tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73818163179485303192024-03-13T09:49:03.445-07:00Chronicle of the HoofNo hoof, no horseChronicle of the Hoofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623018477090186475noreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381816317948530319.post-11341471776967550502011-11-20T09:37:00.000-08:002011-11-20T09:53:30.754-08:00End of Chronicle of the Hoof<a href="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/312101_2153014831140_1419491350_31836134_81788254_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 427px; height: 285px;" src="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/312101_2153014831140_1419491350_31836134_81788254_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><div>It's been coming: the end of the Chronicle of the Hoof. I haven't wanted to create this post and even thought about deleting the blog all together, but there's some good information here and I originally started the blog with the intent of sharing my experience and findings. Deleting that would defeat its purpose.</div><div><br /></div><div>The blog is ending because we've come to a stalmate with Buttercup's condition. She tested negative for insulin resistance and tested negative for cushings. In fact, we're not sure what she has. Not even one of the most premier laminitis experts in the nation knows what's wrong with her. But he said we're not alone.</div><div><br /></div><div>Even he owns a horse that has strange triggers without a biological reason. He's studied them and can't find a reason behind it.</div><div><br /></div><div>The good news is that her condition, unlike IR, isn't progressive. He said when we find a trigger, remove it and move on with our lives. He also said I need to stop panicking every time she has a bad day. </div><div><br /></div><div>He commended us on management and keeping her healthy, and said she would continue to be healthy as long as we carefully manager her.</div><div><br /></div><div>While it's very frustrating not being able to pinpoint her condition, it's very comforting that we're not alone. There are others out there, frustrated and worried, trying to do right by their horse.</div><div><br /></div><div>When I started this blog, I felt very alone. I didn't have the team of hoof care professionals or vets standing behind me that I have now. I didn't have friends with laminitic, cushings and other chronic condition horses. Now I have all that support.</div><div><br /></div><div>When I started this blog, I also felt woefully under-educated and in a position of being unable to help my horse. But now, I feel like while I still have much to learn, I know how to take care of my horse. </div><div><br /></div><div>A big thank you to my readers who have chimed in and helped over the years and have followed this rather tragic and unhappy tale. We've had a lot of bright spots over the year, and a lot more good days than bad, but those haven't always been shared. </div><div><br /></div><div>I hope we haven't depressed you too much because I'm still optimistic. Buttercup is happy and healthy, and that's what matters to me. </div><div><br /></div><div>Happy hooves, everyone. </div><div><br /></div><a href="http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/377737_2153026111422_1419491350_31836160_710842681_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 429px; height: 280px;" src="http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/377737_2153026111422_1419491350_31836160_710842681_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chronicle-of-the-Hoof/205766236104435">If you still want to see infrequent updates on Buttercup, like us on Facebook.</a></div>Chronicle of the Hoofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623018477090186475noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381816317948530319.post-68090736694229270922011-08-19T12:27:00.000-07:002011-08-19T12:48:31.620-07:00Space-age Shoes - Aug. 19<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-UJMSwowsZ-Q/Tk5vRnbcx4I/AAAAAAAAFyI/tafun0Kb0dQ/s576/Screen%252520shot%2525202011-08-19%252520at%25252010.09.37%252520AM.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 576px; height: 497px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-UJMSwowsZ-Q/Tk5vRnbcx4I/AAAAAAAAFyI/tafun0Kb0dQ/s576/Screen%252520shot%2525202011-08-19%252520at%25252010.09.37%252520AM.png" border="0" alt="" /></a>
<br /><div style="text-align: left;">We had a mild laminitic episode this week (lasting less than 48 hours). Responded with icing her hooves twice a day and by the second day her pulse returned to normal. No heat in the hooves, just a slightly elevated pulse. This is why taking pulses is so important!</div><div>
<br /></div><div>So we are still experiencing some lameness with Buttercup even with her last fancy shoes. To me, it looks mostly like hind-end skeletal lameness. The chiropractor will actually be out tomorrow to fix whatever is out for her. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>Today, Russ came by for her regularly scheduled shoeing. We decided to go with a Morrison Roller shoe. While we actually gained more sole in the last four weeks with the regular four-point shoes, the Morrison shoe is supposed to really increase bloodflow and build lots of sole. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>We are out of the Equi-Pak, and seeing how we do with out. While we did grow more sole, it was mostly soft sole. Not the hard, weight bearing sole that is desirable. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>The Morrison shoe is some space-age stuff. Literally. It is made out of aluminum and magnesium. "The kind of stuff they make jet air planes out of," Russ said.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>The provide a three-degree wedge and have the breakover even further back than the four-point, natural balance shoe. If Buttercup was any judge, freeing up her shoulders, I'd say she likes them.</div><div>
<br /></div><div><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-qbDWPvkox3M/Tk5vMP7xmZI/AAAAAAAAFx8/W0NDzFQ4GWk/Screen%252520shot%2525202011-08-19%252520at%25252010.07.20%252520AM.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-qbDWPvkox3M/Tk5vMP7xmZI/AAAAAAAAFx8/W0NDzFQ4GWk/Screen%252520shot%2525202011-08-19%252520at%25252010.07.20%252520AM.png" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 347px; height: 221px; " /></a>
<br /><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ENtnAAa-Kg8/Tk5vJ5NVyWI/AAAAAAAAFx0/d5dYIDbjVW4/Screen%252520shot%2525202011-08-19%252520at%25252010.08.35%252520AM.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ENtnAAa-Kg8/Tk5vJ5NVyWI/AAAAAAAAFx0/d5dYIDbjVW4/Screen%252520shot%2525202011-08-19%252520at%25252010.08.35%252520AM.png" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 291px; height: 201px; " /></a>
<br /><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-iXf_M4wdadI/Tk5vLvTdKLI/AAAAAAAAFx4/TgfN1ODOH74/Screen%252520shot%2525202011-08-19%252520at%25252010.08.06%252520AM.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-iXf_M4wdadI/Tk5vLvTdKLI/AAAAAAAAFx4/TgfN1ODOH74/Screen%252520shot%2525202011-08-19%252520at%25252010.08.06%252520AM.png" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 253px; height: 222px; " /></a>
<br /><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-KLr_Wy11NwE/Tk5vPrzvm3I/AAAAAAAAFyA/B06CMTtloWU/Screen%252520shot%2525202011-08-19%252520at%25252010.08.48%252520AM.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-KLr_Wy11NwE/Tk5vPrzvm3I/AAAAAAAAFyA/B06CMTtloWU/Screen%252520shot%2525202011-08-19%252520at%25252010.08.48%252520AM.png" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 296px; height: 209px; " /></a>
<br /><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ddHFQUHaxa8/Tk5vQOZu-mI/AAAAAAAAFyE/s5SZ26a4608/Screen%252520shot%2525202011-08-19%252520at%25252010.09.17%252520AM.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ddHFQUHaxa8/Tk5vQOZu-mI/AAAAAAAAFyE/s5SZ26a4608/Screen%252520shot%2525202011-08-19%252520at%25252010.09.17%252520AM.png" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 234px; height: 184px; " /></a></div><div>
<br /></div><div><a href="http://www.grandcircuitinc.com/proddetail.asp?prod=MORSGCMOR">Click here for more information about the Morrison Roller</a>. </div>Chronicle of the Hoofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623018477090186475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381816317948530319.post-29763401589317686042011-07-27T09:55:00.000-07:002011-07-27T10:01:58.230-07:00It's not cushings, but she's still lameJust got Buttercup's results back from the ATCH Insulin test. Insulin and hormone levels look normal, which mean she does not have Cushings Disease.<div><br /></div><div>While Cushings Disease would have meant access to supportive drugs, this is still a good thing, the vet assures me. </div><div><br /></div><div>Her normal insulin levels mean we've been managing her diet well and the vet said that Equine Metabolic/IR horses can have normal levels so that's still on the table.</div><div><br /></div><div>At this time, I have no plans to have her tested for EMS/IR because the tests are prohibitively expensive (I have fancy new shoes I have to buy Bud every four weeks), can often miss the IR and even if she is diagnosed, we wouldn't be doing anything different than what we are already doing. There is no cure or treatment for EMS, other than diet management. </div><div><br /></div><div>Buttercup hasn't improved much with her new shoes, but she does seem more comfortable from last week. </div><div><br /></div><div>Here's the latest lameness video, which I've sent to person who is excellent at analyzing lameness to see what he thinks:</div><div><br /></div><div>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOdRcDDCwcA</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZIjIxgOC8es" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>Chronicle of the Hoofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623018477090186475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381816317948530319.post-73599630808906688072011-07-24T10:08:00.000-07:002011-07-24T10:14:23.636-07:00New shoes - July 23<meta charset="utf-8">We had to up the ante on getting Buttercup comfortable. Forty-eight hours after getting her plain steel shoes, her comfort level dramatically decreased. So Russ came out and the new strategy is four-point shoes (also known as natural balance shoes) paired with a fake gel sole.<div>
<br /></div><div>Her heels have been her main base of support with her soles so thin and her P3s on the ground (the breakover really hurt her). The four-point really takes advantage of her happy heels, moves the breakover back so that she isn't spending more time on the part that hurts. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>The gel is copper infused so it should keep any thrush down. Normally the gel is paired with a styrofoam pad that is level with the ground. Russ filled in with the gel, but kept is just below level of the shoe with the ground, so that it acts more like a sole and minimizes impact to her tender hooves. </div><div>
<br /><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--_HDLm4iNxM/TixMUpWKSlI/AAAAAAAAFwQ/RXFjsJfse3s/Screen%252520shot%2525202011-07-24%252520at%25252012.43.12%252520PM.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 383px; height: 385px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--_HDLm4iNxM/TixMUpWKSlI/AAAAAAAAFwQ/RXFjsJfse3s/Screen%252520shot%2525202011-07-24%252520at%25252012.43.12%252520PM.png" border="0" alt="" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hepo6Lrmuj0/TixMfFREgmI/AAAAAAAAFwc/-4Uo3GlwjJI/Screen%252520shot%2525202011-07-24%252520at%25252012.42.57%252520PM.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 546px; height: 486px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hepo6Lrmuj0/TixMfFREgmI/AAAAAAAAFwc/-4Uo3GlwjJI/Screen%252520shot%2525202011-07-24%252520at%25252012.42.57%252520PM.png" border="0" alt="" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-aMmkvcff_xA/TixMcgheG8I/AAAAAAAAFwY/sNiRuq3pOp0/Screen%252520shot%2525202011-07-24%252520at%25252012.43.05%252520PM.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 387px; height: 433px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-aMmkvcff_xA/TixMcgheG8I/AAAAAAAAFwY/sNiRuq3pOp0/Screen%252520shot%2525202011-07-24%252520at%25252012.43.05%252520PM.png" border="0" alt="" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xewwji8Muek/TixMgln8NFI/AAAAAAAAFwg/Y0gkVUVK1Jw/Screen%252520shot%2525202011-07-24%252520at%25252012.42.46%252520PM.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 413px; height: 478px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xewwji8Muek/TixMgln8NFI/AAAAAAAAFwg/Y0gkVUVK1Jw/Screen%252520shot%2525202011-07-24%252520at%25252012.42.46%252520PM.png" border="0" alt="" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-FKvBmgfbNFw/TixMkIDdq2I/AAAAAAAAFwk/HW92pKYLa2U/Screen%252520shot%2525202011-07-24%252520at%25252012.39.34%252520PM.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 422px; height: 494px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-FKvBmgfbNFw/TixMkIDdq2I/AAAAAAAAFwk/HW92pKYLa2U/Screen%252520shot%2525202011-07-24%252520at%25252012.39.34%252520PM.png" border="0" alt="" /></a>
<br />She is drastically more comfortable, but still not sound. Hopefully we'll see her continue to improve.
