Sonny's Sunday

Remember this? The "Old Blanket"

Tied together with twine, to fit the Bunz.

Well, Someone took pity on Poor, Poor Sonny Bunz, and sent him a New and Stylin' Blanket!

Here he is, in all his manly glory,
showing how smashingly sexy he is
under his new cover.

Here we have Sonny saying,
"THANK YOU AUNT CDNCOWGIRL!!!!
"Now My Bunz Are WARM!"


That's about it for this little corner of the world. I've been battling a crap internet issue,
No phone service,
Technicians who are full of sh*t,
Crazy Children,
and as always,
FRICKEN RAIN.

Sonny got the week off due to really lousy footing. We took a walk one day, and did do something a bit different though. Down the road a bit, there are pretty tall sand banks (kinda remind me of snow banks back up in Tundra Country.) These banks lead to a set of trails that wind through the scrub land next to us.

Sonny and I walked up the road (with no dog, cat, or children even,) and for the heck of it, we went up and down the banks. It was hilarious. Sonny had NO clue what the heck was going on. But he liked it! Wish I had pix to share, but... I walked out with out my camera. Not like the sand banks are going to go anywhere though, so we can try it again another day.

Now those of you owned by a feline (or three) will find this amusing. Kitty Biscuits has a death wish. (Yes, she does.) Not only has she decided that pouncing on Dear Husband's feet or HEAD in the middle of the night is F-U-N,

She climbs Sonny's tail.

HIS
TAIL.

Sonny- who *hates* animals smaller than he is.
Sonny- who will kill a dog.
Sonny- who has chased Biscuits out of the paddock.

Yeah.

SHE CLIMBS HIS TAIL.

Cute she is, bright she ain't.

That 'bout sums it up for today. Three more days of rain expected this week.

Next week, listen for us to quack.
Or say "Ribbit".
And have gills.
Oh- and webbed feet.

ETA:
The sun was shining. Very Brightly! I listened to it, dragged Sonny out of the muck and mess, and we played and rode. Man alive, how much better life looks from the back of a horse...

I have decided that Kitty Biscuits need to go in and see our wonderful vet this week. Why? Because it dawned on me, as she was attempting to molest Sonny's leg, then my boots, then the dog, that she is in heat. While I adore Kitty Biscuits, having a whole herd of tiny biscuit makers around is NOT NOT NOT an option.

And how does Sonny take to this invasion of his supreme royal personal space? Badly. Kitty is either going to learn real fast to avoid hooves, or she will be Kitty Pancake. Good thing I was there to save her silly fluffy butt!!

A Friday Funny

Since it is raining, again, and I am battling being totally bummed about it, I'll share a "tail" with y'all..... It is in fact, My Favorite "Tail" Of All Time.

Welcome to the story of Chupacabra, and How Dear Husband Rode A Mini. (Or, "Shoot Low Boys! They're Riding Shetland Ponies!")

Now, back before children (BC,) Dear Husband and I worked all day, at odd hours. In fact, it was not unusual for us to rise at 3:30- 4AM, stagger about doing our chores, and head out for clients. We'd trim anywhere from 10 to 30 head between us, and head back home.

One of our multi horse stops had a herd of minis. Now these were not just your, "Oh! How sweet and cute can you BE!" minis. Oh no. Some of these minis were lovely. A few were lovable, even. But there was one.... Boy howdy did he ever put up a fuss. There was no convincing that little sonovasnotbucket that he was only knee high to a grasshopper, and weighed in at maybe 250 pounds. In *his* book, that little turd was 19 hands, and 2,500 pounds at least.

We'd save him for last, as everyone- both Dear Husband and I, and the owners, dreaded having to handle him for work. In order for none of us to be wounded overly badly, it took four adults to get the job done. Three to hold, and one to trim.

We took to calling him Chupacabra, because he was vicious with his teeth. Nothing was safe, and nothing was sacred. Course, I guess we could have called him Croc too, what with the way he used his mouth. Chupacabra also developed a way of throwing himself to the ground the moment he was lead out for work and spotted Dear Husband and I. Looked just like the croc death rolls that they show on Animal Planet.

Dear Husband and the owners worked out great timing. When Chupacabra would throw himself down, they would all strategically pounce, and hold down body parts. Dear Husband, big as a horse himself, would get the barrel, the Husband Owner the head (and teeth,) and the Wife Owner would get the extra legs. I'd get the tools and get busy.

One fine Spring day, Chupacabra was really putting up a fight. He managed to snag the wrist of Husband Owner in his teeth, and bite the p*ss out of him. Husband Owner let go with that hand, and loosened the pressure on Chupacabra's head.

Well that was all it took for things to go way downhill, really really fast.

Chupacabra put extra effort into getting away once the pressure on his head eased. Dear Husband was struggling to hold onto his writhing body, Husband Owner managed to get a front foot in his nads as well as the bite, and he let go to writhe in agony on the ground. Wife Owner got tossed from the hind feet, and once the hind feet got loose, it was up to me and Dear Husband.

Chupacabra knew he had us licked.

Little sonovasnotbag got his hind feet going 900 miles and hour, and windmilled a kick into my left leg that sent me on my a$$. (I still have a mark on that leg from him to this day.) I tried to recover... but didn't make it in time.

Chupacabra gave a mighty heave, and stood up. Dear Husband all this time was still trying to hold on for dear life, fearing for massive injury should he let go. About the time I was picking myself up out of the dust, Chupacabra went blasting my me (knocking me down again) with Dear Husband, on his back.

Lord I wish I had a camera with me, because seeing my husband- with one leg on either side of Chupacabra's neck, laying across his back, holding his tail, while Chupacabra ran full tilt across the paddock, tiny legs flying, ears pinned flat back to his skull, fire shooting from his nostrils.....

Dear Husband looked at me, I looked at him, and I am not ashamed to admit that

I
Totally
Lost
It.

Dear Husband realized he could let go of the tail and just set his feet on the ground and stand up, and Chupacabra ran out across the paddock.

Husband Owner was bloody and bruised, Wife Owner was banged up as well, and I had a limp. Dear Husband escaped with only the memory of his very first, and please Lord his LAST, ride on a mini, who we knew as Chupacabra.

Ahhh... those were the days!

How's and Why's?

But first- a quick update- the publisher of Laura Crum's newest book, "Going, Gone" encountered some problems yesterday. (Gotta love technology eh?) All who sent her an email requesting to be included in the book review, please zap her again with your pertinent details! Don't want to miss anyone! The email again is: Susan@danielpublishing.com



Onto the topic of the day!

