2012 - a bleak February
whilst on holiday...
While on holiday I requested another livery's vet to take foot X rays of Grace as he was on the yard to do the same for her horse.
The results of which I got back after my holiday set me on a journey I was only just finding out about - funnily enough while on holiday. That journey is that of the equine Barefoot journey.
The results of the X rays accoding to the other vet who took them were "nothing of note" or " to be worried about" especially compared to the results of the other horse on the yard whose feet were x rayed the same day.
Mid MarchMy vet was here to give my three horses their annual booster vaccinations.
Whilst here, I asked him to look at the X Rays which I had in film format. He did so and a heated debate began.
Apparently Grace has flat P3s even in her hind feet (which had been bare for at least 10 months that I know of) and in his opinion "she'll be at Lip hook veterinary hospital having suspensory surgery" within 2 years unless I put shoes on her hinds and jack her heels up all round.
My head was reeling. Shock. Disbelief. I managed to get out the words that in my view that would be a backwards step. My vet expressed confusion at my comments as not understanding my perspective. Having explained that 2 bare feet to non was a clear backwards step. To which he replied that "90% of horses in the UK are shod". Of course if i hadn't been so consumed with anger (whose the client here running through my head) I'd of told him that was because 90% of horse owners don't know any different and until 4 weeks earlier I was one of them.
As if that wasn't enough the vet told me I had to get shoes on asap and wanted Pete a remedial farrier he recommended to be there that weekend. Wow! Rug pulled right out from under my feet.
March 14th
It's funny isn't it how scared you can feel when you are up against an 'expert' who is bullying you into a course of action.
The remedial farrier came and I liked him - he even picked up stuff from the vet for me. We watched Grace walk. We talked 'angles' and he took measurements so far so good. I couldn't bring myself to give him permission to shoe the hinds, but he did re-shoe the front feet.
So Grace had new shoes on fronts with a new farrier who was polite, enthusiastic, keen and took time with us both, explaining what he was doing. We arranged to re-visit a month later.
Gait Analysis
February and early March were not great months for Grace and I. Grooming her she would kick out with her left hind. She was spasming badly around her sacrum illiac. Sarah Jane agreed with me we shouldn't ride her like this and I was to get a saddle fitter or back person or both in.
Essy's iridoligist recommended I have her gait analysed and recommended a couple she knew who were currently training as equine podiatrists. They came and did the gait analysis. It revealed nothing odd or out of place in her gait. They were both very interested in how her left hind however was looking - stumped, dwarf and very irregular. They recommended soul mate pads and walking her in them. Over the next 2 weeks, they continued to call and we talked. They were keen to 'take Grace on' but she too was headstrong and bullying me and I said no. I was feeling very unclear about which way to go and increasingly alone.
April 15th
A day tattoo'd in my memory - Grace came in from the field having lost a front shoe. She had two days to go before being re-shod.
As many horse owners know, if you don't want your horse to be un-level one shoe on one shoe off, then you do as I did and remove the remaining front shoe.
The picture of what I saw beneath that shoe will be forever embedded in my mind. Of course I have photos although sadly not as clear as I have become used to taking. But, at this point I had no idea still what was ahead of us.
For two days I stressed, worried, read, investigated barefoot transitions. Rockley farm blog and website become my under arm bible. I spoke to numerous barefoot practitioners. Everyone said 'go barefoot' but get the diet right and get the terrain /environment right. It was all feeling overwhelming. My reaction? Lots of tears. I cried. Never felt so alone and so at risk of ruing my lovely new horse - whichever way I went - according to all the 'experts'.
In the end I decided to cancel the farrier who was due two days later. I made up an excuse. I bought myself some time. The only thing that i could do was stare at her feet and see the truth before me. Two very broken feet with no structure or health and aged 6. This is how they looked when vet and farrier were recommending more shoeing....
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