Hi, I'm Ev. I'm training to become a horsewoman. These are my adventures and misadventures. I'm green as hell, but so far, so good. I'm now learning from Bo (and sometimes his wife DeDe) at D&D Ranch in Pope Valley. I am extremely lucky to have this opportunity, I feel quite blessed, and I feel that they, and horses, have really turned my life around.
Solomon is my baby- a big old flea bitten grey Appendix gelding who is very kind and way too smart! I love him so very much. He is a rescue and was meant to be co-owned rehabbed, and maybe rehomed to a good home. He turned out to be over 25 years old with injuries that ultimately do not make him riding sound, so he is retired.

Monday, April 27, 2009

Shoes!

Just found out- shoes tomorrow! He'll likely have them on when I arrive. Excited and nervous at the same time- will he be okay now? Gods I hope so. Or that if not, it is still some little thing that will pass, given time. I hope it's just that the gravel is pointy and his soles are thin, feet too small for how big he is.

Probably won't know the first day. I've heard you shouldn't work a horse much right after a trim, or switching from trim to shoes.

So I will take pictures of the shoeing and trim and then I will ride sweet patient teddy bear. Oh lordy lordy my ambien is kicking in.

I'll leave you with a journey of body condition and hooves. Solomon's feet are a couple sizes too small for his body. I blame the TB in him... if there is TB in him.

His feet had been 4 months overdue. The first farrier chopped 'em off really short. I'm told dramatic change like that can cause problems.



He wasn't awake to the world yet, and maybe I should not have been riding him. My mistake, made out of ignorance, but this is I think the second ride on him ever? That or the first. No instruction, haha, and the reins were too short. Ended up with some short ropes tied together.



I shudder to think what that saddle was.

but anyway, he might have not had the strength to be bad here, who knows.



His feet in July:



I don't know if the farrier in August balanced his feet really.






Used him once only.

October went with a barefoot trimmer.








Body


November
Body and feet


December


bdy, January


after the chiro


Feb


March

condition






April





NOTE TO SELF:
each month note any change of feed, take pictures of hooves before and after crim, and good body shots for records.

I want consistent stuff that is trackable, where one and come and see his feet And say "this is better" or "the heel is now underrun."

Anyway, I'll start with tomorrow's photos.

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