One of the most often heard questions I hear personally is how and why did I choose hoof care. After all, it *is* more a "Man's World", is it not? Some think it is my stance in the "Battle of the Sexes". Some think I am insane (which I probably am.) Some just have to wonder.... other stuff. I am happy to say that the only "Battle of the Sexes" I choose to engage in is which one of us (my Dear Husband or myself, or the boys and myself,) get to the chow line first. My decision had nothing to do with my level of sanity, or lack there of, either. It was plain and simple, The Horses.


If you were to ask my Dad, he would tell you what he has everyone else along the way- horses have been my passion since I "had legs". Other little girls play with dolls, and have tea parties. Me? I opted for trucks and horse trailer toys. And loads of plastic horses, of course. My "herd" and I galloped miles around my room as a child, and I wore out the knees on countless pairs of jeans, galloping myself around and around.... (Hmm. Might be one of the reasons why my knees creak and groan so now.)

The passion never dimmed, but carried on through my teens, into my twenties, to today- nearing forty. (Holy CRAP- where did THAT time go??)

For a long time, I was content with the "status quo" of equine knowledge. Happy to let farrier's do the "hoof stuff", I wanted to ride and train and show. But as I got older, there was a hole. Something... something I couldn't quite put my finger on that was *missing*.

Lame horses, horses with hoof problems, horses with health problems became more and more interesting. Movement was fascinating. (Still is.)

Gradually my focus dropped lower on the limb, to the hoof. And I started to ask questions, read, listen, watch, and learn.

Quite a few years and scarred up hands, beat up body later, I still find hooves and hoof care fascinating. Yes, I get heartily sick of owners. I'm not going to lie- if you are a sh*thead owner, I'll tell you flat out and pack up and go. But if you honestly want to learn, I'll be there for you.

Hoof care is by no means an easy job. Part of me chose it for the horses, so I could learn more. A bigger part of me took that path because I just don't "do" regular jobs. Office type stuff. People, all around me. Set routines, set hours, must be nice all the time. Been there, done that, got the ulcer from it. The hell with that- give me MY time, my hours, and fewer people, and HORSES. Turns out I am a much nicer, more balanced person that way.


We've had some interesting times in hoof care to say the least. One of the funniest, aside from Dear Husband getting a ride on a mini (I need to tell that "tail" again... funniest damn thing I have ever seen in my LIFE.) *cough cough* Let's try this again..

One of the funniest things that comes to mind is after the birth of Wrecking Crew... Dear Husband was on crutches (knee surgery number.. umm... two I think,) and we had an emergency call come in. He couldn't do the job. I had a fever and a sinus infection, but the horse was in trouble so off we went. Packed up the Little Mens, and out we go.

The horse had stepped on a shoe, and half pulled it. Now, this was a big horse. Taller than Bunz by a bit, but BROAD. Big. Horse. We pulled up and I thought... Oh. Damn. This is going to hurt. (It did... several times over...)

Owner is a tiny little lady, whose legs reach the ground and that's about it. Horse's legs were almost as long as she was tall. (Course that memory might be a bit warped from the fever and all too.) Her husband needed to pop into the barn, and just happened to do so as I was pulling on my chaps and lining up my tools. A good ol' boy, he looked in amazement at Dear Husband, leaning on one crutch, holding baby Wrecking Crew in the other arm, and me getting suited up, and out of his mouth came the words, "A *girl* farrier?" Loaded with sarcasm, dripping with southern disbelief, the man was in a state of shock.

I stood up- slowly. (Cause the barn was spinning around me, really, but I think he took it differently.) Finished hooking my apron on. Picked up the shoe pullers in my right hand. Put my left hand on my hip, looked him dead in the eye, and with my best NYC Biotch accent I said,
"Yeah. A GIRL Farrier. You got a problem wid dat?"

Never seen a man scoot onto a tractor and head back out so fast in my life.


The horse was a d*ck but I got the job done. (Barely. Not gonna lie- I was WAY out of shape, sick as a dog, and wanted to crawl home crying and never look at a hoof again.)

Is it a job I'd advise anyone to try? Oh hell no. Something has to be set way, way differently in your brain to do this job. Pain can not be an issue, cause you WILL be in pain- a lot. You have to be determined. You have to have a stubborn streak. You have to know horses, people, business, and how to mix them all together just right to make it work. You have to be willing to learn- every single day, with every single horse you meet. If you have what it takes, it IS worth it. There is something about being able to do a skilled job with your hands that soothes the soul. Knowing you are making a difference for that horse helps, too.

I hope that helps answer some of the questions. Be sure you sign up your blog for the book review, and fire away with any questions you have from this corner!

Happy Nekkid Hoofin Y'all
~MM

Nothing Like A Good Mystery To Pass The Time!

** Typos fixed in email address, and links corrected!! Sorry everyone- I need to NOT try and multi-task!!

Imagine my happiness, when in my inbox came an invitation from none other than our very own fellow equi-blogger, Laura Crum, to preview her next book and post a review on the blog.

I, to say the least, was tickled pink.

No, seriously! PINK! One of my favorite authors asked me to review one of her books! How cool is that?

I am looking forward to March, when the book will be available for review.

The teaser Laura sent me about the new book, titled "Going, Gone" nabbed my attention, and has me chomping at the bit to get my copy. Take a look to see what I mean:

"Horse vet Gail McCarthy goes camping in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mts, only to discover that her old boyfriend, Lonny Peterson, has just been arrested for the murder of a local livestock auctioneer. While Gail and her family camp and ride through the hills, Gail also tries to clear Lonny’s name, with the help of another old friend, sheriff’s deputy Bret Boncantini. A rescue horse, nefarious kill buyers, suspicious ranchers, and a heroic horse blogger further complicate the plot. Another murder and a trail that leads to Gail’s home on the California coast put her in danger as she begins to close in on the ruthless killer. In the end it is Gail’s riding skill that saves her in a thrilling horseback chase scene. Going, Gone features all the elements that Laura Crum is known for: fine writing about beautiful landscapes and authentic western horse lore, as well as an exciting mystery. Don’t miss this eleventh installment in the long running series."







Now, if you also might be interested in reviewing a copy, here's the deal:
- You need to have an "active" (regularly updated) horse blog
- Agree to give a review of the book on your blog after you read it
- The publisher would like your blog address, and a snail mail address
- Send an email to Susan Daniel, at susan@danielpublishing.com to sign up! Include the above information, and we'll all look forward to your review, too!

