4 weeks

After a week without boots, Taffy has not improved. It wasn't the best timing for her to be without my direct care, but at least there isn't any regression. Her L fore still shows significant caudal pain on loading, and I suspect dorsal laminar stress, as she would hop to other fore upon breakover.

About 4 mm of growth in 8 days, enough to work with to balance. I suspect the contraction beyond the vertical on the RF medial heel is due to caudal pain- she is avoiding weighting it, therefore not enough stimulation to grow it straight yet. I am keeping the lateral wall well beveled through the quarters and toe pillar area, that preserves the alignment of the bony column.

LF is slightly sore in caudal region as well. I trimmed back some shrively frog slivers and uncovered some black ick, so likely we have deep sulcus infection (ie thrush)which is now spreading (deep sulcus crack is another red flag). Soaking will do it. I just have to do the soaking! I suspect much of her caudal pain will subside with the greeblies gone.

I am seeing some trimming down- she has less fat across the withers and crest. I knew we would see a change in the shoulders and wither area just transitioning out of shoes. Now the diet is making a difference, and being turned out 24x7 with two other horses who keep her moving.

Sigh... the good news is- she is still comfy in boots, not quite totally comfortable without pads. After soaking and more bar shaping I will add the frog pads back, maybe full pads.
I haven't gone after the false sole and bars since returning. Tomorrow morning looks good. Her bars come right back when I lower them, so it appears they were quite jammed up. Once they slow down I'll know they are where they belong. She continues to have nice concavity.

Not sure yet what the knot in the center of heel bulbs (digital cushion area) on LF is.

She is a real trooper- watches what I'm doing, lets me trim her without a halter now (hand tools), licks my hand and loves her shoulder scratches. What a sweet mare. She is even bossing Glory (the pony) around now. Poor Glory- always ends up at the bottom of the herd. She does put up a stink first though! Not sure who's leaving teeth marks on Taffy. Probably Honey. No fur lost fortunately, just some ruffled feathers on the butt.

Day 16-time for a week without boots

Now that pea gravel is installed in the favorite corner, and Taffy likes to stand in it, she will go without boots in turnout for a time.

Chiropractic adjustment #2 this morning- from withers back only withers needed adjusting. Predictable, since they are above the area of greatest kinetic change right now!
She was a bit uncooperative with the neck adjustment, still tender to the right. Doc was very pleased with the withers adjustment. She thanked him with a lick and chew.

Breakover and mustang roll adjustment. Heels lowered and balanced just a couple mmm. Lateral/dorsal wall on LF relieved , and lateral heel lowered more than medial. coronet on medial side was more pushed up and slight separation in WL, so more arch added in quarter. Front view much better- vertical pastern :)

No limping or gimping over smooth ground or pea gravel. sensitivity over rocks on hard ground. Must soak with ClO2 soooon.

Another bareback ride around the corral

Taffy is comfy in her boots so I worked with send cues over a tire in the corral. She wants to come to me and go around it. We try again... She figures out what I want and hops over. Good girl. I pet and praise her. A few successful goes and I hop on bareback. she is so sensitive that my slight shifts change her direction. She gets sassy at the gate- doesn't want to turn and tosses her nose when I jiggle the reins. So it's back to groundwork, get her attention back, and some mounted leg yields, pivots, backs and sidepasses. She wants so much to be good. Lots more trail miles to come! Wait till she meets the wading pool in the backyard --- my training tool for trail class water crossings. (and the dog's water dish/splashing pool- he's a lab after all)

Pea gravel was delivered today. Now it's up to me to move it to their favorite loafing areas and around the water and gate. 14 wheelbarrow loads down... not sure how many to go- I've dented the pile about 30 percent.

Taffy will have a week off to loaf starting tomorrow. I expect her to stand in the gravel a lot, since she won't have her boots on all the time. In boots with frog pads I see slight hitch in LF pastern on landing, none in RF. Happy happy...Will tweak the balance today.

Day 13- first mountain climb

Booted up with full pads, Taffy followed on the pony ride for a 4 hour trek into the Cerbat Mts. She sure does like to GO! She was comfortable over rocky roads, up and down hills and in sandy washes on the fores. She did have occasional sensitivity on the LH, consistent with the spot which is beginning to callous over. Happy day.

PIC-Left hind Day 12

Note- uncalloused sole where bar was overgrown and pressing on seat of corn area. affected heel buttress and frog also

PICS-LF on Day 12- compensation?

Looking for clues here.. wall angle from heel view, asymmetry of hairlines at heels, asymmetry of solar view, fetlock to hoof angle leaning... where is the compensation coming from... chiropractic and balancing contine! note to self: keep toe rockered- dorsal flaring in lower half.

PICS-New hoof pics taken on day 12 RF- doing great

Right Front a day after balance - standing on soft ground. She is more comfortable on this foot than the LF.

Chlorine Dioxide soaks are coming next (deep frog sulcus). I am pleased with the frog's response to the pads in boots. It's beefing up and spreading nicely. Not sure how much lower I want the heels yet. She is heel first in boots with this hoof.

Solar view shows bruising around tip of frog (corium bruising under P3--- excess sole?) bruising in medial-lateral quarter- suspect overgrown bar squeezing this area. Note-bar has been tapered more this balance.

Happy and comfy in her Renegades :) They are a size O, and I suspect OO would be better, though for turnout with pads in place, they do stay put.