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| So much wrong here... |
Let me just be clear on one point: I have a lot of respect for Nic Barker and what they do at Rockley Farm. I am inspired and impressed by what they achieve and many of the things Nic writes about leave me thinking. But I think their blog should come with a disclaimer: Do not try this at home without doing your research.
The celery approach works for the folks at Rockley because they've put a lot of time, effort and resources into creating an environment and lifestyle where the horses can self-trim their way to soundness. From what I've seen and read, they have three key pieces in place for this to happen.
- A day-to-day living environment on very abrasive footing.
- A very specific and controlled diet.
- An extensive daily exercise regimen that is, again, done on very abrasive footing.
If you want to embrace the celery approach to hoofcare, more power to you, just be prepared to spend a lot of time and money making sure your horse is living a lifestyle that will enable that. There is a reason that people have been using hand tools to trim hooves for hundreds of years, most domesticated horses don't get enough exercise on a variety of surfaces to wear down their own hooves, and overgrown hooves create a mess of problems.
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| I mean, seriously, how does she even function? |
*I did contact the owner of the horse from my last post and sent her an eight page document detailing what I saw going on with those hooves and a plan for bringing them back to health. Fortunately she agreed with what I said and I'm going to work with her over email to see if we can't get her horse sound again (he currently most definitely is NOT). Fingers crossed.*
I believe I have seen this horse's condition described as LTD.
ReplyDelete(lack of trimming disease)
It will be interesting to see if the owner remains receptive and finds a solution for the horse's soundness.
LOL- yes, exactly!
DeleteSelf trimming might be a good idea for horses in the wild. And as you say if you plan on doing this you should definitely have different surfaces for your horses. It will all depend on environment and diet etc.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how that woman with the nails in your picture goes to the bathroom? Snaps buttons and pulls up zippers? Looks like it might be a tricky proposition.
As for the world ending last week...I never thought it would. After all if the Mayans were so smart they wouldn't be non-existent now would they?
Happy New Year and I hope you're feeling better.
Maybe she can afford a bidet?
DeleteI'm feeling better, thanks. Had to buy a support belt though, those things are great! Officially entered the third trimester today, only 12 more weeks or so to go.
twelve weeks will fly by like lightening. Have a wonderful New Year. You and your husband are in for many new adventures...
DeleteWill be fascinatin to see how things go with the owner
ReplyDeleteIt will be hard, she lives on a different continent, but hopefully I'll have some good update photos in a few months.
DeleteI read the Rockley farm blog and they do wonderful work up there, but I also happen to know that they have very specific conditions and horses have to work very hard just to get to their hay. The celery approach sounds great, but I know that several horses that came out of rockley ended up in trouble because they were not trimmed (following rockley instructions). I have to say I question the whole idea of self trimming; my own horses live out 24/7 and they spend half the time on pea gravel and a stony track, but still a 4 week trimming interval has proved far too long for them.
ReplyDeleteI hope the owner of that poor horse will see sense...
Exactly, the blog doesn't give the whole story. People need to apply some critical thinking and reason these things through before trying them on their own.
Delete(those fingernails kind of creep me out!)
ReplyDeleteVery best wishes for health and happiness in the New Year. Hope the next twelve weeks sail by... (((♡♡♡)))
But isn't it amazing just how much they can get on those suckers? I can almost, kinda sorta, see the appeal. But then I remember that I use my hands everyday and that puts the kibosh on it.
DeleteHappy New Year to you!
I think there is a balance to it ALL. Trimming vs self trimming, like you pointed out--there are things we have to provide. Either the proper diet/footing/work load OR trimming, or a bit of both in an ideal world (sort of what I think Weltz are able to do by their location/terrain).
ReplyDeleteHooves will always be changing/moving/etc and it's up to the owners to try to be on top of it all. It's not easy, as you know my woes and constant trials, wins, losses, etc. I hope you are able to help the owner and the horse out! :)
Yep, I can understand a bit of where Nic comes from recommending against trimming since so many "professionals" out there are doing hack jobs. But there are good trimmers out there, even if you have to sift through the junk pile to find them.
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