You can always visit Laura's WebSite for more information on the other ten books in the Gail McCarthy series as well. On these cold winter days, where the poor footing, freezing rains, fetlock deep mud, slick ice and belly deep snow keep us from riding or being outside for long, the best way to pass some time is to curl up with a good book. Personally, I think you can't go wrong with Gail McCarthy!

RIP Molly Mule

I just got word moments ago; Molly Mule, our favorite three week older than dirt long ear'd equid, passed away sometime during the storms last night.

We'll miss you, Molly, but we will see you again.

It Was A Dark And Stormy Night...

Kitty Biscuits says she is NOT impressed with the deep water.

When suddenly, a shot rang out!

Sorry about that. Couldn't help myself from falling back on my childhood days of enjoying Snoopy.

It was though, a dark and stormy night at Command Central. The winds that were so strong through the day continued to increase, and we were under a tornado watch until seven this morning. The rains came about 1AM, and boy howdy, did it POUR. Gully washer for sure.
Poor Sonny- almost too tired to eat. Almost.
Believe it or not, this is the driest area I have for him to eat.
*sigh*

We woke this morning to one TIRED horse, who was huddling in the only non-standing water portion of his paddock (turns out the fence was leaking a charge into the standing water in his paddock. Poor guy.) Water had been up touching the house overnight, but had gone down with morning's light. I have not checked the rain gauge yet, but feel safe in guesstimating another two to three plus inches fell overnight.

Water, within a couple feet of the house. Was higher overnight.

Between checking on the radar all night, children with bad dreams, worry over Sonny, and winds that literally shook the house worse than the heavy artillery fire does, sleep was a distant wish.

But the sun is shining today. Currently, the radar is clear until Friday, when our next chance of rains move in.

Tell ya what y'all- I'm about ready for some snow. For real. At least in a bad Nor'easter, I can plow that crap out of the way. This water? Not so much. We have the pump going, but it will take a *while* to get it clear. The ground is so saturated there is just no where for it to go.
Jumpoline, in about a foot of water.

I don't foresee any ride time today- the footing is just too too risky. Sonny is probably too tired anyways- I know right now, I am.

And now, not only am I out of chocolate, I forgot to get coffee and just savored my last cup. Yeah- much as I hate the store, guess where I'm going today?Water about two feet from the back of Sonny's shelter.
*sigh*

Sonny's Sunday, A Do-Over

Or "Take Two".

It's been a rough week at Command Central, and it REALLY showed in my mindset today. (OK, so I am SURE it showed for more than just today. Seriously.)

I was ticked after the morning *attempt* at a ride. Fed UP with kids, cats, dogs, wind, rain, ... just about everything in life. And there was Not One Drop Of Chocolate in the house, for me to take my frustrations out on. (What kind of woman am I, that ALL chocolate is GONE?) Not even any left over beef to gnash.

I called a Very Dear Friend, and vented. (Very Dear Friend, you are a lifesaver. For real.) Very Dear Friend probably thinks I am a chicken-shit nut-case, which in some regards I indeed am. Her sage words of advice?

"Shut Up And Ride! Go Lope Your Horse Already! Push Him!"

Shut up and ride.

So I did.


We ground worked some first, and I had some mega serious doubts about crawling up on Sonny. He wasn't bad- that was not the problem at all. The WIND. Holy crap. There were gusts that just about blew me off my feet. I am not "tiny" by any means, so blowing *me* around takes a bit.

But, I said screw it. What's the worst that could happen? He spooks and dumps me? Big deal. I've come off before, I'm sure I'll come off again at some point. Get over it, and Shut Up And Ride.

I had every intention of trotting and seeing about a lope today, but.... once again, that wind blowing us around made for interesting times up there. (Altitude change and all, seemed to increase the wind speed by five.) We went back into the bit, and worked on lots of direction changes, walk speed changes, and I was very aware of the *squish squish squish* under Sonny's hooves.

Very Dear Friend and I also consulted on the bit issue. She was right- had this been any other person, on any other horse, I'd have said exactly what she did- which was RIDE him through it and push his big a$$ a bit. So, I did. Sonny was p*ssy about it, but by the time we were done (40 minutes) he was better.

So now, I am crossing my flippers..... excuse me- FINGERS- and hoping for no fricken rain. (Of course, as I type it is getting *really* dark out there, with even stronger winds.) Provided there is no fricken rain tomorrow, we ride more. And again the next day, and every possible day this week.

Turns out, Altitude changes not only increase wind speed, but they hasten Attitude changes as well. Maybe, if I can ride enough this week, the strength and determination to deal with the Wild Spawn will increase, and I can get things back under control at Command Central.

Either that, or by next Sunday, I'll be sitting in a corner drooling on myself.

Now, Shut Up And RIDE y'all ....
~MM
Oh yeah- y'all want to know a secret? The last time I loped a horse was five years ago. It was my old trusty and trusted gelding, Jack. Know what? The days are numbered on that lack of lope. They really, really are.

Sonny's Sun(less)day

It's Sunday. Gray, windy as all get out, and another round of rain is bearing down on us. Oh. Yay.

I stole five minutes to try a ride on Sonny though. The ride... well... Sonny was OK. He'd had three days off, due to the weather, and he was happy to get out of his nasty paddock. I was happy to get him out of his nasty paddock. However, *my* happiness took a hike about minute one and it kept on going for the full five minutes I managed to stay on board. No, the Big Horse didn't get foolish and dump me- the CHILDREN and the CAT were my issue.

The Children seem to think that as soon as I swing my attention elsewhere, they no longer have to do as asked- in this case, stay AWAY from where I was attempting to ride. Yeah. Right. Any of you who have small children know the frustration that was boiling in my gut.

I'm not a multi-tasker. Not really. I can do one thing at a time, in order for the job to be done well. Which means I can either watch the children, or it means I can ride the horse and actually get something accomplished with the horse.
We got something accomplished. I tried a different bit on him today (D-ring snaffle with copper rollers,) and found out that he really has an issue with bits. As in, I suspect he *hates* bits. His teeth are fine- our equine dentist could find no reason for him to fight the bit so much. The bits I've tried are all smooth to the touch with no burrs, they don't hang too low, nor are they too high, nor are they too small or large for him. I've tried several snaffles, and one solid mouthpiece, and he reacts the same way. Which is gaping mouth (it's not my hands-- I ride as if my reins were made of yarn, and could snap at any moment,) lugging his head down, and in general being too occupied trying to get rid of the bit to listen to my requests.

At this point, I can hear several of you saying, "Well, if he is that unhappy with a bit, why try to use one at all?"