<br /></div>Chronicle of the Hoofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623018477090186475noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381816317948530319.post-80807367848453610442011-07-19T13:28:00.001-07:002011-07-20T14:38:23.093-07:00Lameness Update - July 19, 2011<div>So we had the vet out yesterday to try and determine underlying causes through new radiographs. I also had an ATC insulin test to test for Cushings. While Buttercup does not have the clinical appearance of a Cushings horse, she also doesn't have the clinical appearance of an IR horse either. Plus, we could support her with better medicine with Cushings and it's the cheaper of the metabolic tests.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>What the X-rays revealed:</div><div>
<br /></div><div>• No arthritic changes, so that's a good thing!</div><div>• Dramatic decrease in sole depth over the last year and half since<a href="http://chronicleofthehoof.blogspot.com/2009/10/new-x-rays.html"> the last X-rays</a></div><div>• Building up her heel then created downward pressure on her rotated P3, causing it more pain.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>The vet recommended we go back into shoes to give her immediate comfort and my old farrier Russ was right down the road. He came over and shod her. While the vet recommended eggbar shoes with padding, Russ wanted to go with a plain steel shoe and then work from there. If she needs more than this, we will go to it in stages.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>X-rays: (they got flipped)</div><div>
<br /></div><div><meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-pxBVBXJ-EVc/TiXkhbjiheI/AAAAAAAAFuw/I-mEOWViwLg/s576/DANZELL-STREET%25252C%252520LINDSAY%252520-%252520BUTTERCUP003.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-pxBVBXJ-EVc/TiXkhbjiheI/AAAAAAAAFuw/I-mEOWViwLg/s576/DANZELL-STREET%25252C%252520LINDSAY%252520-%252520BUTTERCUP003.JPG" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 576px; height: 468px; " /></a>
<br /><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-K5O9FJowHLk/TiXkgPtxbVI/AAAAAAAAFuk/nRVUpLpwrDw/s720/DANZELL-STREET%25252C%252520LINDSAY%252520-%252520BUTTERCUP001.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-K5O9FJowHLk/TiXkgPtxbVI/AAAAAAAAFuk/nRVUpLpwrDw/s720/DANZELL-STREET%25252C%252520LINDSAY%252520-%252520BUTTERCUP001.JPG" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 720px; height: 512px; " /></a></div><div>
<br /></div><div>Above view of the P3 looking for arthritic changes:</div><div>
<br /></div><div><meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--yG7S4sd34U/TiXkgbiWQ5I/AAAAAAAAFus/eXR9Xx2_NiE/s512/DANZELL-STREET%25252C%252520LINDSAY%252520-%252520BUTTERCUP002.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--yG7S4sd34U/TiXkgbiWQ5I/AAAAAAAAFus/eXR9Xx2_NiE/s512/DANZELL-STREET%25252C%252520LINDSAY%252520-%252520BUTTERCUP002.JPG" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 360px; height: 512px; " /></a>
<br /><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-qVflXyrPoKM/TiXkfTvN40I/AAAAAAAAFuo/q-M2TVKVSl8/s512/DANZELL-STREET%25252C%252520LINDSAY%252520-%252520BUTTERCUP000.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-qVflXyrPoKM/TiXkfTvN40I/AAAAAAAAFuo/q-M2TVKVSl8/s512/DANZELL-STREET%25252C%252520LINDSAY%252520-%252520BUTTERCUP000.JPG" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 402px; height: 512px; " /></a></div><div>
<br /></div><div>Vet shoeing Rx:</div><div>
<br /></div><div><meta charset="utf-8"><div style="text-align: center; ">
<br />
<br /></div><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--yG7S4sd34U/TiXkgbiWQ5I/AAAAAAAAFus/eXR9Xx2_NiE/s512/DANZELL-STREET%25252C%252520LINDSAY%252520-%252520BUTTERCUP002.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div style="text-align: center; ">
<br /></div><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-pxBVBXJ-EVc/TiXkhbjiheI/AAAAAAAAFuw/I-mEOWViwLg/s576/DANZELL-STREET%25252C%252520LINDSAY%252520-%252520BUTTERCUP003.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-x9rq6ycY1-s/TiXkd76IMVI/AAAAAAAAFug/p6q0ky1RYig/s512/shoeingRx.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-x9rq6ycY1-s/TiXkd76IMVI/AAAAAAAAFug/p6q0ky1RYig/s512/shoeingRx.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 393px; height: 512px; " /></a></div><div>
<br /></div><div>
<br /></div><div>
<br /></div><div>Freshly shod pics, left:</div><div>
<br /></div><div><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-MlEVDwkvpM4/TiXlpyRTizI/AAAAAAAAFu8/r84BpUq25zs/s640/DSC00446.JPG" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 640px; height: 480px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-52RP6GbuVIA/TiXlpZLghXI/AAAAAAAAFu4/G_xy19uTkJE/s640/DSC00448.JPG" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 640px; height: 480px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">
<br /><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SsYBhgFDFxE/TiXlo_umqwI/AAAAAAAAFu0/Y_sTQYoovUs/s640/DSC00447.JPG" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 640px; height: 480px; " /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">
<br /></span></span></span></div><div>
<br /></div><div>Right:</div><div>
<br /></div><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-5304WhCyTnM/TiXm_BXDjhI/AAAAAAAAFvI/rU3fsrKAHpk/s640/DSC00451.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 480px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-5304WhCyTnM/TiXm_BXDjhI/AAAAAAAAFvI/rU3fsrKAHpk/s640/DSC00451.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a>
<br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-MlEVDwkvpM4/TiXlpyRTizI/AAAAAAAAFu8/r84BpUq25zs/s640/DSC00446.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Tnulj6NFIMc/TiXm3h3cNDI/AAAAAAAAFvA/WhD68mcmdfM/s640/DSC00450.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 480px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Tnulj6NFIMc/TiXm3h3cNDI/AAAAAAAAFvA/WhD68mcmdfM/s640/DSC00450.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a>
<br /><div style="text-align: left;">And while she's not completely sound, she's the most comfortable she's been in three months and that's good enough for me. Hopefully she will continue to improve.</div><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We're still stumped as to why we lost all the sole depth. Maybe it was a triggered by a laminitic episode due to the rabies shot? Maybe it is a seasonal thing for her? All I know is that she lost it and we're doing what we can to make her comfortable.</div><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">That brings me to another point: Buttercup is officially retired. All this time I've been working on getting her back to the ring, back into showing, back into jumping, back into something. But I've known for a while now that's a pipe dream. I'll be happy to have her comfortable enough for the occasional trail ride. She may just be a pasture ornament for the rest of her days, but she may also come around to the point where she can go out and enjoy herself on trail. We'll see what she's up to. But she's retired — officially — at the ripe old age of 9.</div><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Instead of a gold watch, she got steel shoes. </div><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And recent video of her, still not sound, but at least comfortable:</div><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div> <iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/rOdRcDDCwcA?hl=en&fs=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>Chronicle of the Hoofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623018477090186475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381816317948530319.post-67411605776022759582011-07-15T04:53:00.001-07:002011-07-15T05:10:26.535-07:00Wound looks great ... but lameness mystery<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-wYLd9ka2DlM/Tf04Sa1jyDI/AAAAAAAAFmI/U7rPBJ4m0r8/s512/IMG00025-20110618-1753.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9cHeaycJLoc/Tf04AoAJPJI/AAAAAAAAFmQ/sXNO5Ne2wSk/s512/IMG00019-20110618-1751.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--8FntPNha6k/TiAqP8G4o8I/AAAAAAAAFrA/LRh4wfsZ9pw/s1600/woundclosing.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--8FntPNha6k/TiAqP8G4o8I/AAAAAAAAFrA/LRh4wfsZ9pw/s200/woundclosing.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629545987534529474" /></a>
<br />Buttercup's leg wound looks fabulous! I don't even think the scar will be as apparent as it continues to heal. I'm so pleased!<div>
<br /></div><div>What I'm not pleased about is her soundness. In all honesty, this has been going on about 12 weeks now. At first, we blamed it on the rabies shot and some re-balancing work on her hooves. Then it was the Triple Crown senior we briefly tried. Then it was bran mash to get her to eat her medecine. Then it was the stall rest and lack of circulation. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>She's been out of the stall nearly two weeks and her soundness has not improved. She's sounder on harder surfaces and really ouchie on soft surfaces. Scott said that's because of the pressure around the hoof.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>It looks to be ouchie near the toe on the outside of the hoof. She's weighting the inside of her front left and landing heel first. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>I called up my old farrier today and he agreed to come look at her tomorrow. I'm pretty upset about the lameness and I'm just not certain what the root cause is. I just want her to be comfortable. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>Scott said this may happen every summer with her laminitic condition. Her being uncomfortable for months at a time just doesn't fly with me. So if we have to shoe her or take other measures to get her comfortable during these tough months, I want to explore that option.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Here are her hooves from about four weeks ago while on stall rest:</div><div>
<br /></div><div><meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-wYLd9ka2DlM/Tf04Sa1jyDI/AAAAAAAAFmI/U7rPBJ4m0r8/s512/IMG00025-20110618-1753.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-wYLd9ka2DlM/Tf04Sa1jyDI/AAAAAAAAFmI/U7rPBJ4m0r8/s512/IMG00025-20110618-1753.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 384px; height: 512px; " /></a><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9cHeaycJLoc/Tf04AoAJPJI/AAAAAAAAFmQ/sXNO5Ne2wSk/s512/IMG00019-20110618-1751.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 384px; height: 512px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></div><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-kEKMZpY-Nyw/Tf04Bu2qJEI/AAAAAAAAFmM/z0RzId2W6Rs/s512/IMG00020-20110618-1752.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-kEKMZpY-Nyw/Tf04Bu2qJEI/AAAAAAAAFmM/z0RzId2W6Rs/s512/IMG00020-20110618-1752.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 384px; height: 512px; " /></a>
