I really wanted to make this post epically massive but I have a monster headache, so, alas, I will have to keep it shorter than I would like. But I do have pictures of Yankee, alive and very well.
Drive home was a cake, and I am quite enjoying my break. HA, rhyme. But anyways I am also quite excited to spend AMAP time with my beloved boy.
First day I went to visit him, it was freezing cold, like, whoa. I was nervous about being in an unfamiliar barn but everyone greeted me warmly, and always guessed that I was "MonicaYankeesOwnerHowisCollegeDoYouLikeIt?YankeeIsGoodHeMIssedYou" (yes, in one breath). I had to interrupt Rob's (the head trainer and barn manager) lesson to ask where in the world my horse was turned out and where his stall/halter was. I felt bad.
I trudged through the snow and mud in my paddock boots (note to self: wear snow boots next time) out to Yankee's massive pasture. I looked for him in the giant herd of horses playing and eating in the "red field". I really couldnt make him out amongst all the other dark bays, but then I looked and saw my magnificent horse running as fat as he possibly could in the mud towards me, neighing!! HE MISSED ME! HE RECOGNIZES ME!! It was a great feeling. He snuffled my hair and gladly followed me to the barn.
Yankee couldnt stop showing how much he missed me, it was very cute. He wouldnt let me brush him or anything he just kept giving me "horse hugs". And of course, being his goofy self. It was awesome. This is why I love this horse.
- He does this all the time
Riding him was like heaven...I couldnt believe how great it was. I missed his flowing trot and rocking canter. AND boy, did he improve! Grace has his canter feeling fantastic now and his departs are better than they ever were. Not only that but he can shoulder-in and haunches-in at the trot now! As well as lead changes.
- his haunches in
- Lovely canter
However, Rob seems to like rollkur. I dont like this method, so I'm going to say "out of sight out of mind". Yankee has improved greatly and as long as rollkur is not an everyday thing I think I can be ok with it...as much as i really don't want to be.
- In case you didnt know what rollkur was, aka "deep". Not a fan.
But anyways its been heaven, and I'm so happy to be back for a few weeks.
Oh, and Zephyr missed me too :)
- Z baby :)
Got some good stuff for Christmas, $$, DVD, itunes,boots, gorgeous necklace, books :), some clothes, Skull candy headphones, scarves, and a Carhartt jacket! I AM BLESSED!
Hola!
ReplyDeleteAbout your question about Gogo's feet and Yankee's feet. (I've been a bit busy with the mudslinging over on my blog!) I was lucky with Gogo when I took her barefoot because I was very skeptical at first. She was just 5 and was wearing her first ever pair of shoes up front, complete with pads. She had never been shod behind. She has a bit of warmbloody high-low syndrome so what I think was going on was the owners were trying to mask that, so they cut her feet to look the same and put shoes on. Ironically, within the first week of me owning her, she threw both shoes within a day or two of another - she was ready to be nekked! My trimmer came and did her, and she walked off sound. Maybe a funny step or two on gravel the first day, but never again. That was three years ago.
It's a much different journey for horses with a different farrier background. It sounds quite like Yankee had a very hard time goes barefoot and would probably have a hard time again. Be that as it may, hooves adjust and heal themselves when you give them the chance. Contracted heels spread, thrush vanishes, frogs thicken and widen, and new walls come down thick and hard. The problem it that this does take a lot of time, and for a horse in hard training/showing, it probably means time off from that, at least from showing. If you have the time, I'd say find a competent barefoot trimmer - not just any old farrier - and go for it, but be prepared for a period of healing in which you may not be able to do all that much. Even if he benefits from only a few cycles without shoes before you put them back on to show, you'd be amazed at the difference that can be had. If nothing else, you'll at least have a healthier foot to put a shoe back on to! My favorite saying is that shoes belong on healthy hooves, not unhealthy ones. Unhealthy feet need to heal themselves, and which that can be achieved with shoes on, your farrier needs to be God in order to do that. It's not easy.
Good luck!