First, because I am not getting any younger. *IF* something should happen, and Sonny need to find a new home, he will need the knowledge on how to carry a bit properly.

Second, because I would like to show in time, and some of the rules require a bit. (At least they don't require shoes. One fight I won't have to pick.)

Sonny needs to be the best horse he can be, and part of that growth is learning to carry and use a bit properly. We'll march on in the halter for now, but there will come a time when I need to engage his brain and help him learn to carry that bit.

The week in all was not bad. We had three straight days of riding and ground work. On the third day, we worked quite a bit on a proper canter on the line, and poor Sonny actually worked up a bit of a sweat. But he sure looked pleased with himself when we were done. It really is a thrill for me to watch him progress, and really learn to use those new muscles in such a strong healthy manner.

Along came two more inches of rain, which drenched the entire area, making the footing too questionable to risk work. I had hoped to get in a good work session today, but.... yeah. Well. We don't need to go there right now. I'll just hope that this round of rain MISSES us, so that the strong winds of today can dry this mess up some, and try again tomorrow. And the next day. And the day after that.

We'll get there.

Now I am off in search of something totally inappropriate to eat, and encourage the kids to STAY OUTSIDE for a while.

Happy Hoofin' to y'all this week...May you not be buried to your necks in snow or mud, and get in some horse time!

~MM

Run Of Rough Luck

Hey y'all- say some prayers for TJ, Mark, and Eric the Bold over at The Ranch On Salmon Creek. First, their pup Kate went missing, and now a big beautiful QH/ Shire cross. And to top it all off, poor TJ has been invaded by some nasty stomach bug that has her laid out, sick as a dog.

If you are out in their area and have time, I'm sure Eric would be grateful for some help in his search.

We're pulling for everyone on this coast, TJ. Keep us posted when you can girl.

Home Invasion

At approximately 16:45 hours on January 18, 2010, Command Central experienced a Home Invasion. The boys and I were all home at the time. Dear Husband was at work. We, along with Jo the Wonder Nanny Dog were outside, otherwise this Home Invasion might never have happened.

I heard a noise in the bush, as did Sonny. Immediately, I stopped what I was doing, to try and sort out what the noise was.

Turns out... Our Lives Will Never Be The Same.

This tiny ball of fluff was "visiting". Well, I *thought* it was merely a visit... but she seems to have taken over complete ownership of the house, and every one in it. Even Jo the Wonder Nanny Dog.

The first night, she spent going from my side of the bed, to the kids bed, to wandering around the house, back to my bed, back to the kids, back to my bed.... purring- LOUDLY- the entire time.

The weather was SO wonderful yesterday, that we had the house open to air out. Little fuzz ball had free run, and I thought, "Oh.. that'll be the last of her.." Yeah. Right.

Imagine that would ya. In that little blue chair is where she spent most of the day. Sound asleep.

Last night, she plunked her tiny self down on Wrecking Crew's side of the bed, and that was it. She didn't move.

Again, the weather is amazing today, and she has the free run.... and has gone out and back in several times. Currently, she is curled up snoozing in a patch of sun on my kitchen floor.

Dear Husband, looking at Wrecking Crew carting the tiny kitty around, and hearing him say,
"Oh Daddy! I wuv dis Kitty! Tank you Daddy, for letting Kitty in! Can we keep her Daddy? Pwweeeze can we keep her? I wreally wuv dis kitty Daddy..."

He looked at Wrecker's blue eyes and smiling face...
He looked at the kitty's green eyes, and smiling face...
And even as deaf as he is, he heard the kitty puuuuurrrrrrrrr....
And said, "OK cat. You live here, you best get to know the rules."

After we had the boys tucked in that first night, the kitty came out with me to the couch. Dear Husband grabbed a shower, and when he got out there I was on the couch- Jo the Wonder Nanny Dog on one side, the kitty on the other.... He sat down next to the kitty, and she instantly started purring and kneading, blinking those pretty green eyes up at him. A big sigh escaped Dear Husband. He said to me, "I really did not want a kitty." I think she won him over though, with her incredibly soft coat, her HUGE purr, and those pretty sweet green eyes, AND how she tolerates the kids. She and Wrecking Crew are PALS. They are BUDS. And let me tell you, THIS is one Good Kitty.

Always kneading... always purring.

So I woke up this morning with the purrfect name for her....
"Kitty Biscuits"

She kneads. A lot. Like she is kneading biscuit dough. Making...
Kitty Biscuits.

There ya have it.

A Home Invasion. Five pounds of fluff that potentially have changed Command Central
F-O-R-E-V-E-R.

Sonny's Sssssmunday

It. Rained.

We were only supposed to get an inch or so of "liquid sunshine" (yep- that IS sarcasm you hear there,) but instead..... the rain gauge at Command Central read... ready for this?

FOUR POINT EIGHT INCHES.

Yep. That arrived on Saturday, into dawn Sunday morning. We had hope for a better day Sunday, as there was actual sunshine peeking through. At about 1PM though, the skies darkened and the Heavens opened to drop down that last two tenths of an inch, giving us a full FIVE INCHES of rain.
I'm so sick of seeing mud and standing water.

But, at least it is not that white crap that must be plowed or shoveled. The sun is strong today, which will help water recede. Not fast enough, but what the heck- it's better than nothing right?

The show that we were using as motivation is this coming weekend. While we have gotten in a great amount of riding and training, we are no where near ready to head out to the public. However, we are going to continue to train as if we are headed for a show.

I've been asked a few times now, about the level of training Sonny had previously- wasn't he already trained?

That kinda gets into a touchy area, as my definition of "trained" is vastly different from a lot of folks in the horse world. Sonny was started. He could walk, trot, canter both ways, and jump.

But.

He had some holes in his foundation training.

My definition of trained? Or even well started?
- WHOA. This is NOT negotiable- there WILL BE a reliable whoa off my seat, voice, and rein in that order
- Forward movement will be LIGHT and willing. I like my horses to work off a suggestion.
- Stop and Stand. No dancing, no pawing, no moving because we are bored. We stand, politely.
- Tie, because I never know when I'll be called away from the horse for a moment and he will need to be hooked to the tree for a bit.
- Spook in place. This is a large horse. I am a re-rider. If he ducks out 15 feet to the left, my arse will be left sitting in the air where he USED to be.
- Turning and flexibility. Again- working off a suggestion, not direct orders
- Stand for mounting, until rider gives signal to move off.