<br /><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9cHeaycJLoc/Tf04AoAJPJI/AAAAAAAAFmQ/sXNO5Ne2wSk/s512/IMG00019-20110618-1751.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9cHeaycJLoc/Tf04AoAJPJI/AAAAAAAAFmQ/sXNO5Ne2wSk/s512/IMG00019-20110618-1751.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></div><div>They look even better now, in my opinion. The hooves structurally look like they should be healthy. There is no bounding pulse in that front left either. She has been booted in the meantime just give her a level of comfort. </div>Chronicle of the Hoofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623018477090186475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381816317948530319.post-46493956097344290432011-07-07T07:50:00.000-07:002011-07-08T14:07:32.555-07:00Update on the leg injury<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-2azLVPCoPEc/ThHdR4yYjFI/AAAAAAAAFoA/DYUmBFhYQ6g/s640/DSC00288.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-2azLVPCoPEc/ThHdR4yYjFI/AAAAAAAAFoA/DYUmBFhYQ6g/s640/DSC00288.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">(Buttercup was released from stall rest earlier this week to her own private paddock)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This month was going to go so much differently in my head. Buttercup and I were going to get up early nearly every morning and walk for a short distance down the beautiful trails of our new facility for longer and longer distances until I had her walking up to 45 minutes at a time undersaddle over the last four weeks.</div><div><br /></div><div>Instead, my mornings, that are not really busy with my new job, I am out at the barn, treating and re-wrapping a leg. Buttercup was stuck in a stall for the last four weeks. Every time she would lay down, her wound threatened to open. After the first two weeks, proud flesh began to emerge (likely a product of my antibiotic ointment — just say no to Furazone, I've learned) and location of the wound. </div><div><br /></div><div>The wound originally wasn't under wrap but when the proud flesh was subsequently cut out, the vet wanted us to wrap tight. </div><div><br /></div><div>Buttercup's front hooves have suffered from limited blood flow from the lack of movement — the simplest things become complicated when you have a horse suffering from laminitis. To make some matters worse, Bud went off her feed at the time she needed her antibiotics the most, so bran (super high in sugar) was introduced to get her medicine down. She's been off the bran for 2.5 weeks, but she is still exhibiting hoof soreness, likely from the limited mobility. </div><div><br /></div><div>Her hind legs have been stocked up nearly every morning too.</div><div><br /></div><div>The area has been difficult to wrap, nearly too long to just have a wrap around the gaskin part of the leg, requiring some wrapping of the upper part of the cannon. And the wrap itself has created sores, that also need to be treated. </div><div><br /></div><div>Meanwhile, Buttercup, who has never taken to stall rest well, has actually made life very easy on me and her caretakers. She's been pleasant and willing and understanding. I love that horse.</div><div><br /></div><div>She was released from her stall earlier this week into her new, individual paddock. The paddock is gorgeous and completely shaded by mature oak trees and void of any grass. With the increased movement, she is less foot sore, but it's still there. She'll probably take a few weeks to recover full soundness. </div><div><br /></div><div>Another issue we have is that Bud appears to have lost some weight. Not too much to be concerned about. It looks like loss of conditioning rather than true weight loss. It's hard to tell right now since she's not only had the injury and stall rest to contend with, but we also switched her to a beet pulp and alfalfa cube diet since she's arrived at her new barn. (Her WellSolve L/S wasn't available at this facility, and she did not do well on Seminole's lower starch brands.) I'll have to make a decision soon to see if we need to get her on a fat supplement, or if she'll perk back up just being out of the stall.</div><div><br /></div><div>Making Bud very happy: she has a very handsome boyfriend next door. So she gets to squeal and show off, but then leave him stuck on the other side of the fence. Bud's a tease. </div><div><br /></div><div>Progression of the wound pics:</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "> <img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Bs3Jz-P4hds/TfK9JnDK4II/AAAAAAAAFj0/zpc4wbLevIs/s512/photo.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 192px; height: 256px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Week 1:</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-rWhDyB3CnQ0/TfK9Au4gt7I/AAAAAAAAFjw/VSYB7_rQxzU/s640/IMG00002-20110609-1823.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Week 2:</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-pey_StOPpew/Tf04khlEevI/AAAAAAAAFmA/CXlCAjgp7wo/s640/IMG00026-20110618-1754.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div>This shows the proud flesh emerging and the issue of keeping the stitches in such a tough spot.</div><div><br /></div><div>Week 3:</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "> <img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-BmXM7ZEt0U0/ThEYMEgW25I/AAAAAAAAFns/5EeE5q1bfJk/s640/budleg2.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "> </span></div><div>Here you can see the wounds created by the wrapping. </div><div><br /></div><div>Week 4:</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Z5di8APvzlU/ThMZ448eSaI/AAAAAAAAFoc/btRp9MAsBUA/s512/DSC00314.JPG" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 384px; height: 512px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">This had just reopened prior to me getting there (Bud decided to sleep flat out that night). But pretty healthy looking!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">After about another four weeks on pasture rest, I might start to think about riding her down that trail. In the meantime, Bud is fine getting her daily grooming and loving! </span></span></div>Chronicle of the Hoofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623018477090186475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381816317948530319.post-10897846929566535422011-06-11T07:01:00.000-07:002011-06-11T07:10:30.645-07:00Non-hoof related injury<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bncfiX8mQzQ/TfLCG7BFS7I/AAAAAAAAFkc/FhKJL0NV6ss/s640/IMG_7349.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 464px; height: 332px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bncfiX8mQzQ/TfLCG7BFS7I/AAAAAAAAFkc/FhKJL0NV6ss/s640/IMG_7349.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">(Buttercup enjoying a few minutes of grass at her new place prior to her injury)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">While refreshing to not talk about hooves, this new injury certainly wasn't a good thing!<br /><br />Buttercup arrived June 1 at her new barn outside Charleston. On June 3, barn management discovered a gruesome injury during morning feeding. Everything is fine and it appears to just be a flesh wound (Thank goodness!).<br /><br />She's been on stall rest the last week and has another week of stall rest before she goes out in her own individual paddock, since the injury is suspected to be from a pasturemate.<br /><br />Day 1 injury:<br /><br /><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Bs3Jz-P4hds/TfK9JnDK4II/AAAAAAAAFj0/zpc4wbLevIs/s512/photo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 384px; height: 512px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Bs3Jz-P4hds/TfK9JnDK4II/AAAAAAAAFj0/zpc4wbLevIs/s512/photo.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Day 6: (all cleaned up!)<br /></div></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-rWhDyB3CnQ0/TfK9Au4gt7I/AAAAAAAAFjw/VSYB7_rQxzU/s640/IMG00002-20110609-1823.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 399px; height: 299px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-rWhDyB3CnQ0/TfK9Au4gt7I/AAAAAAAAFjw/VSYB7_rQxzU/s640/IMG00002-20110609-1823.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-yiVMBCexzK0/TfK9PHLv7hI/AAAAAAAAFj4/JqkdfEvhCG8/s640/IMG00005-20110609-1823.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 483px; height: 362px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-yiVMBCexzK0/TfK9PHLv7hI/AAAAAAAAFj4/JqkdfEvhCG8/s640/IMG00005-20110609-1823.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />And just to end the post on a happier note:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-TUhQ8Gn9O9k/TfLB2ufVffI/AAAAAAAAFkM/aZAFUdVmL3o/s512/IMG_7350.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 342px; height: 512px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-TUhQ8Gn9O9k/TfLB2ufVffI/AAAAAAAAFkM/aZAFUdVmL3o/s512/IMG_7350.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a>Chronicle of the Hoofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623018477090186475noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381816317948530319.post-88473657939716002092011-05-09T06:40:00.000-07:002011-05-10T11:32:05.112-07:00Happy feetScott called me last week to report that he was trimming Bud in the paddock with no halter or lead. This is a huge milestone for Buttercup.<br /><br />Bud was always great for the farrier and was known for being able to be done right out in the paddock/pasture without a halter or lead. As her hooves pained her more and more, and as she realized the folks handling her hooves were causing her pain, she became nasty and ruthless. Yanking hooves, rearing up, lunging. She was scary ... but she was also scared.<br /><br />While her hooves haven't hurt for quite some time, she held onto a lot of that anticipation of pain. She has gradually stopped rearing and stopped lunging. But she still wanted to yank and be naughty — though if someone was pounding nails into your sore feet every 6 weeks for a few months, you'd hold onto the fear too! That's like torture.<br /><br />To hear now that she is "back to normal" is such a relief. One more step towards normal. Maybe we'll actually get there?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">___________________________________________<br /></div><br />I got a text this morning from Scott: "Her mental change has been her greatest improvement." I think that says a lot about not only how far we've come, but also how far we still have to go on our journey.Chronicle of the Hoofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623018477090186475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381816317948530319.post-46141269149006136742011-04-28T08:26:00.000-07:002011-04-28T08:54:20.873-07:0021 months barefootI was digging around in some old photos and wanted to share the changes Buttercup's hooves have made since going barefoot. Now I'm still not an <a href="http://chronicleofthehoof.blogspot.com/2009/05/hoof-wars.html">every-horse-must-be-barefoot person</a>, but I do believe it was the right decision for Buttercup's hooves. And, really, that's what hoof care is all about: the best thing for the individual.<br /><br />Since we've had ups and downs over the last 21 months (<a href="http://chronicleofthehoof.blogspot.com/2009/08/equicast.html">going barefoot post</a>), things haven't always been 100% with Bud being barefoot. But I think these solar shots show a story of a hoof developing concavity and a stronger frog and toe callous.<br /><br />September 2009:<br /><br /><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/SrvRP3bfEgI/AAAAAAAABAk/6E4kPRYdFrs/s640/IMG_1059.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 345px; height: 230px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/SrvRP3bfEgI/AAAAAAAABAk/6E4kPRYdFrs/s640/IMG_1059.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />November 2009: (post laminitic episode)<br /><br /><img src="file:///private/Network/Servers/xserve2.thenewstimes.com/Volumes/Editorial/lstreet/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/moz-screenshot.png" alt="" /><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/SwrDU6nXAfI/AAAAAAAABlw/k5VlUPUMsgY/s576/IMG_1711.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 390px; height: 260px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/SwrDU6nXAfI/AAAAAAAABlw/k5VlUPUMsgY/s576/IMG_1711.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />February 2010:<br /><br /><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/S3BgSUR-pjI/AAAAAAAACfU/YuwpS6ydnjw/s576/leftsolar.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 321px; height: 214px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/S3BgSUR-pjI/AAAAAAAACfU/YuwpS6ydnjw/s576/leftsolar.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />June 2010 (post laminitic episode):<br /><br /><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TCjgZTgslcI/AAAAAAAADbw/E0WwmbKQCag/s512/IMG_3703.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 275px; height: 385px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TCjgZTgslcI/AAAAAAAADbw/E0WwmbKQCag/s512/IMG_3703.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />September 2010:<br /><br /><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TIK7f8beKuI/AAAAAAAADtE/XSvpdpo-HZU/s576/IMG_4057.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 378px; height: 252px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TIK7f8beKuI/AAAAAAAADtE/XSvpdpo-HZU/s576/IMG_4057.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">(On the <a href="http://chronicleofthehoof.blogspot.com/2011/04/hoof-update-4-26-11.html">previous post's subject of bars</a>, you can see the trenches in this photo of where the bars have been taken below the sole plane)<br /><br /></div>January 2011:<br /><br /><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TUbHNmGgobI/AAAAAAAAEsM/vSG_Ra2X5OQ/s512/IMG_6029.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 294px; height: 410px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TUbHNmGgobI/AAAAAAAAEsM/vSG_Ra2X5OQ/s512/IMG_6029.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />April 2011:<br /><br /><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TbWfnzfgffI/AAAAAAAAFaQ/jbfpYEDmJjo/s512/IMG_7305.