HealthyHoof.com

Hoofcare & Information for Barefoot Soundness

Linda Cowles Hoof Care - Serving the greater SF Bay Area and Northern California

Azure's Last Chance Paid Off!

October 5, 2006 Azure's History
October 5, 2006 - The Trim
November 13, 2006 - Second Trim
January 29, 2007 Overview - Four Month Report
January 29 - Let's Dance!

Below: Azure, playing catch, 4 months after his first "natural" barefoot trim

Below: Azure before his first trim.

Below: Finally, a "best foot" to put forward.

Overview

I couldn't wait to go visit Azure on my recent trip to Cool, California. Azure wasn't on my list for the clinic because Valerie wanted to have her other two horses trimmed, but he was the first horse we visited on arrival.

Valerie has been trimming him herself, and I had to give her a big hand; trimming horses with feet that have as much transitioning to do as Azure's is very tough.

These feet need to do a lot of changing, and we care-givers tend to do too much too soon. Too many trimmer try to carve a developing foot into the shape of a healthy hoof when it simply isn't ready.

Valerie's strategy has really paid off.

She kept Azure in Old Mac boots with Easy Care Comfort pads and home made frog pads for almost 3 months, even when it became a real nuisance to remove the boots once and twice a day to ensure that he wasn't getting rubbed.

After the New Year, Valerie emailed me that Azure had remained sound bootless since Christmas Eve!

She also successfully used Gold Bond Medicated Foot (and hoof!) Powder to fight a lingering case of thrush.

Valerie, a first-time trimmer, got coaching from her friend Judy and managed to keep a nice foot on Azure. I was so thrilled with how he looked, and picked up my tools to help her get his toes back a bit more, to check his sole for shedding material and to bevel his heels slightly.

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Valerie emailed me on February 5th that she's been ponying Azure on the trail (she lives in Tevis Country, on the Western States 100 Mile Trail) in boots and he's doing great. He's not ready to be ridden yet, but is eager to hit the trail on the end of a lead rope.

Valerie's Trimmer Throne

Valerie Liked my stool (a mechanics stool with the wheels swapped out for heavy duty 3 inch casters) so much that she totally rebuilt a similar one purchased at Harbor Freight for $10 with a new seat and tool bags! I love her stool almost as much as I love her dedication to Azure's well being... but yep, I'm definitely jealous! This is a wonderful setup!