That's a start. Also what we have been working diligently on this month. We whoa on a dime, back, side pass two steps right and left, traverse, stand quietly, and are working on lighter forward movement. We also have a long, long way to go on standing to be mounted. A. Long. Way. Thankfully, Sonny is fairly intelligent, and he is learning to behave as a well trained gentleman.

Will we ever make a show? Sure- possibly by this fall. I'm not pushing it. We'll get "there" when we get there. Right now I'm having a blast (and I think Sonny is too) just taking things slow and easy, one step at a time.

Now, C'mon SUN! Dry up this lake in the yard and paddock!
~MM

Crazy "Tail" Day

It's raining, and I'm cranky. Not sure WHY I'm cranky, but I am. To try and combat that, I cruised around online, as the Little Mens played cowboy all around the house. I came across a really interesting post over at Tales From The Trail by GunDiva, about a mare named "Magic". My eyes about popped out of my head reading it, and it reminded me of a "tail" heard during my apprenticeship.

Since it IS such a crappy day, I thought it'd be fun if I posted that story, and asked what YOUR craziest equine tale might be? Post it on your blog, and leave a comment here so we can all go read!

Now for MY crazy tale...

The farrier I apprenticed under had a practice in a highly populated area in the North country. He had gotten a call from an owner to please shoe his horse, located at such and such boarding barn. Let Owner know the price and a check would be on the stall. Farrier said OK, got the horse's information, and said he'd be there.

Shows up for the appointment, locates the horse, puts him in crossties. Trims and shoes the horse, and went to pack tools up out of the way when Horse gives this HUGE gasp, and keels over dead, hanging in the crossties. This wasn't a tiny horse- he was BIG. Took up the whole alley way.

The farrier was alone- no holder, no barn owner, no other boarders, no horse owner- nothing. Listening to that story cemented in me that there was no way in Hell that I was ever going to go work on a new horse, in a new barn, totally alone. Either the horse owner or barn owner was going to be present!

Apparently he was able to reach the owner of the now dead horse on the phone, and things worked out. And at least the horse did not die on him while he was UNDER him, attaching a shoe.

This farrier told me a story of another horse too, at the harness track. They were feeling rather... creative apparently, and used a form of hoof adhesive to bond the shoes better and hopefully affect the gait and travel of this horse. Now this horse had a reputation of being a real Pr*ck to work on, he would dance and paw, and just generally fidget and be a royal pain. The farrier and the groom, and another apprentice farrier did their job, and got out the heat gun to cure the glue.
About twenty minutes later, the driver came up to check the horse, and asked to watch him move. Well, the guys had noticed the horse was being pretty quiet and standing still, but it never really clicked- the horse known for MOVING while tied was STILL.

When they unhooked him from the crosstie, and tried to lead him off, they discovered that the horse had more or less been glued to the floor.

I didn't ask how the heck they got that situation fixed, and I imagine that a couple hammers and chisels were employed to free the horse, but never did ask to hear the end of the story...

OK- those are two crazy tales I've heard over the years. Got one more thats pretty good, but I'll save that for this week!

Stewing...

There has been a lot going on this week that has kept me away from the blog, but I've also been chewing something over that has pretty much blocked off any additional thoughts for posting. Mel and Funder, I know there is a holding post rattling around in my brain- but until I can purge a bit, it won't come out.

I've started several posts this week. I've even started this one about four times. But I had to walk away, and give it a bit more time to see if my ire would settle some. A few trusted shoulders and ears were consulted as well. The best words though, were to once again listen to my gut on this subject, and go from there.

This honestly began as a rip-roaring pissed off PSA. What it is now... well, I'm not sure yet. I'm not *as* pissed, but I'm sure not HAPPY about things either.

It seems as thought it is time once again to possibly resurrect the Rasp Enema. Those of you who have been reading this blog for a while know that the Rasp Enema only comes out in times of extreme need, and this... yes, this qualifies as one of those times.

I opened my email this week to see a request to take a look at a filly for a potential breeding prospect. Sure- no problem. I see the seller's words, and open the pictures, and see a filly I know of- and saw exactly ONE time. And that ONE time was to remove shoes- ONLY- no trimming. (For which I am now thankful, because instead of being out a trim fee AND a shoe pull fee, I'm just out the shoe pull. Yes, I broke my own rule, and agreed to let the owner "pay next time".)

Now, this potential buyer was curious- didn't I see that horse? And WHY did I say she would be sound for light riding or breeding? Basically, I caught Hell for something I did not say.

All well and good- the potential buyer decided against the filly and went on his way (after setting up his routine appointment.)

So why am I ticked? What about this tripped my trigger? First, no attempt was ever made to offer any sort of payment. Ever. Not really a big deal- but come on- it sure leaves a nasty taste in my mouth, and has now set it up that ALL new accounts pay in cash, on the spot. No checks, no waiting, no trades.

Second was the implication that I thought the filly would be fine for light work/ breeding. Now, fine- if you want me to endorse your sale prospect for riding work and / or breeding, you had BEST listen up to what I say. In this particular case, I said, "No- too much weight will probably snap that leg." I said, "No, I would not breed her." I asked- "Why? There are a lot of horses out there now, who need homes."

What I DID NOT say was to ride her. Or breed her.

First, you don't make any effort to offer a payment, and second you are going to use my name as an endorsement? Are You F*cking Crazy?

People, THIS is the kind of crap that drove me to Golden Hermit Status. THIS is the kind of crap that brought about The Rasp Enema. (That and abusing animals and children.) THIS is exactly the kind of pure sh*t that drives me AWAY from the local horse world. This time though, dammit, I am going to say something. I won't walk away, shaking my head in utter disgust.

What I will do is this:
You claimed to me to have "rescued" this filly from "horrible" owners who provided poor care. You claimed to me that you had not had any vet or other hoof care provider examine the filly.
You claimed to me to "rescue" horses in need.

So why in the HELL are you going to take a filly in that condition, and offer a breeding as a part of the sale? When you do not, in fact, know if the limb deformity was the result of injury or genetics? Because, you know, horse owners would never LIE about such things....

Her bloodlines are middle of the road, and common as fleas on a dog. Her overall conformation is poor. There is nothing about this mare that needs replication, nor does it warrant the high probability that she would not survive late stage gestation. Or if she DID, that the resulting foal would not have a limb deformity as well.

What the end result was of the effort to sell this filly was, I don't know. Word will get around- it always does. But I've said my piece, in an effort to clear my brain, so that actual work can be done. God be with that filly- because YOU as her "rescuers" sure as hell let her down.

And that ends today's PSA. My Rasp has been sheathed.

OK, Y'all Asked For It!