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 341px; height: 512px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TbWfnzfgffI/AAAAAAAAFaQ/jbfpYEDmJjo/s512/IMG_7305.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />It's also fun to go back and see what I was writing even just two years ago ... I don't feel like I've changed all that much until I read those posts. Just like it's hard for me to see the change in Buttercup's hooves until I look at all these pictures.Chronicle of the Hoofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623018477090186475noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381816317948530319.post-23960409908068873742011-04-26T10:47:00.000-07:002011-04-26T11:12:03.821-07:00Hoof update 4-26-11<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TbWfrQVTX_I/AAAAAAAAFac/TP68fHmjBrY/s640/IMG_7309.JPG"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TbWfTb4R_9I/AAAAAAAAFaE/IHTgjfNKH-E/s640/IMG_7312.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 405px; height: 270px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TbWfTb4R_9I/AAAAAAAAFaE/IHTgjfNKH-E/s640/IMG_7312.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>(My husband and Buttercup share a rare moment together)<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Got to see Buttercup this past Saturday. She is looking very good under the watchful eye of Scott! Her hooves are steadily improving and her weight looks fabulous. One of the biggest things I notice about her hooves is the straightening of the coronary band. A smooth, straight coronary band is a sign of a healthy hoof.<br /><br />While Bud isn't on a specific cycle right now, she does look like she's ready for a touch-up. Her sole was pretty dead so I scraped some of that off for the pictures.<br /><br />Left:<br /></div></div><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TbWffkRBAJI/AAAAAAAAFaI/2W4L5KqO4tY/s640/IMG_7304.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 412px; height: 274px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TbWffkRBAJI/AAAAAAAAFaI/2W4L5KqO4tY/s640/IMG_7304.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TbWfnFCbRfI/AAAAAAAAFaM/_-29VEpmSNs/s512/IMG_7306.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 341px; height: 512px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TbWfnFCbRfI/AAAAAAAAFaM/_-29VEpmSNs/s512/IMG_7306.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Not too much longer now! Grow, baby, grow!<br /><br /><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TbWfnzfgffI/AAAAAAAAFaQ/jbfpYEDmJjo/s512/IMG_7305.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 341px; height: 512px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TbWfnzfgffI/AAAAAAAAFaQ/jbfpYEDmJjo/s512/IMG_7305.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TbWfTb4R_9I/AAAAAAAAFaE/IHTgjfNKH-E/s640/IMG_7312.JPG"><br /></a>While these bars are not ideal, I'm still pleased with her hoof overall. I will address the bars later in the post.<br /><br />Right:<br /><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TbWfrUDY0qI/AAAAAAAAFaY/AbheLRWFSHw/s512/IMG_7310.JPG"> </a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TbWfoVdquhI/AAAAAAAAFaU/pYQWGbdUyQM/s640/IMG_7307.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 453px; height: 302px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TbWfoVdquhI/AAAAAAAAFaU/pYQWGbdUyQM/s640/IMG_7307.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a>(taken on a weird angle and not straightened)<br /><br /></div> <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TbWfrUDY0qI/AAAAAAAAFaY/AbheLRWFSHw/s512/IMG_7310.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 341px; height: 512px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TbWfrUDY0qI/AAAAAAAAFaY/AbheLRWFSHw/s512/IMG_7310.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TbWfrQVTX_I/AAAAAAAAFac/TP68fHmjBrY/s640/IMG_7309.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 464px; height: 309px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TbWfrQVTX_I/AAAAAAAAFac/TP68fHmjBrY/s640/IMG_7309.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />So about the bars, they are being taken back slowly over time. Having worked with them myself, I understand why Scott hasn't just wacked them back to the collateral groove. They aren't so much folded over the sole, as pushed against the sole. As in, there isn't sole underneath the overgrown bar ... I may just be learning about hooves but I can't see any benefit in opening her hoof where there is no sole underneath.<br /><br />I've never seen bars quite like hers and I've been working with quite a few hooves lately. I have a lot of questions as to why they're like this and if this is a common affliction or due to her genetics. But the bars are literally spread and up to the point where you see them in the pics, below the sole plane.<br /><br />Here is the best way for me to describe it:<br /><br /><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TbcKASYCznI/AAAAAAAAFbU/tdM13B1J18M/Picture%209.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 486px; height: 341px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TbcKASYCznI/AAAAAAAAFbU/tdM13B1J18M/Picture%209.png" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Top left is a normal hoof showing the frog, bars (red) and sole (yellow). Top right is a hoof with overgrown bars that are laid over the sole. Bottom center is how I feel Buttercup's lay. Now it could very well be that there is sole underneath those bars, but because it is below the sole plane, it doesn't feel that way.<br /><br />Anyway, I think we can't get much better, other than continuing to grow out separation, until the bars are normalized. I'm not sure if they can be normalized, but remember the bars have a lot to do with hoof health and a nice straight coronary band. I guess time will tell while she's in the expert hands of Scott.<br /><br />In other news, check out the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chronicle-of-the-Hoof/205766236104435">Chronicle of the Hoof facebook</a><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chronicle-of-the-Hoof/205766236104435"> page</a> and post your favorite silly horse picture!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TbWfTP6xbtI/AAAAAAAAFaA/cdvNTQgPZs0/s640/IMG_7311.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 447px; height: 298px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TbWfTP6xbtI/AAAAAAAAFaA/cdvNTQgPZs0/s640/IMG_7311.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a>Chronicle of the Hoofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623018477090186475noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381816317948530319.post-61374510698106761572011-03-31T11:44:00.000-07:002011-03-31T11:46:51.695-07:00Commenter blog: It's Quarters for Me<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuJ-AsN-sB4p1BLvJ-NOnTTY33vMlDwiyOBZj4tpHFfbwa10IvHc9p7sAOvZ3GfbE5b3MaT1rqmfLQs3K_puFFuAF4xeFnQoX8NKqBdkhj_hCqmT3fz3AvNBGKipxlylm8jw-spEvkcH8/s320/solefrogcorium.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 247px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuJ-AsN-sB4p1BLvJ-NOnTTY33vMlDwiyOBZj4tpHFfbwa10IvHc9p7sAOvZ3GfbE5b3MaT1rqmfLQs3K_puFFuAF4xeFnQoX8NKqBdkhj_hCqmT3fz3AvNBGKipxlylm8jw-spEvkcH8/s320/solefrogcorium.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />A commenter just posted on an older post of mine and I went a snooping and found she's got quite an interesting and informative site!<br /><br />Check it out: <a href="http://quartersforme.blogspot.com/">It's Quarters for Me</a>.Chronicle of the Hoofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623018477090186475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381816317948530319.post-25135366184221309412011-03-26T13:24:00.000-07:002011-03-26T13:29:49.084-07:00Buttercup visit March 25, 2011<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TY3q3rJ3ItI/AAAAAAAAFF4/XcwCuObxjHM/IMG_7169.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 378px; height: 252px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TY3q3rJ3ItI/AAAAAAAAFF4/XcwCuObxjHM/IMG_7169.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Finally got out to see Buttercup, and she looks good! Her hooves have made some really good improvements. Scott said he's doing her probably every week, which means the corrections happen faster.<br /><br />I only took two lateral pics because I got distracted in between shots searching for a hoof pick with a brush and then decided to ride and then forgot all about the other shots. I didn't remember until I was nearly an hour away! And I wasn't turning back around! Next time I'll get better shots.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TY3r2JoM9_I/AAAAAAAAFJ8/1CsGuBQgmgo/IMG_7171.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 308px; height: 220px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TY3r2JoM9_I/AAAAAAAAFJ8/1CsGuBQgmgo/IMG_7171.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TY3r2TiyE5I/AAAAAAAAFJ4/ISKa08NM4zA/IMG_7172.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 304px; height: 217px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TY3r2TiyE5I/AAAAAAAAFJ4/ISKa08NM4zA/IMG_7172.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />So rode Buttercup for the first time in months and she was sound and loving it. Scott then decided to hop on and make my mostly dressage-ridden pony go western pleasure:<br /><br /><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TY3q59W0K2I/AAAAAAAAFGM/1oKNqfTLpYI/IMG_7180.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 373px; height: 248px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TY3q59W0K2I/AAAAAAAAFGM/1oKNqfTLpYI/IMG_7180.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TY3q_SC-cOI/AAAAAAAAFG8/r31_rgvvSys/IMG_7207.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 375px; height: 250px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TY3q_SC-cOI/AAAAAAAAFG8/r31_rgvvSys/IMG_7207.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I thought she looked cute as a western pony! But you won't catch me in a western saddle any day soon!<br /><br />Don't forget to <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CBUQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fpages%2FChronicle-of-the-Hoof%2F205766236104435&rct=j&q=chronicle%20of%20the%20hoof%20facebook&ei=VkuOTZCkE4nMtwe6gI3HDQ&usg=AFQjCNHJwe5VKpAAXrC2va8Sqn8OvEBsgw&sig2=FHl8ATd0WViGhwZL7ggcWQ&cad=rja">like</a> us on Facebook!Chronicle of the Hoofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623018477090186475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381816317948530319.post-6814845458089081442011-03-08T10:34:00.000-08:002011-03-08T11:05:58.327-08:00Slow feeding<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TIK7uuGbNvI/AAAAAAAADtQ/1jbp_DJ3QeM/s640/IMG_4062.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 438px; height: 292px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TIK7uuGbNvI/AAAAAAAADtQ/1jbp_DJ3QeM/s640/IMG_4062.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I don't take a lot of time to discuss nutrition here, with the exception of saying what Bud gets and why. There's a reason for that: I'm a layman and nutrition is really complicated.<br /><br />However, there is a growing interest in "slow feeding" horses and, surprise, there actually seems to be a growing consensus about slow feeding equines.<br /><br />The idea behind the principle is that equines are foraging critters, designed to eat all day long as they graze along the plain. The concept isn't too different from the recent "grass-fed" cow movement and I've wondered if the two are somehow connected (i.e. someone said "Hey cows are healthier grass fed because that's the way their gut is designed ... I bet that would work for my horses!").<br /><br /><a href="http://paddockparadise.wetpaint.com/">Here</a> is an interesting site that was linked by SmartPak Equine's blog on the subject. And <a href="http://www.slowfeeding.com/">here</a> is another website offering information on this practice (looks like it's connected through the Swedish Hoof School).<br /><br />Growing up, you threw a scoop or two of super-sweet sweet feed to each horse. Each would get maybe a pad of hay with their meal. These meals were only twice a day and the horses didn't get anything in between. I am on the East Coast, so many horses are in small paddocks or stalled and don't have access to a lot of grass. And as I've discussed, grass itself (especially managed grass) can be dangerous on sugar-sensitive equines.