Transition Tuesday Week 20:
That Was Then, This Is Now
A Warm, Late September Morning
I pulled
His feet were dry and the hoof
capsule was beginning to look tubular and much longer than it should have been.
The arid
When I first pulled his shoes his feet were tender for a while, but that soon changed as the feet began to retrieve their natural shape.
I took this photo of his right front feet last night. His feet are rounder and the length of the hoof capsule is shorter. His feet are not dry or flaky or brittle, and there is a concave shape showing in the quarters of his hooves. He stands more squarely now than he used to, and I no longer need to use interference boots on him.
Look at the waves on the inside quarters: there is some funky stuff
going on beneath the surface.
Red’s first week without shoes.
Compare the angles of the hoof in the photo above to Red’s feet today. His breakover is very different now and is continuing to change quickly.
One of the most noticeable factors in the transition process is the speed of hoof growth in working horses compared to the speed of those who are working irregularly. The hooves of the horses who are not working appear to grow at less than half the speed of the working horses. The horses who are working regularly are definitely making the transition more quickly.
Red’s right front foot in his first week barefoot (the redness is the Ricken’s
hoof hardener). The separation of the hoof wall is the result of White Line
Disease.
The same foot last night: he has made significant progress and the
White Line Disease is almost completely grown out.
Red’s feet are so much better – even
after four months of searing heat and no moisture. I’m looking forward to
taking him to the Man Against Horse
race this weekend in
Riders and horses at the start of the race last year.
As a parting thought, it is interesting to compare this previously shod horse to a young horse who has never seen a steel shoe in his life. Rain has been with us for seven weeks now – he is three years old and a real pleasure to have around.
Rain’s feet: he spent most of his life in the Dulles area of
I am fascinated by the lack of contraction in the heels of this young horse. His frog is nice and wide and the hoof shape is round. I wonder if the other horses in the herd will get to this point? The striations on the base of his foot are from ponying him last evening in Gloves along our road. We have been working him mostly barefoot, but we also want to get him used to the boots.
Rain after his evening feed.
Rain likes play with his feed tub while he waits for the other horses to finish. Last evening he put it on top of the barrels in the round pen. I’m hoping to teach him to do the dishes before the New Year.
Keep up the boot legging!
Kevin
Kevin- What an amazing difference. The photos look like different horses. I don't think anyone in the equine world would argue with the results.
Garrett
Posted by: Garrett Ford | September 29, 2009 at 07:37 AM
I have been following your progress and loving it. My horses have never been shod. My stallion, gelded last year, (he's now 8 years old) has always had "tall" hooves. I had trimmers coming out fairly regularly, but still his feet seemed small around and tall with waves. This spring I found a trimmer who understands trimming for bare feet and I am amazed to see that this horse's hooves are widening at the heel and getting very healthy looking frogs. A correct trim is as important as the lack of steel. And the correct trim is not very difficult when you learn how.
Posted by: Rosalie | September 29, 2009 at 10:04 AM