Shut Up & RIDE!

No, seriously, you asked for it. And here it is. At least the start of the fun anyways. Ace's Personal Hoofmaiden was kind enough to help out with the idea, and I can't be happier. Jackie, you just totally ROCK.

Everyone who wanted a boost for their own Shut Up & RIDE time, head on over to the Team Cowgirl Up store, and take a gander.

It's new, it's being done by one techo-tard (that'd be me,) and the talent and skill of the lovely Miss Jackie.

What y'all think thus far?? Hmmm? Will I be alone in sporting some SHUT UP & RIDE finery?

Sonny's Sunday

"Hey! Where's Carrot Man going?"

Even though it's been frigid here (trust me - even by Northern standards, it's been COLD in the Southland,) we have had a good week. Sonny has worked 5 days, with three rides, and 5 days of ground work. He started the week off being a total di... err *ahem* let me try that again- he started off being a Very Bad Pony on Monday, but by today he settled into a wonderful routine and mindset.

"Carrot Man! Come BACK!"

We are still working bareback, in the halter and lead. I've used the saddle a couple times, but... I swear I could hear Mr. Hulbert, my old mentor from long ago, in my ear, telling me that a saddle would not get my balance back where it needs to be. "Remember Dear Girl, if you can ride bareback, you can ride anything." Bareback it is. Balance is slow coming, but I am gaining.

Condition shot. Sorry about cutting his head off...

Our biggest development this week? Sonny can lope on the line. Soundly. Both directions. And he LIKES it. Today, he was not content to do the usual walk, turn, walk, turn, jog, turn, jog, walk and let Mommy check your legs over. Oh no. He kept giving me that "Look", waiting.... waiting... and tossing his head some, flipping an ear at me... waiting..... When I *finally* raised my arm, kissed to him, and said "Lope!" he looked at me - and I swear- he said, "About Darn TIME!" and stepped into a very pretty lope.

Sonny. Likes. To. Lope.

Which is wicked cool because I *love* to watch him go!

A bit ago, we discovered he Will Work For Food. Since I am not really into treating a horse (read: CRS prevents me from remembering treats all the time,) we've been doing praise. Holy crap- I really need to get Cub or Dear Husband to get some images of Sonny working, and hearing me tell him "Good Boy!" Goofy horse puffs up and smiles.

He likes that as much as he likes to lope! Maybe more!

"Mom! WHY are My Kids playing with That DOG?"

MiKael- you asked if you guys could hold me to the "Shut Up and RIDE" 2010 plan. ABSOLUTELY. I expect that from you guys. Sonny and I BOTH need this- he to become the best horse he can be, and me to do a number of things. Most of all though, it keeps me sane. Dear Husband said I am a much sweeter person when I ride often. Go figure that one huh?

Yep- Shut Up and RIDE. Perfect!

Stay warm everyone!
~MM

Q & A Time!

Cindy brought up a good question yesterday, about why is this handler standing on the opposite side of this horse, citing that it didn't seem safe for the man on the hind end. Which normally, it isn't.

However, it is *my* bad for not pointing out the nature of this photo:
The following two photos are of two year old fillies, who were feeling the winter happies in the cold, as Dear Husband was trimming. Now these two ladies are quite good for young stock- their owner, the man at their heads, is a horseman, and one I trust to keep my husband safe.

BUT. (Yep- always a BUT in there, right?)
*IF* you are a good hand, and *IF* you actually KNOW horses, you can sometimes get away with holding on the off side. Sometimes, you might HAVE to hold on the opposite side. In the case of these two lovely fillies, they were working on evading, by swinging those lovely hips away from Dear Husband. All it took was their owner to swap sides, effectively "blocking" any movement to the side.

What do you do, if the horse starts to act up? More or less the same thing as when you are on the same side as the service provider, with one small difference- you are going to have to decide which way that horse needs to go, to avoid the service provider. For instance- in the top photo: if this filly were to act up, her owner would have to step into her shoulder, and push her away, thus swinging the hips away from Dear Husband. In the bottom photo, he could pull her towards himself, giving Dear Husband enough time to back out of the way. (By the way- NEVER EVER hold your horse's feet as Dear Husband is doing in this photo. E-V-E-R. Dear Husband has practiced this hold for many years now, safely, but he A) stays in shape and B) is strong as a darn Ox. Your average person need not try anything even remotely like this.)

Just as a side note- that is Dear Husband's faaaavorite filly. He loooooves this filly. Can't blame him- she is Built To The Hilt, and is as sweet as the day is long. Lots of try, and loads of heart- something you can not teach into a horse. (Come on winning Lotto numbers- I need to get that filly for my man!)

AKPonygirl- your former farrier not wanting to trim at temps below 10*F had a bit of merit. The hoof is comprised of tubules- picture a bundle of drinking straws bound together for a bit of a visual. We will trim in extreme cold weather- and have done so many times- with some minor modifications. The biggest modification is a more conservative trim. For horses with healthy feet, and no flare, they get their usual. For horses in any stage of rehab, who have flare, we tend to be extremely conservative working from the top. Some farriers say that the idea is totally BoooooGUS, others go the opposite as your former farrier did. We have had horses do fine with routine trims, but we've also seen rehab horses have some issue with hoof wall cracking in the extreme cold. (OK- extreme cold = -15* and below.) As always, it all depends on the foot you are working on.

Funder- No, I haven't really worked with studs for hoof boots, so I'm not much help for you. I almost like the idea better than shoes with non-removable traction devices, simply because you can remove them from the boot, or just the boot from the hoof if need be. I'd like to see them in action though, before deciding anything either way.

Lytha- Did you take that bar tissue out, to the level of the existing sole?

There are many theories on the subject of bar tissue migration. I actually hesitate to say any of the following, and set them in stone:
1) Bar tissue will migrate to provide additional support to the structure of the hoof
2) Bar tissue will grow faster because there was a tremendous amount of it "forced" up into the hoof capsule from improper hoof care
3) Bar tissue only grows in certain weather conditions
You get the idea.


When I took this photo on December 13 2009, our conditions were gill inducing rain falls. Sonny's other three feet, while fighting thrush in his frogs, his bars were level with the sole, not folded over, and quite healthy. As of yesterday afternoon, the bars in this foot had stayed where they should- level with the sole post trim. Why? Shoot, with THIS horse in particular, I have no answer.

I have seen horses (most notably an older really lovely Morgan mare, about 7 years ago,) that had bar tissue fill in the entire sole. Why? For one, she had not been getting good hoof care. Other than that, I really have no solid answer why her bars grew like that.

