Hey- you know what I haven't posted pictures of in a while? Healthy hooves!
These hooves belong to a 30+ year old shetland pony. Her hooves are not perfection but they are in much better shape than they were last August when I started trimming her. At that time she had so much heel and bar that she was walking on tiptoes, her coronet band was closer to the ground at her toes than at her heels!
As her hooves have become healthier so has her attitude. The first time I saw her she was surly and had to be dragged from place to place. Last weekend she was trotting next to her owner and striding out like a lion at the walk with long, fluid strides. It was a satisfying sight!
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| Right fore, still pretty contracted but getting better. The black line is my "cheat" mark for trimming the bars. |
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| Left fore |
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| Right hind, bonus shot of my camera strap |
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| Left hind |
As always, when I look at these pictures I see places where I could improve my trim. Hindsight is 20/20, especially when you've got pictures. Ah well, I'll just have to be content until I see her next month.
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Oh they're SO WEE AND CUTE! and they look great, very functional for an elderly pony.
ReplyDeleteAgree about pictures. I always see stuff in photos that I can't see by looking at the hoof - I have been known to snap a photo with my phone, set the hoof down, and look at the picture right there.
Aren't they though? She's so fast to trim too, it's like zip, zip, zip, you're done.
DeleteThat's a good idea with the camera phone, I'll have to borrow that idea the next time I'm presented with a stumper.
Nice looking hooves. You've changed her life for the better. I don't blame her for being grouchy, I would be too if my feet hurt. She probably felt like we do when our shoes pinch.
ReplyDeleteEven retired ponies deserve to have their feet feel good! She probably did feel a pretty strong pinch in her feet, it took 5 months to get out all the impacted bar she had.
DeleteBeautiful work! In some ways it may be even more important for the older ones to have good trims--they have a lot of other aches and pains and need to stand as sound as they can. Good job!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely- and thank you :)
DeleteIt must be so satisfying knowing that you have made a positive impact on another living being. Making others feel healthy and happy is always rewarding. I did have a giggle when I saw how small her feet were. :-) Congratulations on a job well done!!
ReplyDeleteIt is, I had a huge grin on my face when I saw how well that pony was moving. Thanks :)
DeleteWalking like a lion is a great image. I am glad to hear about the lucky pony attached to those nice feet.
ReplyDeleteKeep the hoof posts coming!
I wish I remembered where I picked that phrase up from- "a good horse should walk like a lion." It sure stuck in my brain though.
DeleteAwesome hooves and thanks for the advice on Chrome's hooves. I'll work on it some more after I do the rear hooves. Since I'm doing this all on my own I'm taking it slow lol. Don't want to hurt him. :D
ReplyDeleteDon't worry, you've got a good start and you'll only get better :)
DeleteNicely done!
ReplyDeleteQuestion for you:
What is the significance, or is there any, of the amount/width of sole on either side of the frog (bottom view of hoof) not matching?
I think that flare is due to conformation more than anything else. I might be wrong but that's what I've seen so far. Gwen is pigeon-toed and her front feet flare laterally.
DeleteRockley has done quite a few posts on that subject. I'm not sure I'd come to the same conclusion they have about allowing the wall to flare out but they've seen a lot more lame horses than I have.