<br /><br />There are a lot of arguments against this "conventional" feeding method that I grew up with.<br /><br />One argument says that the horse's gut constantly produces acid and, without a constant intake of food, it can cause ulcers or even colic bouncing from "starvation" to "feeding bonanza."<br /><br />Another argument says that this also messed up the horse's insulin levels. They suffer sugar crashes and booms several times a day and this can lead to metabolic issues if they are already prone to that.<br /><br />But they all seem to say the same thing: the equine is designed to graze all day, continuously, and the traditional way, while pretty darn easy and efficient on the owner's part, is not healthy for this type of gut system.<br /><br />And just throwing more hay at the horse is wasteful and not really the answer (though if you have unlimited funds, go for it!). As a rule of good equine nutrition, your horse will eat more hay than anything else during a day, but if he is anything like Buttercup, he'll down 10-pounds of hay in less than two hours, leaving another six to 10 hours before he will eat again. So this is where you get into some cool gadgetry and mechanisms.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.equinesoundness.com/NewsletterJanuary2010.pdf">Here</a> is an interesting slow feeder design.<br /><br />One of my friends highly recommends <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CBQQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thinaircanvas.com%2Fnibblenet%2Fnibblenetframe.htm&rct=j&q=nibblenets&ei=RXl2Tfb2HKLB0QHcoJjuBg&usg=AFQjCNEMIe_QxRKdWB2VOks0xKAC2jbg9Q&sig2=YEqnNFUzgf896MO3rPHbcg&cad=rja">NibbleNets</a>. I'm actually buying two for myself once I save up the cash.<br /><br />I like this from their FAQ:<br /><blockquote><br />Q: WHY ARE THESE HAY BAGS SO EXPENSIVE?<br /> <br /> A: TO START WITH, THEY REALLY ARE NOT EXPENSIVE COMPARED TO THE WASTED HAY THAT IS TRAMPLED INTO THE GROUND. WITH THE NIBBLENET, THE HORSES EAT SLOWER, SO LESS HAY IS USED AND MONEY IS SAVED. NOT TO MENTION THE POSSIBLE VET BILLS FOR SAND COLIC, ULCERS AND OTHER AILMENTS FROM NON-CONSISTENT GRAZING WHICH THEY ARE DESIGNED TO DO.</blockquote><br />Of course, there is the always tried and true method of slow grazing (it works with hay and pasture):<br /><br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TArFjgQkZuI/AAAAAAAADVE/5uWdoZuK0PA/IMG_3655.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 424px; height: 303px;" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TArFjgQkZuI/AAAAAAAADVE/5uWdoZuK0PA/IMG_3655.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />These things are both like grazing without the downsides of grass pastures. <a href="http://paddockparadise.wetpaint.com/page/Slow+Feeders">Here</a> is a link to Paddock Paradise's page with different slow feeding designs. Some of them I would try and some I totally wouldn't. But use your own judgment on what works best for your horse. A lot of this is really easy to incorporate.<br /><br />Another slow feeding method is using soaked forage in with a grain or eliminating grain all together. This means the horse can't simple "wolf" down the food because there are soaked alfalfa cubes or soaked beet pulp in there.<br /><br />Think NibbleNets will offer me a sponsorship for being mentioned on such a well-known blog? A girl can dream, right?Chronicle of the Hoofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623018477090186475noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381816317948530319.post-79287225036986011662011-03-07T12:23:00.001-08:002011-03-07T12:26:47.677-08:00Facebook with Bud!Well this blog has finally jumped on the bandwagon of Facebook!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chronicle-of-the-Hoof/205766236104435">Like us!</a>Chronicle of the Hoofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623018477090186475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381816317948530319.post-49284076077044773192011-02-28T13:28:00.000-08:002011-02-28T13:36:05.381-08:00Buttercup goes to Scott's<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JpZX4bvlw2g/TWwUku_xmNI/AAAAAAAAE0c/hgenGu8i6kU/s1600/DSCN2794.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JpZX4bvlw2g/TWwUku_xmNI/AAAAAAAAE0c/hgenGu8i6kU/s400/DSCN2794.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578856659728570578" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">(Buttercup categorically denies that she was difficult to load. Here she says "Look at me! I love the trailer. Let's get rolling!")<br /></div><br />Buttercup left her caretaker's yesterday and is now, for the time being, at her trimmer's farm. Scott was excited because he said he can work with her now on a week-to-week basis and possibly get some faster progress on her hooves.<br /><br />We had some hiccups — Bud got wound up and decided she was not leaving the property (an old trailer loading issue that I thought was over and done with *sigh*), truck broke down, etc. — but we all got there safely.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M-2OlOAEB9A/TWwUkT-f5NI/AAAAAAAAE0U/YVWVKlzTgRQ/s1600/DSCN2792.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M-2OlOAEB9A/TWwUkT-f5NI/AAAAAAAAE0U/YVWVKlzTgRQ/s400/DSCN2792.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578856652475458770" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_M60lOA78RE/TWwUlVwdIuI/AAAAAAAAE0s/eB6yGNgc4vs/s1600/DSCN2797.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_M60lOA78RE/TWwUlVwdIuI/AAAAAAAAE0s/eB6yGNgc4vs/s400/DSCN2797.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578856670133297890" border="0" /></a>(I did have a camera and apparently used it for the worst parts of the trip!)<br /></div><br />Unfortunately, while there, I spaced it and didn't get any pictures! I blame the hectic day impeding my natural inclination to document everything Buttercup. This also means I, yet again, do not have recent hoof pictures! Buttercup is now nearly three hours away, but this does make her closer to our next destination: Charleston.<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_M60lOA78RE/TWwUlVwdIuI/AAAAAAAAE0s/eB6yGNgc4vs/s1600/DSCN2797.JPG"><br /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h4uwObog7s8/TWwUlR1uO9I/AAAAAAAAE0k/tvm3B6h2pNg/s1600/DSCN2796.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h4uwObog7s8/TWwUlR1uO9I/AAAAAAAAE0k/tvm3B6h2pNg/s400/DSCN2796.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578856669081648082" border="0" /></a><br />The end! (at least of this post!)Chronicle of the Hoofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623018477090186475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381816317948530319.post-38510667928111751782011-02-13T07:34:00.000-08:002011-02-13T07:56:31.862-08:00Trimmer visit Jan. 22, 2011<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TUcfVmBjuaI/AAAAAAAAEtI/zNzROx5QufQ/s800/IMG_6021.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 501px; height: 358px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TUcfVmBjuaI/AAAAAAAAEtI/zNzROx5QufQ/s800/IMG_6021.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">(Playful Bud is not the most appreciated pony at the moment!)<br /></div><br />Things are looking great for Buttercup. She actually seems to be having a second foal-hood — further cementing my theory that because laminitis begins in the hindgut of actually processing the sugar that comes in, she's been uncomfortable for years before her hooves became an actual problem.<br /><br />She's jumping all over her pasture-mate and causing general chaos at her caretaker's barn. And unfortunately, because she's become rather destructive with her feel-goodery, she will be finding a new home here soon ... whether that's back at the barn near me or with her trimmer, Scott.<br /><br />We are facing a move back to Charleston, S.C., this summer so things will be in transition for us over the next four to six months. If I neglect things here, it's not because the saga is over. It's just that moving is really super stressful!<br /><br />Onto the latest and greatest trim!<br /><br />Left:<br /><br /><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TUbHM6wvSAI/AAAAAAAAEsE/bnj6bv54tQ0/s800/IMG_6026.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 460px; height: 328px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TUbHM6wvSAI/AAAAAAAAEsE/bnj6bv54tQ0/s800/IMG_6026.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TUbHNcjUGqI/AAAAAAAAEsI/TvuHGR0IO5g/s576/IMG_6028.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 411px; height: 576px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TUbHNcjUGqI/AAAAAAAAEsI/TvuHGR0IO5g/s576/IMG_6028.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TUbHXecVcrI/AAAAAAAAEsc/urQZBCeTNMk/s576/IMG_6033.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 411px; height: 576px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TUbHXecVcrI/AAAAAAAAEsc/urQZBCeTNMk/s576/IMG_6033.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Right:<br /><br /><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TUbHOA1dzYI/AAAAAAAAEsQ/AMo3uJA1pfU/s800/IMG_6031.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 450px; height: 321px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TUbHOA1dzYI/AAAAAAAAEsQ/AMo3uJA1pfU/s800/IMG_6031.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TUbHNmGgobI/AAAAAAAAEsM/vSG_Ra2X5OQ/s576/IMG_6029.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 411px; height: 576px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TUbHNmGgobI/AAAAAAAAEsM/vSG_Ra2X5OQ/s576/IMG_6029.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TUbHOUJa-mI/AAAAAAAAEsU/3P_jqRo7Zsg/s576/IMG_6032.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 411px; height: 576px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TUbHOUJa-mI/AAAAAAAAEsU/3P_jqRo7Zsg/s576/IMG_6032.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TUbHNmGgobI/AAAAAAAAEsM/vSG_Ra2X5OQ/s576/IMG_6029.jpg"><br /></a>Let me start by saying, putting yourself out there on the Internet when it comes to hoof rehabilitation is hard, especially as a layman. I'm often asked things about Bud's hooves that I really don't have a clue about. But the great part about it is that it helps me view her progress a bit more objectively.<br /><br />No one wants to see progress more than me — even to the point of seeing it when it really isn't there. The mind often sees what it wants it to see. I'm happy to share my story, not only to help others but also to objectively view my own horse, who I love dearly, and my own decisions. I haven't always made the right decision, but I try to make those decisions for the right reasons.<br /><br />So, while these hoof pics here aren't 100% great, I think we've been making great progress. But I want to point out where these hooves can be improved. I think I've been to rosy lately and have not been as critical as I should be. So here's where I find issues:<br /><br /><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TUlzDUP4ZWI/AAAAAAAAEtc/RQLMFEk0yGI/Picture%204.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 349px; height: 446px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TUlzDUP4ZWI/AAAAAAAAEtc/RQLMFEk0yGI/Picture%204.png" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TUlzDzBt8kI/AAAAAAAAEtk/9eV1fWZ6zNk/Picture%206.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 353px; height: 455px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TUlzDzBt8kI/AAAAAAAAEtk/9eV1fWZ6zNk/Picture%206.png" alt="" border="0" /></a><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TUbHOA1dzYI/AAAAAAAAEsQ/AMo3uJA1pfU/s800/IMG_6031.JPG"><br /></a>(Left and right, respectively.) While the balance between both sides of the hoof, dissected, has drastically improved and really looks positive, the thickness of the bars and its location to the actual heel are still very thick and far forward. Where the buttresses of the heel are at the top horizontal line, is near where the bars should start ... not near that bottom horizontal line.