There are many out there in various barefoot sects who will preach to you all day long, until they are blue in the face and your ears about fall off, that until a horse is getting proper barefoot trims, in *their* method of choice (because any other method is completely inferior to what *they* can provide), the bar material merely stacks up endlessly in the hoof capsule, causing lameness, bad attitudes, and simply horrible feet.

There are those who will carve out a hoof to the point of the coffin bones collapsing through the sole of the hoof too.

What might the truth be? I have a conservative outlook on this. Do I think that endless amounts of material can stack up inside a hoof? No. Do I think that only one method of hoof care is better than the rest? No. Do I think there are a lot of cracked pots floating around in the hoof care world? Dude- too many to freaking COUNT most days.

I haven't got a magic wand for you. What I have got however, is a dose of common sense- something severely lacking in all too many areas. Start slow. Start small. You can not glue portions of the hoof back on, if you take too much. You can always go back, and take a bit more. Time IS on your side, and your horse CAN heal, if you get out of the way and let them do their job.

Listen to your horse's folks- they can tell you more than any hoof care provider can, I promise.

Fire away---- this could get real interesting!

Time To Hibernate!

Hibernate. Just the sound of the word brings about a warm, sleepy feeling, and mental images of my bed, flannel sheets, warm hand made quilt, and peace and quiet. Alas as I write this, the relative "peace" of the morning is shattered by the squalling of the Little Mens. Chaos in the form of two tricycle motoring, curtain climbing, crumb crunching, high energy, polar opposite of peaceful, but oh so adorable and lovable Little Mens fills the room. Right- so they are only adorable and lovable as long as they are being SWEET, and not trying to pummel each other to death.

As with most of the rest of the country, the weather has been rather cold. (Mikey, you might be the only one of us equi-bloggers on this continent who is not freezing your tatas off.) Most are buried almost to your noses in ever increasing snow fall totals, but all of us are chilled. Yes, even Yours Truly, the transplanted former mountain dwelling, cold was no issue Yankee, has been chilled to the bone of late.

Why have I been chilled? Wind chills in the teens might have something to do with it- but wait- that would require me actually being out IN it, right?

Right. We HAVE been out in it. Client horses had stacked up from the deluge not that far back, and we are still scrambling to play catch up with some of them, along with those that are right on schedule.

Which brings me to the point of today's rather aimless ramblings. Hoof care in cold weather, and horse behavior in cold weather. Providing hoof care in cold weather is a challenge for most of us- from the hoof care provider to the handler, bitter temperatures make it a painful time. Unfortunately, it can be painful in more ways than one- when your normally placid horse decides that the tool coming at their leg is The Big Bad Wolf, trust me-- it can get *very* painful indeed. To help prevent this, you might want to take a bit of extra time each day, several days before your scheduled date with the hoof care provider, and move those feet. Regain control of your horse's brain- give them a reminder that even though their brain cells are frozen solid, YOU are still Boss Hoss. What Boss Hoss says, GOES. Period.

As to the actual hoof care in cold weather: there is of course, the endless debate of shoes versus bare, snow pads, boruim, anti-snow ball methods... etc etc. You will also hear many many people claim that hooves do not grow at the same rate as they do in the summer. Well, sure- when summer is here, horses on good pasture are getting the best source of nutrition possible in the fresh green growing new grasses. That does speed growth and health in hooves. But what about for those horses, like Poor Sonny Bunz, who are on dirt year round, fed the same ration year round? Do their feet slow down too? Bunz may not be the best example, as his hooves are in a constant state of flux adapting to the physical changes in his body, and they grow at a good rate year round.

For those horses, like Callie's lovely ladies, or Midlife Mom's crew, really any of you who are on frozen ground for several months- wear is going to be a factor. Do the hooves slow growth? Maybe slightly, but I really think the biggest determining factor there is that the ground is miserably hard and it will wear the hooves differently.

One often asked question on winter hoof care, is can the trim schedule be extended out by one to two weeks? For a horse such as the Bunz, or Miss Shirley's mighty handsome Beamer, no. Why? Because Beamer is also working, and is overcoming some minor hoof balance issues. If you extend his trim schedule by any length of time, what is now a minor issue might turn into a big problem by Spring. Remember- the frozen ground will present different wear patterns, thus possibly changing the balance in the hooves. In the case of Bunz, well- again- he is a special case (in more ways than one- trust me.) Bunz is not only rehabbing those feet, but he is also ... ready? Drum roll please.... Back In Regular Work. The work load will ALSO affect hoof growth, because in a truly healthy hoof, growth will equal wear. (Go ahead- argue with me. We have seen it time and time again in our practice, and in our personal horses.)

But what about traction in the snow and ice? This is where things can get tricky, as I am admittedly a barefoot proponent. A properly trimmed bare hoof will provide several healthier options for traction- concavity, flexibility, and the ability to actually feel where the feet are landing is worth it's weight in gold. A healthy, wide heel purchase will provide a substantial amount of traction. A wide, healthy frog, in passive contact, acting as that wide rubber band, also aids in traction.

Now here comes the argument: "But BORIUM is perfect for traction! My horse NEVER slips with it!"

THAT is exactly why I do not, under any circumstances, suggest borium. No slip. Why? I raised a really sweet Appaloosa filly, in hopes that I'd have a life long riding horse, able to do many highly athletic things. Since we were in the mountains in Tundra Country, and we did ride all winter long, I had her shod all the way around, with borium on her shoes. We were often subject to ice storms, as well as melting and re-freezing on the top layer of snow, creating mighty hazardous footing conditions for people never mind the horses. One fine, frozen morning, after an ice storm, my fine filly went flying across the pasture, plunked her butt down in what was to be a normal move for her, and her feet stopped dead. Her body kept going. No, she didn't die, but her stifles on both sides were pretty much destroyed. She was never quite right after that, and had quite a bit of physical trouble with heavy schooling. (She found a loving home where she babysat some 4H kids.)

I've seen more injury caused by the LACK of ability to slip and slide, than from slipping itself. Which is why I cringe when anti-slip devices are utilized. All I can see down the line is a horse needing rehab.

To sum it up-
- Take a bit of time, to engage your horse's brain before hoof care procedures are done
- Hot coffee, hot chocolate, or hot tea in a thermos will make your hoof care provider smile
- Monitor hoof balance closely, as the changes in footing dictate changing hoof wear patterns
- Do not assume that growth is slow, therefore care can be delayed
- Remember- ever hoof under every horse is different, which dictates different care strategies.

