Trimming my Horses
by Sandy Jenner, Nova Scotia, Canada
December 2005
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Tyr and Liana
Hi, I live in Nova Scotia, Canada. I have 3 horses, the newest being Tyr, a
Paint gelding from out west. He is big and so friendly. My kids ride him, and
he is so gentle; my husband rides him and he goes for a little run! My husband
had just made this new trough and no sooner was it made, but my youngest daughter,
Liana declared it was just the right size for her! (see photo above) The horses
all came for a drink, but Tyr was the most dazzling, because he is so big (16hh
at 4 years old).
I have just this summer started trimming my horses' feet, mostly because my
farrier was having behaviour trouble with 2 of my horses, Tyr and Tina, my half-Appaloosa
mare. They were good with me, so I started looking on the internet for information.
I could hardly believe the huge amount of information, and here was a horse
movement that mirrored most of what I already believed in. No shoes, 24/7 turnout,
natural remedies, the list goes on. I had been keeping most of my thoughts to
myself, because my traditional horse friends are not as open-minded!
Doing my own trimming was the best thing to happen here. My husband became
more involved with the horses, and learned as I learned( If you can't beat em',
join em'). I have a much more comprehensive understanding of thier feet and
how they move, and there was an added bonus: I also have a mare that was diagnosed
with Navicular disease years ago -- she had been limping more this spring, and
someone told me I should have her put down. I didn't, and she is now moving
better than she has for a long time. She still needs some work, but there are
not as many people doing the barefoot trim up here (the closest lady is more
than a 2 1/2 hr drive from me). In the springtime, I will take her up with me
when I participate in a clinic on barefoot trimming, and I am asking for a subsciption
to your magazine (The Horse's Hoof Magazine) for Christmas!!
Note: Photos are provided for reference and educational purposes only, and are not meant to indicate guidelines for trimming. Every horse should be trimmed as an individual. Opinions vary as to what constitutes "correct" but keep in mind - there are NO PERFECT FEET, not even in the wild. Owners are cautioned to seek professional help for the trimming of their own horse's feet. Owner trimming of pathological feet is not advised. Photos may not be reproduced, copied, or distributed in any way.
©2006 by The Horse's Hoof. All rights reserved. No part of these publications may be reproduced by any means whatsoever without the written permission of the publisher and/or authors. The information contained within these articles is intended for educational purposes only, and not for diagnosing or medicinally prescribing in any way. Readers are cautioned to seek expert advice from a qualified health professional before pursuing any form of treatment on their animals. Opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher.
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