<br /><br />Her bars have been an issue and the current program is to keep backing them up slowly with each trim. Why? Well, I'll let Scott answer that one (excuse the typos, he was typing from his phone):<br /><br /><blockquote>This is the thing in some trim methods they say cut them (the bars) out and in some others they say don't touch. So what I have done that works for me is this I will take them out and I mean really get them out ONLY when the rest of the hoof is in good shape to carry the load remember the number one RULE I DON'T WANT them to be SORE I have found that if I just dig out the bars every time the horse will step off so I try to get all the other things healthy FROG. BALANCE. Hoof wall. Heels. Toe. And when just a few of those things happen the other things get better like the bars and the horse was in work moving happy. Its like training I'm not focused on what's wrong and attacking that problem I'm just going to work on things that are going to fix the problem like softness. Hip. Shoulder. Poll. Neck. Collection. In buttrercups case it was frogs first. Balance. Toe con cavity. And hoof wall crack is where we are now I think she has made good hoof growth we just have to keep working </blockquote><br />Thank you, Scott. Love hoof care professionals that don't mind a few questions!<br /><br />To show that we have had further positive growth in the hoof, I've taken lines to the lateral views of the hooves:<br /><br /><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TUlzDzjvSQI/AAAAAAAAEtg/cmK1sFU5ghE/Picture%205.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 445px; height: 244px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TUlzDzjvSQI/AAAAAAAAEtg/cmK1sFU5ghE/Picture%205.png" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TUlzDzBt8kI/AAAAAAAAEtk/9eV1fWZ6zNk/Picture%206.png"><br /></a><br /><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TUlzDOD1Z3I/AAAAAAAAEtY/IeuVqVyTdME/Picture%203.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 457px; height: 300px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TUlzDOD1Z3I/AAAAAAAAEtY/IeuVqVyTdME/Picture%203.png" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TUlzDUP4ZWI/AAAAAAAAEtc/RQLMFEk0yGI/Picture%204.png"><br /></a>To those wanting to know why I didn't follow the exact angle of the hoof wall: 1) she still has separation and the hoof wall is not a good judge of angle on the hoof that way, and 2) I did it from the actual break-over point of the hoof, which does show a more accurate angle. Also, these images, while fairly good, are not angled correctly for best angle assessment.<br /><br />Her heel, while curved under, is not drastically wrapped under or at a severe discordance with her toe angle.<br /><br />Oh forget this critical approach! I'm just happy my little Bud has made any progress at all!Chronicle of the Hoofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623018477090186475noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381816317948530319.post-81722958825125970642011-01-28T11:12:00.000-08:002011-01-28T11:38:11.699-08:00Finding laminitis triggersLet's talk about laminitis. (Really this is a ploy to distract readers from the fact that I don't have hoof pics from our trim last Saturday! Promise, I'll have them this weekend)<br /><br />Laminitis is simply put: inflammation of the lamina. The lamina is the connective tissue between the coffin joint and the hoofwall. If you get inflammation in the lamina, the P3 (coffin bone) can drop (founder), and the lamina can detach and allow the hoof wall to be painfully stretched away from the hoof. Laminitis creates an unhealthy hoof that can become more predisposed to abscesses and infection.<br /><br />You can have laminitis without founder. And while it is rare and usually mechanically induced, you can have founder without laminitis.<br /><br />Unfortunately with this body response, each subsequent laminitic episode comes on stronger with less stimuli. This is similar to chronic pain or allergies in humans. Our bodies just streamline the message and make it worse and make us more sensitive to future events.<br /><br />The best way to treat a horse prone to laminitis is to prevent an episode from ever occurring. Easier said than done.<br /><br />And to do that, you have to figure out the cause.<br /><br />What causes laminitis? Well, any number of things can trigger an episode. These range from metabolic syndromes to simply too much concussion to hoof. Unfortunately, each horse seems to be unique in the way that they not only display symptoms, but also in how he ends up with the inflammation.<br /><br />Like the <a href="http://chronicleofthehoof.blogspot.com/2009/04/why-would-i-need-hoof-journal.html">hoof journal</a> (you better have one by now!), I find keeping a record of your horse will help you find the answer. Have a horse that has an annual episode at around the same time each year? Write down everything that was in common and not in common from year to year.<br /><br />I didn't discover Buttercup's sugar sensitivity until I was reading back through this blog and saw that she had the same exact problem last spring (and the spring before). And problems in the fall. A pattern emerged from my record keeping of her hoof issues.<br /><br />Unfortunately, if you cannot find a trigger through patterns then you're in for either subsequent laminitic episodes or expensive tests through the vet (which may or may not find the underlying issue at all).<br /><br />Here are some of the known triggers:<br /><br />• Sugar (usually spring or fall grass, sweet feed or consumption of anything high in sugar like weeds)<br />• Concussive forces (trotting an unfit horse a few miles on a paved road? Hello, laminitis)<br />• Medicine/dewormers (According to <a href="http://www.equinesoundness.com/Claudia.htm">Claudia Garner</a>, there is some evidence that medicine can upset the hindgut and that can in turn send inflammation to the hooves)<br />• Extreme cold (According to safergrass, cold can trigger a laminitic episode in laminitic-prone horses)<br /><br />To learn more about laminitis, here is some good reading:<br /><br /><blockquote>Laminitis is a symptom with many causes. They include high insulin levels, excessive<br />concussion, excessive weight bearing due to injury on other limbs, carbohydrate overload (binge eating), retained placenta, colic, any systemic illness, bedding with black walnut shavings, ingestion of toxic plants, and excessive use of steroids. The treatment that is most successful for an individual case requires removal of the cause.<br /><br />...<br /><br />Once a horse has had more than one attack of laminitis they are considered ‘chronic’ and more susceptible. Damaged laminae are more vulnerable to triggers for future episodes. <br />They may experience hoof pain from being overdue for a trim that puts mechanical stress on damaged tissue.<br /><br />...<br /><br />For horses with reoccurring, chronic laminitis keeping a journal is very useful. Make notes<br />about any changes in diet such as a new batch of hay, bagged feed or new supplement. <br />Make notes on hoof appearance and care, exercise, vaccinations, significant changes in<br />weather, changes in general demeanor. Sometimes a pattern will develop that will allow<br />you to discover a previously unrecognized trigger. <br /></blockquote><div style="text-align: right;"><a href="http://www.safergrass.org/pdf/LaminitisDefense.pdf">Laminitis Defense </a><br /></div><br />How did you discover your horse's trigger? How do you prevent it?Chronicle of the Hoofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623018477090186475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381816317948530319.post-41958760191700804172011-01-03T06:18:00.000-08:002011-01-03T06:57:08.623-08:00Hooves for 2011<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TSEDuC0nfwI/AAAAAAAAElo/_-CMSkuvGZg/s576/IMG_5719.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 462px; height: 331px;" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TSEDuC0nfwI/AAAAAAAAElo/_-CMSkuvGZg/s576/IMG_5719.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />(Looking back when we should be looking forward!)<br /></div><br />Finally! Pics to show what we're starting with in 2011. This is going to be a big year for Buttercup's health mainly because we're moving (not sure where yet; military) and this could really upset all the positive we've gained for the last six months.<br /><br />We started off the year poorly though. Some volunteer wheat hay was discovered in the new hay Buttercup was fed just yesterday morning. By the time I arrived at the barn, she had a mild pulse and was about a 1 on the AAEP scale (<a href="http://chronicleofthehoof.blogspot.com/2010/01/lameness-evaluation.html">lameness scales</a>).<br /><br />Lisa and I poured over everything she could have possibly eaten and decided to get samples of all the hay to test it. She had just gotten a new batch Saturday so we started there. While digging for samplings, wheat hay was found. Wheat hay, along with oat and peanut hay, is one of the most sugar-rich hays there are. Crisis averted, but if it hadn't been caught so soon it could have been really bad.<br /><br />Keeping the New Year's resolution for no laminitic episodes will be more difficult than I thought.<br /><br />I touched up her hooves before these images because I wanted to make sure there was nothing to encourage separation or lameness after her brief encounters with sugar.<br /><br />Right:<br /><br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TSEDP_4Y-0I/AAAAAAAAElU/3AHVOX667XM/s512/IMG_5705.JPG"><br /></a><br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TSECpUhaIfI/AAAAAAAAElA/57gZ0VfDHDw/s576/IMG_5699.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 403px; height: 288px;" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TSECpUhaIfI/AAAAAAAAElA/57gZ0VfDHDw/s576/IMG_5699.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TSEC74_IHGI/AAAAAAAAElI/U59BpQYo9Lc/s576/IMG_5701.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 486px; height: 347px;" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TSEC74_IHGI/AAAAAAAAElI/U59BpQYo9Lc/s576/IMG_5701.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TSECy53T5TI/AAAAAAAAElE/tyXLFVUYOHE/s512/IMG_5700.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 342px; height: 512px;" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TSECy53T5TI/AAAAAAAAElE/tyXLFVUYOHE/s512/IMG_5700.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Left:<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TSEDEngdcaI/AAAAAAAAElM/GAROAyErelw/s576/IMG_5702.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 427px; height: 306px;" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TSEDEngdcaI/AAAAAAAAElM/GAROAyErelw/s576/IMG_5702.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TSEDLEvrOCI/AAAAAAAAElQ/pXDTsfwVcio/s576/IMG_5704.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 421px; height: 301px;" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TSEDLEvrOCI/AAAAAAAAElQ/pXDTsfwVcio/s576/IMG_5704.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TSEDP_4Y-0I/AAAAAAAAElU/3AHVOX667XM/s512/IMG_5705.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 342px; height: 512px;" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TSEDP_4Y-0I/AAAAAAAAElU/3AHVOX667XM/s512/IMG_5705.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Parting shot:<br /><br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TSED8LI0AJI/AAAAAAAAElw/cINkaFKRC18/s576/IMG_5724.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 464px; height: 331px;" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TSED8LI0AJI/AAAAAAAAElw/cINkaFKRC18/s576/IMG_5724.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Hopefully 2011 won't be full of wheat hay in your alfalfa-timothy.Chronicle of the Hoofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623018477090186475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381816317948530319.post-30908399469576310882010-12-22T11:56:00.000-08:002010-12-22T12:05:25.906-08:00What will 2011 bring?I helped Scott trim Jaeger for the second time Dec. 11 and then the following Saturday, Dec. 18, went out to see Buttercup as he trimmed her. I didn't get my rasp on her hooves yet, but Scott explained some things in more detail to help me understand what's going on.<br /><br />Unfortunately, both times it was pouring down rain and I did not get pictures. So since I'm slack, I figured I would talk New Year's resolutions.<br /><br />My two biggies:<br />• No more laminitic episodes<br />• Get my own property<br /><br />Pretty tall orders for 2011 to deliver. I feel like we have managed Bud's laminitis very well the past seven months, so if we keep our stringent routine of diet and hoofcare, we shouldn't relapse.<br /><br />As far as property goes, Buttercup's care is very intensive. We're facing a move in 2011 (military) and I think her boarding costs are quickly going to add up to a second mortgage payment. So it would be cheaper for us the rent or buy property and provide care for her.