Without boots overnight, Taffy's hooves were cool this morning. Yesterday they had been a bit warm, albeit later in the day.
Time to lower heels, as de-contraction is in progress. Time to refresh breakover.
Started with RH. In taking bar off sole, small abcess (?) found. Consistent with the goo that leaked out when I scraped at her feet in early May (during pre-purchase evaluation). Also, heel on that side had a horizontal crack. Glad I took the grinder to those bars.
Shaped bars on all hooves, removed lateral flaring and refreshed mustang roll on hinds, lowered heels on fores, relieved quarters on fores, esp. LF lateral, and refreshed breakover, backing it up a little more. Sub- bar bruising present in medial lateral seat of corn on RF. Sub P3 bruising on same foot. Suspect bar pressure. Bars relieved, excess ahead of apex of frog removed.
Soles under P3 left alone, Frogs left alone, sulcus protrusions smoothed off. Active points of contact- heels, toe pillars.
Some lick and chew, some weight shifting while standing. Once moving, breakover much improved, toe flip beginning, and heel first landing evident at walk. Tenderness over individual gravel pieces, but none over consistent terrain.
Groundwork: get back! she did. Follow winshield wiper carrot stick- no problem. Stick and string desensitizing- accepted all over. Porcupine game- Huh? she turns her head and looks at it- "ok, that's interesting,,,, does it mean something? I'm wondering!" I love how willing to please she is. Last exercise: Ferris wheel stick and string with ground smack- left side- hmmm, I'm supposed to move, right? No? ok, I'll just lower my head and relax. right side- ho hummm.. lick chew... lots of verbal reassurance, and forehead rubbing with hand or loop end of stick. Drop head on cue- oh yeah, that means food is somewhere near....
New bale of hay has wild oats in it- Taffy chows into it and then coughs. Honey mare same thing. Time to make some more slow feeders :)
Time to add to diet: Horse Tech Arizona regional mix (flax base), salt, a cup of soaked beet pulp, a half cup of diatomaceous earth, and a quarter cup of rice bran once daily. Amounts vary slightly, but this is a starting place. Taffy has some fat deposits on her neck, and at sides of tailhead, so no need for extra calories. Other horses will get black oil sunflower seed also.
Photos of newly balanced hooves on next post
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