Stay warm and safe out there y'all....

Sonny's Sunday

Everyone was feeling rather "froggy" at Command Central this morning. (Wait- let me re-phrase that. Because we two legged adult humans were NOT feeling any sort of "froggy" by any means.)

It seems that the cold snap (YAY!) has left the four legged inhabitants feeling their oats. Even Jo the Wonder Nanny Dog got in on the action today. You see how close she is to Sonny's business end? Yeah. She decided to STAY that close the entire time we were out working.

But I'm getting ahead of myself a bit.
Jo the Wonder Nanny Dog's froggy started with a quick stroll to take out the trash. Above, she is in Stealth Goggie Mode. I swear, when she does this, she is saying, "Nothing to see here folks. No Goggie here. Move along... move along..." Dear Husband says she is convinced she is invisible when Pounce Mode is activated. All except her giant radar ears that is!

She is a trip. By this afternoon though, her "froggy" had worn plumb out, and she is now parked on my feet under the desk, looking up at me now and again... Her thoughts? "Oh dear. WHY did I DO that?? Oh nooo- can't be content to just WATCH Mom with the Stupid Horse. Oh no, not smart enough to just sit way away and laugh at him. No, I had to CHASE Stupid Horse. And the kids. And Mom even!"

She is one tired pup tonight, and I anticipate hearing a lot of snoring coming from her.

Yes, you did read that right- she decided to chase Sonny as we carefully worked on the ground. Sonny impressed the dickens out of me. Since we all know his "love" (har de har har) of canines, he kept his dog- "loving" antics to giving Jo the hairy eyeball and shaking his head at her. He restrained himself from kicking at her too many times to count. I was left with hope that maybe Big Red is growing up a tad!

At any rate, he worked wonderfully in hand today, as he has the past several days.

To go along with the ground work, we managed a ride before bedtime for Sonny too! Once again, halter, lead rope, bareback, in the slowly recovering paddock. Walk only, but with a bit more work on whoa (excellent,) and working off my leg to the right and left (also excellent,) and rein cues (coming along quite nicely!) I am a very proud Momma to say the least.

My mantra for 2010? "Shut Up And RIDE". In fact, we rode on New Years Eve too. I can't think of a better way to say good bye to 2009. Seriously. That poor horse went through one mess after another last year, and the best way he could have said good bye to it was with me, on his back. Worked for me, too.

Poor Bunz was chilly this morning, and yesterday morning too. A cold snap has descended upon us in the Southland, leaving him really ticked that The Blanket has been deployed. Yes, he has a strong Love/ Hate relationship with The Blanket.
Of course, I can not blame him. I still find it amusing that in Tundra Country, blankets were hardly EVER used. I had a herd of hairy Yaks running around in belly deep snow. They had shelter, loads of hay, and fresh water, and they were good to go.

Not Sonny. He has to get the Yak thing down.

Of course, one reason for his Love/ Hate relationship with The Blanket? He grew. Sonny is growing both Up and OUT.
Bunz is rather W-I-D-E these days. I feel like a very very BAD Mommy, as I "ass-u-me'd" we could get one more season out of The Blanket before having to replace it.

As you can see, replacement is now a priority.

So what might plans for the Bunz be this year?

Well, to help keep me motivated, we are going to train as if we were going to show. There is a local Fun show coming up on January 23rd, and it was decided that we need a J-O-B. What better J-O-B than to train as if we were going to S-H-O-W?

Thus far? We have, since the decision was reached, totaled two rides and three in hand working days. Sonny is quite pleased with things thus far, though he DID indicate tonight a bit of crankiness as I scrambled up (way up,) onto his (VERY BROAD!) back. He reached his face around and tried to bite my foot. *Ahem*... THAT went over about like a turd in the punch bowl, let me just tell you.

There you have it. Sonny is training as if we were going to take his act public, and allow the rest of the world a glimpse at his incredibleness.

"Shut Up And Ride"... think I need it on my hat!

Happy Hoofin'!
~MM

It's All In The Balance

Balance controls so many things in life. Literally- balance has a role in every aspect. But in horses, if you don't have balance in the hoof, you don't have balance in the entire horse. To compare to a human (roughly) for a moment: take your favorite pair of boots or sneakers (yes, they ARE sneakers,) and slip into the heel portion a small wedge. It doesn't have to be a big wedge, or a high one- just a bit, under one side of your heel.

Now walk around on that, all day, for a few days. How do you feel, from the hooves up?

How do you spot balance in the hoof? The first place I tend to look is the heel, like so:


Yes, if you look close, you can see this foot was slightly out of balance at the time of this shot. Can you see the high side?

The high side was the result of trimming one side of his heel, and leaving the other. My ultimate goal? To show the gap in between hoof and rasp.

But.

Sonny was... well, himself, and decided that enough was enough already and he proceeded to really make me think twice about A) having my camera out around his feet, and B) that I *really* need to start eating my Wheaties more often.

I need to get what is known as the "T-square" view. Looking back through my photo archives, I don't seem to have a good one. What that will show is not only how to sight down the heels with out having to dig up a tool to use as a level, but you'll be able to sight down the entire hoof. High spots in the toe, while not as serious as heel imbalance, are still an issue and uncomfortable.

If you want to check the balance on your horse, remember: keep it simple. Use a ruler- just for the flatness of it. Lay it across the heels, as I have done with Sonny. With luck your trusty steed will NOT act like a di... err... pain in the rump, and you will not only be able to see the high spot with this visual aid, but you can then FEEL it.

Your hands are an amazing tool in and of themselves. Running your hands in a relaxed manner all over the hoof will tell you an incredible amount. If you struggle with having poor depth perception, eyes that just don't wish to co-operate now and again, use your hands. Feel for bumps, ridges, flare, hot spots, high spots, and cold spots. Get to know the feel of your horse's hooves. You'll be able to pick out any developing issues much much faster that way.

The next step? Yep- you have heard it time and time again from me, and we will KEEP harping on it as long as I live:
Watch. Your. Horses. Move.

For real. Watch them go. Watch their feet and legs. Know what is normal for your horse. Pay attention. It's free. It's easy. And it is relaxing and incredibly educational at the same time.

Get out there, feel 'em up, and watch 'em waddle!!

And now my friends, I am taking my sorry behiney off to bed. 2010 so far has left me feeling like crap, and being out in a cold north wind today pretty much has done me in. I'll answer questions from the Catch Up post (and any from here) tomorrow during Sonny's Sunday. Sonny, by the way, has a new Game Plan to share with y'all tomorrow!