I was going to do this great post about the fabulous ride I had yesterday. I mean, it was amazing. Those of you who assured me that I'd have more time for my horse once I quit working at the barn were totally correct. She's doing some great dressage work.
But then there was today. All I can say is that I'm so thankful my farrier doesn't charge by the hour. I would be totally broke. The weather has been changing. This morning was cool and rainy. I showed up at the barn with just enough time to do one thing before the farrier arrived. I chose hand grazing over lunging, since I thought Izzy would like the grass and I probably shouldn't use the turnouts, since they were wet.
Right?
Wrong.
The farrier was a half hour late (standard for them, so I expected it), which would have given me enough time to at least lunge the silly mare.
It proceeded to take a full two hours to put front shoes on her. Not even kidding. She wasn't "bad" as in kicking or striking or refusing to pick up her feet; she just wouldn't stand still, kept trying to bite stuff because she was bored, and that sort of thing. Fortunately, he'll just take as long as it takes and doesn't get upset about it, but I was getting irritated. She wouldn't want to stand, so she'd throw her head at me and keep her shoulders going. Grrrrr. I was mad at her, but I knew if I made a big deal out of it, the whole thing would just take longer.
Note to self: lunge the mare next time.
He was not at all pleased with her front feet. She has some serious long toe/low heel on the left front. Apparently, the only way to stimulate hoof growth is concussion, but she's not really concussing that heel because it's so low. He'd hoped it would get better after her trim and shoes last time, but it didn't. Sooo... next time we're doing resins on the front feet. Apparently, that will allow him to build her heel up enough to get it to concuss and therefore grow. It also allows her feet to contract and expand a lot more than shoes do. I'm excited to see how that goes.
Also, I'm clearance shopping on Dover. Someone stop me!
Dover is the devil. I always spend way too much money on there. It's so easy to overspend on the clearance stuff!
ReplyDeleteI always work the crap out my horse before the farrier comes, usually for a few days in a row. I have so much respect for them and their work, I just feel terrible if my horse doesn't stand perfectly still. Although, they are used to horses behaving very badly. I bet if you asked him he'd tell you Izzy was really good. They have a rough job. Good luck with the resins!
Ok, for future reference, please do not mention tack clearances of any kind because, when it comes to tack-shopping, I have zero self control! My eyes glaze over and I click "Add To Cart" until I'm all strung out on a shopper's high. It's like *click* "Aaaahhhhhhh." *euphoria* During Smartpak's clearnace, I did some serious damage. Must...not...go...to Dover's website. Gaaaaaahh!!
ReplyDeleteToday was farrier day at our barn too, and my horse was a pain in the butt. Would not stand still and throwing his head around. Granted, the temperature dropped by twenty degrees today, and the next door neighbors were target practicing, so there was plenty of gun fire, but that's really no excuse.
ReplyDeleteWe had a "come to jesus meeting" before any work could get done... 15 minutes of cowboy style groundwork did the trick. It also made me realize that it's not just thatyour horse complies, but how... it must be immediate. And complete.
$40 trim with a mini training session - what a deal - I love my farrier :)
STOP!!! There, I've done it.
ReplyDeleteMy farrier takes a long time and my horses are good. Well, Tucker moves around a bit, but nothing serious any more. He actually acts pretty grown up now.
A good farrier is a treasure, though, so you are lucky to have him.
The first farrier I had (who came highly recommended) actually kicked my previously abused horse in the stomach because the horse wasn't standing still. That farrier undid months of work I had done in a matter of seconds. I was appalled, but I was only about 11 or 12 years old, though, so I was too intimidated to yell at the farrier. I found a new guy for the next time, though.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you have a really patient farrier. It makes a huge difference and makes the situation so much less stressful and dangerous.
Gotta love a great farrier! If I can't turn the horses out a day or two before ours shows up, I lunge them. I also like my horses to be the kind that the farrier can show up and do the job without me needing to be there to hold them. He can easily catch them, they stand tied, don't give him any hassle and let's him do what needs to be done.
ReplyDeleteWhen he did our Arab stallion for the first time, after he finished the front feet and the horse hadn't moved other than to lift each hoof.... I asked him if he wished all Arab stallions he worked on, behaved like this one?
He had to take a second look underneath to be sure I wasn't lying about him still being intact... He said he wished ALL the horses he worked on behaved like him- regardless of breed or gender.
Then he went to work on my WB mare. She has stifle issues from an injury as a baby. Doing her left hind can be tricky, but he managed to do what he could and I keep working with her in between. I still tipped him a bit extra for having put up with her antics. I know I didn't have to, but to me- it's well worth it!