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.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Farrier woes

Man, I am just about ready to teach myself how to trim feet. The farrier my pasture uses is TERRIBLE!

One farrier who is a friend of a friend (but sadly not local) says that I could probably do a better job trimming the hoof MYSELF.

Trying to track down Grant, the old farrier who trimmed Solly at Bo's ranch. I should never have let them talk me into leaving him. I just went with the easy option, so that's my fault. It's on me.

The Barn Owner says he has been moving stiffly and painfully.

I am betting he's getting some navicular pain from his terrible trims. I left explicit instructions this last time... though I wasn't able to make it on time in person thanks to someone in a minivan taking the entire length of Silverado Trail at 30 MPH. It's supposed ot be 55-60 MPH. Blargh.

Let me show you why I'm firing this farrier.



He didn't clean the frog or sole up at ALL. He didn't even trim a good section of the hoof, but strangely he did shave off even more heel, even though Solly's heels are really underrun, and his toes are really long, especially on this foot.

I asked for a mustang roll. This is what they gave me. :/



Note the flare at the side and the long long toe.



Once again, Solly's feet all look completely different, and are at different angles. I'm officially mad now.



They did slightly better with these, but still with the flare and not rolling the sides well, and arrgh.



Did he not even look at the sides of Sol's feet? D:



yeah, these are gonna crack even more now.

I hope I can track down Grant and talk him into coming all the way out to Pope Valley to trim one horse! :o