that's very helpful

 

[Marigold4]

Thanks! What course did you go on?

I have PM-ed you with details

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

Sorry, this might be completely irrelevant but thought I'd chuck this in just on the off chance it helps. Not horses but as I've kept parrots for over 20 years, I thought it might be of interest ?‍?
Many parrots have poor feather condition due to poor diet, I have rescued MANY parrots with liver issues over rather years and the one thing that always stands out, in these birds is the excess growth and poor quality of the nails and beak plus brittle, poorly formed feathers, all of which are made of keratin, same as hooves.
When rehabbing these birds I ALWAYS start with the diet and this, assuming the liver isn't too badly damaged, usually starts the process of regaining condition. It is rare that this doesn't help the issue.
I'm possibly rambling but what I'm trying to get at is that I'm convinced the issue for Bear has started with the liver, it will be interesting to see how his hoof quality changes with the drop in liver enzymes.

 

[McGrools]

.


Yes, but please ignore the amount of magnesium she feeds, it's ridiculous. (3x50ml scoop, as I recall) . If it works with some horses it will only be because it's acting as an acid damper in horses with a dodgy gut, and there are better ways to do that than over loading the kidneys pissing cloudy urine.
.

Sorry to derail a bit but interested, why does the author advocate lots of magnesium? What is it supposed to do for foot health?

I’m feeding it as a calmer, didnt know it has other uses?
Xx

 

[ycbm]

Sorry to derail a bit but interested, why does the author advocate lots of magnesium? What is it supposed to do for foot health?

I’m feeding it as a calmer, didnt know it has other uses?
Xx

It is supposed to have a role in insulin regulation, in old times it was fed to laminitics as Epsom salts, and there's a lot of anecdotal evidence that it keeps fat pads down. Anything that regulates blood sugars is likely to prevent bad effects on the hoof quality. Many people with barefoot horses, me included, feed mag ox, but not in the quantities stated in that book.
.

 

[McGrools]

It is supposed to have a role in insulin regulation, in old times it was fed to laminitics as Epsom salts, and there's a lot of anecdotal evidence that it keeps fat pads down. Anything that regulates blood sugars is likely to prevent bad effects on the hoof quality. Many people with barefoot horses, me included, feed mag ox, but not in the quantities stated in that book.
.

Brilliant thankyou ycbm, learn something new everyday!!
I started feeding my just turned 6 yr old mare on it a few weeks ago as a calmer and she seems to have matured well in that time. Possibly just coincidence but she was a bit backward thinking and now isnt. she does live out 24/7 so eats a lot of grass. Very interesting! Thankyou xx

 

[McGrools]

It is supposed to have a role in insulin regulation, in old times it was fed to laminitics as Epsom salts, and there's a lot of anecdotal evidence that it keeps fat pads down. Anything that regulates blood sugars is likely to prevent bad effects on the hoof quality. Many people with barefoot horses, me included, feed mag ox, but not in the quantities stated in that book.
.

Also i like the old fashioned remedies, that is a big thumbs up from me!
??

 

[Michen]

I do feet twice a week, means you only have to take a smidge off. Means I dare use a long rasp and also it isn't as tough on your back! I think it is also kinder to the horse's feet and joints, as there are no sudden changes.

Red can you remind me of Fiona’s surname? X

 

[Michen]

Sorry, this might be completely irrelevant but thought I'd chuck this in just on the off chance it helps. Not horses but as I've kept parrots for over 20 years, I thought it might be of interest ?‍?
Many parrots have poor feather condition due to poor diet, I have rescued MANY parrots with liver issues over rather years and the one thing that always stands out, in these birds is the excess growth and poor quality of the nails and beak plus brittle, poorly formed feathers, all of which are made of keratin, same as hooves.
When rehabbing these birds I ALWAYS start with the diet and this, assuming the liver isn't too badly damaged, usually starts the process of regaining condition. It is rare that this doesn't help the issue.
I'm possibly rambling but what I'm trying to get at is that I'm convinced the issue for Bear has started with the liver, it will be interesting to see how his hoof quality changes with the drop in liver enzymes.

No that is helpful thanks so much!

