tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336485400243362481.post6164861401239173157..comments2023-04-16T04:35:37.153-07:00Comments on Song of the Black Horse: A Student's Notes: Day 23Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00250005101735182059noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336485400243362481.post-5256710801182561402011-02-01T08:12:44.082-08:002011-02-01T08:12:44.082-08:00Right on :)
I think it's a good idea to keep a...Right on :)<br />I think it's a good idea to keep a photo record, as well as a journal (like you are doing ;)) because sometimes, when in the middle of rehab and you feel like things just aren't getting better, you have pictures and notes to look back on and see that it IS getting better :) <br /><br />Just curious, do you have to pen her up at night? Or can she have access to the pasture at all times? From the sound of it, it seems that if she is penned up, and the ground is frozen mud that is uncomfortable for her to walk on, chances are she will stand in the barn all night (which as you know is not a good thing, but especially for a horse with inflammed hooves). Maybe if she could have access to the pasture at all times, she would move more. Just a thought :) <br /><3voiceofthehorsehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06079582953580635396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336485400243362481.post-18903583511898279012011-01-31T23:24:54.224-08:002011-01-31T23:24:54.224-08:00Hi Jamie, THANK YOU for your support. I think it ...Hi Jamie, THANK YOU for your support. I think it was a good thing you posted all the info, even though I know most of it, others who are reading may not. And also, it's good for me to be reminded of it, as it is HARD to look at your horse being in pain. But, I know it will be much much better for her in the end. <br />I'm off to the barn now to see where she is at today and try walking her as much as I can/she will walk. Will post more later.<br />Ps. She is on a detox program :-)<br />PS2 I did take pics (on some level, only got two of the right front but five of the hinds) before and will take pics today of the after. My camera died yesterday so didn't get the immediately after the trim pic, unfortunately...Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00250005101735182059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336485400243362481.post-2686878471667589622011-01-31T16:30:49.328-08:002011-01-31T16:30:49.328-08:00Oh, and another thing you may want to think about ...Oh, and another thing you may want to think about is herbs to support her liver, kidneys, heart and blood, and if necessary pain management. She will be going through a lot of detox with the restoration of hoof function and she will most likely need additional support, as it is all tied together. This is another aspect rehab that is very important too :)voiceofthehorsehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06079582953580635396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336485400243362481.post-48653241394817141302011-01-31T16:25:14.473-08:002011-01-31T16:25:14.473-08:00I also want to say that I have been reading all yo...I also want to say that I have been reading all your posts since starting this blog and it brings tears to my eyes. It is so fun to read about someone else going down this road, and how it not only changes the way we care for our horses, but the way we look at everything in our lives differently. :) You are a special person and I am so happy for you and your horse. :))) <br /><br />Much love<br /><br />Jamievoiceofthehorsehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06079582953580635396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336485400243362481.post-37244852660288460142011-01-31T16:24:54.506-08:002011-01-31T16:24:54.506-08:00First I want to say I am super happy that you went...First I want to say I am super happy that you went with a Strasser trimmer. Hopefully he is a good one. As you mentioned many take the basics and put their own twist on it. I personally don't feel that is a good idea. I have found that you run into too many problems by doing this and the horse becomes more sore. Strasser trims the way she does for a very specific reason and that should be respected. Although there is a difference between a "clinic" trim and a "field" trim, providing the living conditions of the horse are as such to alter the trim any great deal. Mainly the thing that is different is the thickness of the sole that can be left from a clinic trim to a field trim. In a clinical situation you can thin the sole more because the horse is living on rubber flooring and is moved by hand daily, soaked daily, etc and the thinner sole allows the hoof to flex more and de-contract faster. In the field you may have to leave the sole a little thicker so the horse is not sore on rocks. But, you still want the hoof to be in optimum form, so you have to weigh this carefully. If Little Love has a big pasture that she is comfortable in and is moving well in, she will be fine :)<br />Did you take pictures of her feet before and after? <br />It's surprising that a Strasser trimmer would rather not trim every 2 weeks, but wait 6. I find that you should trim every week if possible when rehabbing a horse with contractions, but 2 weeks is the longest I would go until inflammation has subsided and the horse is comfortable on most surfaces. <br />If she has been in shoes for 10 years, chances are there is a lot of damage internally, as I'm sure you discussed with him. When you trim to correct hoof form and function, you trim to mirror the internal structures of the foot. If this is done on a damaged foot, there will be a return of blood supply, regeneration of nerves, and pain (as you stated) but, pain is not usually from the trim itself (unless her soles were thinned so much that they were very soft to pressure or there was exposed corrium which would have bled a lot). Pain is from inflammation of the damaged tissues. You can trim a foot less "aggressively" but you are not promoting optimal healing by doing so. You are prolonging healing and damage. If Little Love is moving well in pasture, but having a hard time on the frozen mud, chances are she has pain due to inflammation and the uneven hard surfaces are uncomfortable to walk on, not because of the trim being too aggressive. She was not sore when the shoes came off because of all the contractions you named, and her feet were still mostly numb. Her hooves could not function even without the shoes with too full soles, high contracted heels, and impacted bars. As you said you have studied the anatomy of the hoof, the digital artery runs between the bar and the navicular bone, if the bars are too high and this greatly reduces blood flow even in a incorrectly trimmed bare foot, as well as prevents the hoof from expanding on impact, much like studs hold up a wall. When these levers (bars, heel height, sole contraction, etc) are removed, the hoof flexes (which it hasn't in years) and pain is recognized. It is also possible that there could joint adaptation to the crookedness and high heels over the last many years that also has to correct so that too can be painful. In the initial phase of rehab you may need to hand walk her on firm smooth surfaces (as I hope was talked about) until the inflammation has reduced enough for her to be comfortable doing so on her own. After all, this may be "as sound as possible" for her at this time :) <br />I am so proud of you for doing this. I know it's hard to see your horse have sore feet, but it doesn't last forever :) It took years for her feet to get this way, so it's not going to be cured overnight. (I know you know this already :))voiceofthehorsehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06079582953580635396noreply@blogger.com