Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jackie Cochran on December 23, 2012 at 2:32pm

So long as the rider is content not to work the horse hard and warm days and willing to spend up to an hour to cool down a horse with a wet winter coat trimming is not necessary.

I always had my horses out in the pasture.  I never trimmed them since I just pleasure rode.  In fact I've never owned any clippers.  Since I did not clip my horse's winter coat off I never had to invest in blankets. 

If I had ended up fox hunting I would have done a trace clip and I would have gotten a New Zealand turn-out rug as they were known back then.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Inka Spatafora on December 25, 2012 at 10:48pm

Hi Jacki, not sure if you got me correct. I was talking about trimming hooves not clipping the coat. 

I agree with you on the clipping or blanket issue.  I usually just give a very slight trace clip on my Andalusians (they get a very thick coat).  I work them outside all winter and on a sunny day here in Colorado they do sweat.  The sun gets quite warm here.

 

 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jackie Cochran on December 26, 2012 at 11:32am

Ah, hooves.  I used to do the main hoof care for my horses decades ago (before my MS got bad), now I am just down to rasping toes down once a week on one horse I ride (not mine.)

I trim during the winter, though I do not have to do it quite as often.  In the winter the hoof grows more slowly (half as fast?) than in the warm weather so it does not really matter if I miss a week or even two.  On the plus side the horses are not stomping at flies so not so many chunks come out of the hooves, on the other hand when it is cold and wet thrush is more of a problem.

Even though the hoof grows more slowly I still have to keep the toes rasped down and the outside flairs trimmed down to the good hoof shape.  I also use the hoof knife on the sole (I am too weak to trim the frog).  Thrush medicine is my friend as the mare I trim lives in a paddock that gets muddy in the winter.

The instant the spring grass comes out the hooves immediately respond and grow around twice as fast as in the winter.  It is very easy for the hooves to get beyond my limited capabilities in early spring even if the weather stays cold for a while.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by MagsNMe on December 27, 2012 at 9:20pm

My darling Maggie was on a 6 week schedule through most of the year, she would NOT tolerate long toes.  She also toed in and was shod all 'round, so it was critical.  She was usually 5 weeks during the summer when she grew faster.  It is unknown what contributed to her fracture.  She was one week from her usual shoeing appointment.

Delilah, who I am currently riding, is also a 6 week'er.  She has special needs in front as well, big flat feet that are usual for Clyde/Tb's.  Cass, the old girl, also Clyde/Tb, stayed on a regular schedule when she was in work, same reason.

Baby boy Havoc is also on a 6 week schedule year 'round.  While he is not in work, he is still a growing boy and balanced hooves are important.  Because of the wreck his mother's feet are (she has 28 degree rotation in one front hoof, long story), I'm especially paranoid about feet.  Luckily enough, Havoc has beautiful round perfect feet, I intend to keep them that way.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Margaret Porkolab on December 28, 2012 at 4:33pm

I believe in the natural way the horse travels. I have both shod and barefoot. I found when i let the hoof grow naturally they were lot better. All do is file off the rough edges and do a little rounding. I leave all the frog they have. We ride our young horses and ponies on all kinds of terrain. I found road riding shapes their hoof the best for the way they travel naturally. Then check their hoof for flaring. It takes time to harden their hooves to all kinds of footing. But when they do life is a lot easier.

• ▶ Reply