I am really pleased with him. He’s been home a week and he’s already WAY less footy on stones and fine on concrete. He only has to go over a little bit of dirt/stone track for turnout and he’s now really good over it. Still very much toe first unless in boots but to be expected.

The deep crack is still deep but opening up nicely.

I just need to get the trim/not trim thing right, I feel like there will be a window of opportunity but it’s going to be tricky as I’m shortly going to be away for two weeks and I bet it’ll be whilst I’m gone ?

And he’s hacking out so well! I added another small loop to build up this morning which meant going past home and not one hint of objection, just carried on ears pricked and forward.

Uh oh. I’m not going to want to give him up. He’s luring me back in again!

 

[Red-1]

Red can you remind me of Fiona’s surname? X

Varian.

https://www.fluidmovements.co.uk

IMO it is well worth having a 'body' treatment as well as a feet trim. They go hand in hand.

 

[Michen]

Varian.

https://www.fluidmovements.co.uk

IMO it is well worth having a 'body' treatment as well as a feet trim. They go hand in hand.

Thank you!

 

[Michen]

I am SO pleased with Bear. I have come back after three weeks away and he’s so good over rough surfaces now, his landing is flat and I don’t think it’ll be too long before it’s heel first. The central sulcus is open and shallow although still treating daily. I’ve rasped him myself weekly and then had him trimmed twice by pros but absolutely minimal amounts just tiny tiny bits taken off to get the toe back. His coat is Shiney and his weight is good and he’s not downing water so I’m fairly confident his liver enzymes would be fine too if we were to test right now.

He’s behaving like an angel and has accompanied Bog to camp- here he is doing hack and splash with my friend (and hopefully his full loaner from November).

Chuffed to bits with him.. hoping for a 100% sound horse when the vet next comes this month. He’s off to Wales with Boggle for a weeks holiday next week, he is just about to start a little trot work so he won’t be doing the longer and faster rides but there’s 6 of us bringing 9 horses for a weeks holiday so it’ll be good fun!!

Oh and Bog whose not jumped for 9 weeks was superb today at camp. We didn’t miss a single fence and he felt epic.

Fab ponies!

 

[splashgirl45]

good news, have a great holiday

 

[Rosemary28]

That’s brilliant news ?

 

[Bradsmum]

Great news, I so love reading about Boggle & Bear (despite their off days). Enjoy Wales, looks like you might be lucky with the weather next week.

 

[Michen]

Great news, I so love reading about Boggle & Bear (despite their off days). Enjoy Wales, looks like you might be lucky with the weather next week.

Thanks! Really looking forward to it. It’s my 30th so hopefully will take away the sting of leaving my 20’s!

 

[tristar]

oh i do love a happy sounding post

 

[ycbm]

That's really good to read, and you deserve it. Have a great holiday, I hope the weather holds good for you.

 

[Jeni the dragon]

I hope you all have an amazing time! Looking forward to some fabulous pics of shiny ponies!

 

[palo1]

Hope you have a lovely holiday in Wales and congratulations on your birthday and 2 lovely horses!!

 

[Emilieu]

What a smashing way to spend your birthday. Have an excellent time

 

[Annagain]

Great news about Bear (and Bog). Where in Wales are you going?

 

[Michen]

Great news about Bear (and Bog). Where in Wales are you going?

Brandy House farm

 

[Michen]

Hoof pics for anyone interested a few months apart. I’m not deluding myself that they don’t have a long way to go but they are going in the right direction, they are growing and he is a huge amount more comfortable on them so I can only be pleased. They also need a trim, again, 2 weeks after last having a rasp.

Not sure how much to intervene, heels are long but we are being pretty conservative just keeping things “tidy” and letting him grow his own feet in.

 

[IrishMilo]

Feet look awesome. So much more width to the frog and less bullnose in front!

 

[HashRouge]

^Ditto
I would keep doing what you're doing, especially if he is sound and comfortable. There is a lot to be said for not messing about too much with feet that are functional, which is a message my share horse's farrier never seems to get...

 

[tristar]

i trim once once a fortnight in general, but keep tools in the hoof cleaning bin and do bits when needed as well

its like training your eye to see what needs doing,
now you have started you will be looking at the feet in a different way than when you relied on someone else to do the job