<br /><br />What are your 2011 resolutions for hoofcare/horsecare?Chronicle of the Hoofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623018477090186475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381816317948530319.post-82030311154917372092010-11-22T06:05:00.000-08:002010-11-22T06:27:00.372-08:00Buttercup's Nov. 16, 2010, trim<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOpjz6NsM9I/AAAAAAAAEb8/2DFB0i8j4N0/IMG_5349.JPG"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOpklnrjlcI/AAAAAAAAEcg/gOB_KSyjK04/IMG_5406.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOpklnrjlcI/AAAAAAAAEcg/gOB_KSyjK04/IMG_5406.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><div>I didn't go to the beach Sunday, so that meant I could go out to see Buttercup and take pics of her new duds. </div><div><br /><div></div><div>Traveling an hour to go see her has gotten a lot easier now that I have a brand-new car that gets great gas mileage! Readers should be happy to know that Buttercup's visitations are taxing the environment less. </div><div><br /></div><div>To start, I'd like to talk about the above picture of Bud. It seems that as her hooves improve each time, I can see more and more of her "old" personality back. There used to be a time when she was curious but slightly bratty and always game. As her hooves deteriorated over time (I think this deterioration started back in 2007), that personality turned into bitchy and aloof. Since she was aging and maturing, it was hard to realize this was a sign of an unhappy, uncomfortable horse. I'm happy to have the old Bud back. Sure she's still bratty, but I love her anyway. </div><div><br /></div><div>Also related to that very cute photo of Bud, I went to a <a href="http://hoofcareunltd.com/">Claudia Garner</a> hoof care clinic not too long ago, and one of the things Mrs. Garner spoke of during the clinic was removing stress from the recovering horse. I think bringing Buttercup to Lisa's has done just that. Here, in a two-horse herd, Buttercup doesn't have to constantly fret about what position she is or who's the boss of whom. She can relax. And I think that's made a world of difference in her hooves. (Check out that link to Claudia Garner; she's got some great information and does <a href="http://hoofcareunltd.com/hoofcare.html">photo consultations</a>!) </div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>Scott seemed excited after this trim, and after seeing it I can see why. Yes, Bud has a long way to go yet in her recovery, but she's starting to show steady improvement. Her separation is very close to growing out and I'm hoping by Dec. 18 trim she will get rid of the last of it.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOpi2pklAOI/AAAAAAAAEbg/GqxkWdd4T8c/IMG_5343.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 229px;" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOpi2pklAOI/AAAAAAAAEbg/GqxkWdd4T8c/IMG_5343.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /></div><div>And here you can see the new epoxy solution in the crack. I assume it extended all the way down the crack to the toe, but must have lost the bit at the toe since it was applied.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOpjyXiWKxI/AAAAAAAAEbw/ymAEra7U72o/s512/IMG_5345.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 342px; height: 512px;" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOpjyXiWKxI/AAAAAAAAEbw/ymAEra7U72o/s512/IMG_5345.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOpjxjstMKI/AAAAAAAAEbo/Fig1q_Xk_lE/IMG_5344.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 229px;" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOpjxjstMKI/AAAAAAAAEbo/Fig1q_Xk_lE/IMG_5344.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOpjzMRx8VI/AAAAAAAAEb0/nCkOfYHbIzw/s512/IMG_5347.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 366px; height: 512px;" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOpjzMRx8VI/AAAAAAAAEb0/nCkOfYHbIzw/s512/IMG_5347.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOpjzXMT7EI/AAAAAAAAEb4/cWXDvi2XNDc/IMG_5348.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 229px;" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOpjzXMT7EI/AAAAAAAAEb4/cWXDvi2XNDc/IMG_5348.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOpjz6NsM9I/AAAAAAAAEb8/2DFB0i8j4N0/IMG_5349.JPG"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOpjz6NsM9I/AAAAAAAAEb8/2DFB0i8j4N0/IMG_5349.JPG" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 229px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOpj0YO_UBI/AAAAAAAAEcA/IR8bNNrdc1s/IMG_5350.JPG"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOpj0YO_UBI/AAAAAAAAEcA/IR8bNNrdc1s/IMG_5350.JPG" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 229px; " /></a><br /><div> </div><div> </div></div><div>Looking at the front shots of both hooves, it is easy for me to get dismayed. They show a lot of imbalance in the hoof. On Dec. 18, I plan to ask what the course of action will be with that because I don't know why it is taking so long to get that portion balanced when everything else is looking so positive. It appears that she is always loading the inside of her hoof and the outside of the hoof is just going more to the outside. It isn't pretty, that's for sure. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm very happy about the frogs and heels. I swear, Bud's hooves have increased by about 20% in size due to the expansion of her hoof. They feel and look substantial in person. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm very excited to get my own hands on them so I can get a better understanding of Scott's vision during the Dec. 18 trim and trim lesson! Hopefully this will give me much better insight into her hooves.</div><div><br /></div><div>Even though I've been diligent in asking questions, I think getting the hands-on experience will be extremely informative. </div></div>Chronicle of the Hoofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623018477090186475noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381816317948530319.post-72217452196702192622010-11-21T04:23:00.001-08:002010-11-22T06:03:29.710-08:00Taking the rasp into your own hands<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOkN2WIZhwI/AAAAAAAAEZE/pJFkrs_8J_w/IMG_5239.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 471px; height: 314px;" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOkN2WIZhwI/AAAAAAAAEZE/pJFkrs_8J_w/IMG_5239.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I'm starting this special post with a strong opinion of mine: having a little bit of hoof knowledge is like a college student in a psych 101 class. Yes, you may have a good grasp on the information, but odds are you can do more harm then good. I do not advocate EVER for a laymen to pick up a hoof rasp and to just start doing his horses hooves. However, I do advocate the laymen educate himself on hoofcare by using a hoofcare professional as a mentor.<br /><br />The above picture is of my tools. Surprise! I've asked Scott to show me how to maintain a trim on Buttercup so that the next time we move I won't be desperate for a hoofcare professional and end up with the wrong guy (again). We are moving sometime next year, so figured I would step on it.<br /><br />Those of you wanting to do this with your hoofcare professional: please keep in mind that he or she is likely very busy (I've yet to meet a farrier or trimmer who has a lot of time to kill). Offer to pay him or her for his or her time. This will also show that you are serious.<br /><br />In addition to this offer, pick up your own tools to mess up. I bought two, used hoofknifes and one very nice rasp for $38. Not a bad deal.<br /><br />Now, why is it important for the horse owner to learn how to maintain a basic trim on a horse? Well, for one, you'll gain some sympathy for your hoofcare professional. You get farted on, stepped on, yanked away from, nibbled on and much more while trying to trim a horse ... and that's usually the not-so-bad ones! Secondly, it will broaden your understanding of the hoof if you know what your hoofcare professional is doing to it. And thirdly, you will be able to maintain your horse's hoof in a pinch, like in case the hoofcare professional is out of work or whatever.<br /><br />Yet another disclaimer: please do not ask your hoofcare professional to show you how to trim and then go off and start up your own hoofcare business. Not only is that extremely rude, but it is also not how you gain true hoofcare knowledge. If after you learn to trim and handle the tools, you decide you want to embark on a career, there are plenty of schools available to you to suit your needs.<br /><br />OK, now that is out of the way.<br /><br />Yesterday was my first hoof trimming lesson with Scott! We used Jaeger, a 4-year-old Appendix. He's my leased horse and is doing lower level dressage at the moment.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOkM5FjYvsI/AAAAAAAAEY4/8oDRF1wRgNk/IMG_5233.JPG"><br /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOkPDjI0OLI/AAAAAAAAEZ4/5t6cpoE5tt0/IMG_5315.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 487px; height: 348px;" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOkPDjI0OLI/AAAAAAAAEZ4/5t6cpoE5tt0/IMG_5315.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Now I'm going to use the term "we" here like I have in the past, only we means that I helped out in the paring and rasping too. I felt like a monkey most of the time, and Scott said most of this is learning how to manipulate the tools. He told me to get back to him after I did 20 horses. I laughed but I don't think he was joking.<br /><br />This was Jaeger's first trim with Scott. I have pictures from a few weeks ago to show his before and afters. I'm showing the before so that you can see what Scott and I saw, and what Scott gleaned from just looking at the hoof.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TM2GT6zBo4I/AAAAAAAAESQ/a4JQQ6GEjwM/IMG_5155.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 474px; height: 316px;" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TM2GT6zBo4I/AAAAAAAAESQ/a4JQQ6GEjwM/IMG_5155.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Now to me, there isn't much of a story to tell here besides some separation. But to Scott, this picture with the sharp curve on the sides of the coronary band meant extra pressure on the quarters, which in turn meant sloppy bars (<a href="http://chronicleofthehoof.blogspot.com/2010/05/going-to-bar.html">I had a post on bars earlier this year</a>).<br /><br />We turn the hoof over and here's what we see (approximately):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TM2GR4bAELI/AAAAAAAAESM/Ov2wfeyLCCQ/s512/IMG_5149.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 342px; height: 512px;" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TM2GR4bAELI/AAAAAAAAESM/Ov2wfeyLCCQ/s512/IMG_5149.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />The first order of business was to take the bars back to where they should be. We also worked on opening up the collateral groove (next to the frog) so that we could see the depth of that groove. That tells us how far in and how balanced the coffin bone is. If both sides of the collateral groove show the same depth, then our coffin bone is balanced. If not, then we have an imbalance.<br /><br />We also opened up the frog so that flaps weren't inviting infection into the collateral groove or into that crease at the heel. Scott said this horse has a contracted heel due to the quarters taking all the weight and not letting him comfortably land on his heel. Another issue contributing to this horse's contracted heels was a beveled roll all the way around. Although the beveled roll is great at preventing separation from toe to quarter, the heel needs to have a flat rasp to it so it can properly flex.<br /><br />OK so here's my first ever trim! Now I probably only did about 20% of what you see, but I'm still proud of myself.<br /><br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOkOK_7lrmI/AAAAAAAAEZM/7_8iiXqNuco/s512/IMG_5342.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 366px; height: 512px;" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOkOK_7lrmI/AAAAAAAAEZM/7_8iiXqNuco/s512/IMG_5342.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOkOCAsGfpI/AAAAAAAAEZI/Mh-I7vFN_wY/s512/IMG_5341.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 366px; height: 512px;" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOkOCAsGfpI/AAAAAAAAEZI/Mh-I7vFN_wY/s512/IMG_5341.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOkOCAsGfpI/AAAAAAAAEZI/Mh-I7vFN_wY/s512/IMG_5341.JPG"><br /></a>We started from the solar view first, using the hoofknife to put the bars where they needed to be and the seatcorn where that needed to be. Then we rasped at a 180° angle the heel. I believe Scott even gave it a slight backwards bevel toward the heel bulb. He called it a "heel bevel," which is not to be confused with the bevel from quarters to toe (it allows for lateral expansion of the heel). And then we gave a 45° bevel from the quarters to the toe to about the waterline on the hoof. Scott then took the quarters down slightly so that the hoof would distribute weight equally over heel, quarters, toe.<br /><br />On the first pic, you can tell he didn't take the rightside bar back completely. He said "baby steps" about that one. Experience, I guess, will tell you when to take and when to leave.<br /><br />Front left:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOkMWIHPAFI/AAAAAAAAEYo/9huFf6wTH-E/IMG_5228.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 443px; height: 295px;" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOkMWIHPAFI/AAAAAAAAEYo/9huFf6wTH-E/IMG_5228.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Front right:<br /><br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOkMxVos0bI/AAAAAAAAEY0/35nkQWV4fLI/IMG_5232.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 464px; height: 332px;" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOkMxVos0bI/AAAAAAAAEY0/35nkQWV4fLI/IMG_5232.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I'm amazed how the curve in his coronary band was nearly gone by the time we fixed up the solars. We then propped up the hooves on a hoofstand and did the fine rasp side to get rid of any hooks or crannies or anything that would go against the 45° angle we established on the bevel. We only went up about 3/4 of an inch up the hoofwall, anymore and you're just thinning the hoofwall, Scott said.<br /><br />Back left:<br /><br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOkM5FjYvsI/AAAAAAAAEY4/8oDRF1wRgNk/IMG_5233.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 444px; height: 317px;" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOkM5FjYvsI/AAAAAAAAEY4/8oDRF1wRgNk/IMG_5233.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Back right:<br /><br /><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOkM90mLGVI/AAAAAAAAEY8/gJ5DUgEkp_8/IMG_5234.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 428px; height: 285px;" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOkM90mLGVI/AAAAAAAAEY8/gJ5DUgEkp_8/IMG_5234.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOkOK_7lrmI/AAAAAAAAEZM/7_8iiXqNuco/s512/IMG_5342.JPG"><br /></a>I learned a lot yesterday. Some of it was very over-arching of horsemanship: patience and getting out of the horse's way when they do something stupid. A lot of it though was about putting the trim to use and working with the horse's hoof. And much of it was learning that tool manipulation is a lot harder than it looks (let the rasp work for you! Use leverage on the hoofknife!).<br /><br />It's a lot easier than it looks, and I never thought it was easy! My next trim lesson is Dec. 18, and it'll be with Buttercup. I can't wait.<br /><br />Oh and I got the inside scoop on what Scott did to her hoof last time. He cleaned out her crack and used a new type of epoxy to fill it in to try to help strengthen that part of the hoofwall. I was hoping to get out there today but I'm going on a beach ride in a little bit and I don't think that will be in the cards.<br /><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOkOCAsGfpI/AAAAAAAAEZI/Mh-I7vFN_wY/s512/IMG_5341.JPG"><br /></a>Chronicle of the Hoofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623018477090186475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381816317948530319.post-2040422473474196342010-11-17T10:05:00.000-08:002010-11-17T10:10:04.718-08:00Sneak peak from Nov. 17 trim!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOQZ65NocGI/AAAAAAAAEWU/6OX_z0Ibvn4/s1600/IMG00008-20101117-1244.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 349px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOQZ65NocGI/AAAAAAAAEWU/6OX_z0Ibvn4/s400/IMG00008-20101117-1244.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540581941153656930" /></a><br />I know! It's a tease! I just got this from Buttercup's caretaker Lisa, so I don't have all the information. But from what I can tell from the photo, it looks like Scott removed the cracked horn down to healthy horn and also gave her a much more aggressive bevel/roll to get rid of the last of the separation.<div><br /></div><div>Also, I will have a treat after Saturday for the blog. I'm getting hands on with the information I've learned over the last few years. But that's all I'm saying for now! </div>Chronicle of the Hoofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623018477090186475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381816317948530319.post-78761647960010655572010-11-15T06:47:00.001-08:002010-11-15T06:55:33.695-08:00The crack<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOFIpTqlgQI/AAAAAAAAEVw/I4MQC_9ovRk/s1600/IMG_5178.JPG"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOFIo7O9hiI/AAAAAAAAEVg/ee1RIJKOQng/s1600/IMG_5181.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOFIo7O9hiI/AAAAAAAAEVg/ee1RIJKOQng/s400/IMG_5181.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539788884574832162" /></a><br /><div>The crack remains ugly, and I think I mentioned I don't think it will ever go away. I think the scar at her coronary band causes the hoofwall to grow in too weak to withhold the expansion/contraction of a healthy hoof. But so long as it is attached to the lamina, I'm happy. And so far it is growing out that way:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOFIoL6V6xI/AAAAAAAAEVQ/7qyUleKNMtE/s400/IMG_5186.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539788871871884050" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOFIoRrMKiI/AAAAAAAAEVY/Ku6TmvrWCdc/s1600/IMG_5184.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOFIoRrMKiI/AAAAAAAAEVY/Ku6TmvrWCdc/s400/IMG_5184.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539788873418943010" /></a><br /></div><div>This last pic illustrates the attached crack down to the detached crack. Luckily, even the detached, wider part of the crack isn't extremely flared off the lamina. </div><div><br /></div><div>Her hooves are at five weeks here and she's getting done on Wednesday, so the flaring is very apparent right now. </div><div><br /></div><div>And new side shots:<br /><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOFIpTqlgQI/AAAAAAAAEVw/I4MQC_9ovRk/s1600/IMG_5178.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOFIpTqlgQI/AAAAAAAAEVw/I4MQC_9ovRk/s400/IMG_5178.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539788891133149442" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOFIpOxVCMI/AAAAAAAAEVo/Jke-lLP3BHU/s1600/IMG_5179.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TOFIpOxVCMI/AAAAAAAAEVo/Jke-lLP3BHU/s400/IMG_5179.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539788889819252930" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Can you believe that this horse is on mostly coastal hay, just a handful or two of WellSolve L/S and her SmartPak EZ Keeper grass balancer? She's looking good! </div></div>Chronicle of the Hoofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623018477090186475noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381816317948530319.post-44673401818110659692010-11-11T05:59:00.000-08:002010-11-11T06:24:25.520-08:00Midway update on Bud<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TNv4g7FQDEI/AAAAAAAAET0/kurVm1T_T6g/s400/IMG_5177.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538293411281374274" /><div style="text-align: center;">(Buttercup makes the sweetest faces)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div>Wow so having Buttercup an hour away is much more complicated now. Her next trim will be Nov. 17, and I won't be able to be there since it is a Wednesday and a girl's gotta work.<br /><br />So I decided to take pictures of her hooves this weekend to show how they transform over the weeks between trims. I have touched up her bars and her toes in these pics to prevent some separation issues that were trying to form, but overall I'm quite pleased how they look in between.<br /><br />I think it is really important to be on a four-week or less schedule. Otherwise you are jumping between too short and too long, and always have hooves in transition. At four weeks, you can really keep the hoof from abrupt transitions. That's important for long-term soundness. </div><div> </div><div>Front left:</div><div> </div><div> </div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TNv4hBw-d8I/AAAAAAAAET8/lazOFbzoVwo/s1600/IMG_5170.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TNv4hBw-d8I/AAAAAAAAET8/lazOFbzoVwo/s400/IMG_5170.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538293413075384258" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a><br /></div><div>Front right:</div><div> </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TNv3t6COfQI/AAAAAAAAETM/WCNjOBL42NI/s400/IMG_5167.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538292534826925314" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><br /></div><div>Solar, right: (excuse the gunk, I couldn't find a wire brush at the barn to clean her up)</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TNv3vDEPa0I/AAAAAAAAETs/yChC49Ndj7c/s1600/IMG_5169.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TNv3vDEPa0I/AAAAAAAAETs/yChC49Ndj7c/s400/IMG_5169.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538292554431163202" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></a><br /></div><div>Solar, left:</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TNv3uw1TF8I/AAAAAAAAETk/issl0I--n4o/s1600/IMG_5171.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TNv3uw1TF8I/AAAAAAAAETk/issl0I--n4o/s400/IMG_5171.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538292549536651202" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></a><br /></div><div>Notice I really "squared" the toe here. I was concerned that she would get additional torque on that crack while waiting for Scott to come out and trim her in a few weeks. </div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div>Ideally, the hoofwall all the way around these soles would be brought back to a tight line against the soles; you can see from the pics that separation is still very much apparent.</div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div>Here is a tighter hoofwall against the sole to compare (from Sept. 4):</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TIK7f8beKuI/AAAAAAAADtE/XSvpdpo-HZU/s800/IMG_4057.JPG" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>And we are getting quite a bit more concavity in the hooves. I still kick myself every time I think about what the farriers told me when Buttercup was three and four years old: "This horse is genetically flat footed and she'll never develop concavity. She'll also be uncomfortable outside of shoes." Now she's turning into a veritable, barefoot rock crusher even with her hooves still in transition! </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TNv3unPjWiI/AAAAAAAAETc/GmX_8v_3Y_w/s1600/IMG_5168.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TNv3unPjWiI/AAAAAAAAETc/GmX_8v_3Y_w/s400/IMG_5168.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538292546962414114" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TNv3uAn81XI/AAAAAAAAETU/S9uIFK90jMg/s1600/IMG_5172.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TNv3uAn81XI/AAAAAAAAETU/S9uIFK90jMg/s400/IMG_5172.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538292536595764594" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a><br /></div><div>To compare, from Sept. 4:</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TIK78VhQYcI/AAAAAAAADtg/Ic9i_Zr8jCY/s800/IMG_4054.JPG"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/TIK78VhQYcI/AAAAAAAADtg/Ic9i_Zr8jCY/s800/IMG_4054.JPG" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a><br /></div><div>And September 2009:</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_jHqBIAYy2bc/SrvRJN6Mh1I/AAAAAAAABAQ/lAiWguoNHmk/s800/IMG_1054.JPG" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">It isn't a significant change over the last year, but it's something. She'll never have true "rock crushing" hooves. But she can develop concavity and she can be fine over 90% of surfaces barefoot, even with her softer, inferior hooves. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Hope to get pictures of her new trim the weekend of Nov. 19! </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div>Chronicle of the Hoofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623018477090186475noreply@blogger.com0