A Day In The Life: Randomness....

Why randomness? Because my brain is FRIED right now. So who KNOWS where this post may journey...

First, I have a 4 year old who is *Terrified* of wasps, bees, flying insects that even remotely resemble a wasp or bee. Why? Because he remembers as a two year old, he was stung badly in the foot, and he had to ride in the ambulance and go to the hospital, to get shots, and he hurt SO BAD, and he was scared, and he just does not want to do that again.....

So every time the boys see something fly outside the window (or in through the door, or GOD FORBID, past them while they are outside,) screams of terror ensue, along with children running full tilt inside to me, with tears streaming down their cheeks.


******

Random number 2?

Jo the Wonder Nanny Dog is on strike. She is pissed. Why?
Because I *dared* to change her food back to Pedigree. She. Is Not. Impressed.

*******

Random number 3?

Chasing an errant wasp through the house with a broom (because I can't find the fly swatter,) is destructive. However, it does make the child who is terrified of wasps laugh at my antics and cussing.

*******

Random number 4?

Cooking something complicated (like roasting a turkey) before coffee, on yet anther night of about 4 hours sleep is to be avoided. At least get two (or five) buckets of coffee down before attempting again.

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Random number 5?

Necessity is the Mother of Invention. Collaborating with a friend all the way out in Oregon on how to improvise an IV set for a goat in dire need of fluids when BOTH parties are sleep deprived is an adventure in itself.

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Random number 6?

Chasing cat who lives under the porch away in the wee hours of the morning with a Nerf sword requires clothing. (That one for future reference...)

*****

Random number 7?

The ONLY way I am going to stay awake enough tonight to watch Josh Gates scream like a girl on Destination Truth is going to be if I A) set up an IV line of caffeine for me NOW, or B) if I pass out on the couch for an hour or three. *snork* yeah... uh-huh. Pass out on the couch.... with no Dear Husband home to protect me... I'd wake up painted, or have half my hair cut off....

******

Random number 8?

Sonny Horse turned six yesterday. I forgot his birthday.

Sonny, being a smart pony, did NOT forget it was his birthday.

This morning, he met me at the gate with a pissed off look on his beautiful face, demanding extra carrots in his breakfast, and some time on the lawn to begin lawn mowing duties. If he is lucky, I'll be able to drag my carcass out there and provide that very thing. Hopefully I won't pass out in the chair...

****

And THAT my friends and loved ones, about sums up my ability to hold open my eyes (cause I lost the duct tape to tape them open,) and my ability to think even a tiny bit. Stay tuned-- it's got to get better tomorrow!

Answers!

Darnitall, I've tried THREE TIMES now to get the pictures to load for this post, and do you THINK they can? Uh, NO. *grumble growl gnashing of teeth*

Another attempt will be made later on to load the adjusted images. For now though, here is the link to the post: What Do You See?

ANON- you came the closest to the actual answer: an abscess did indeed blow out, and it weakened bar tissue. Instead of snapping the bar off as most hooves would do, this one had enough elasticity in it to simply.. fold over.

Shockingly enough- that horse trotted heel first landing sound before the trim, and after the trim. Only difference was a lower headset, and a bit more driving up under himself with his hind end. I do not unfortunately, have after trim pictures of the hoof. Why not? Because my services were otherwise engaged in entertaining a colt in the stall directly across from where we were working. The colt, whom I dubbed "Clyde", was a Total Trip, and I had a blast keeping him occupied, so that he did not reach out and "play" with the colt Dear Husband was working under. (That was the day it dawned on me--- the recent shampoo / conditioner change I'd made? REALLY made horses happy to play with my braid.)

(Oh-- yeah... a *thing* with me: male horses, gelded or not, are known as "colts" until they are 5, and the ladies are of course, "fillies" until THEY are 5....)

There was concern over the frog in this horse. While it was small, it was all there, and is continuing to gain in health. When you have an abscess blow close to the frog, often times there is bar involvement. Is this bad? Well, it's not great, but it's not the end of the world either. With proper treatment, exercise and time, tissue is generated and all is well in a short amount of time.

Leah- (and everyone really) please don't ever hesitate to shoot me an email and ask questions. The whole purpose for this blog is to help horse owners be better owners, to understand what you may wind up looking at somewhere along the line, and to give you tools to deal with know it all "professionals" who seem to absolutely delight in talking down to "mere owners". (They forget we "mere owners" pay THEIR bills, dammit! I can't stand that. I know, I know, they had to work hard in college and internships to get their education, but you know what? Education or not, they still put their pants on one leg at a time, just like the rest of us do. Lording it over owners in a condescending fashion is no way to conduct business in my ever present opinion...)

Good grief, rant anyone?

Now: a word to those out there who wish to enter the trade of hoof care. You will catch more clients with proper, calm, quiet, polite handling of their horses than you will with being rude, obnoxious, and forceful. You do not need to prove your "manliness", leadership skills, or toughness to the horse. You need to prove that you can be trusted, that you can communicate your needs to them, and that you are not out to hurt them.

Case in point:
Older (20 something) mare, who had not been handled much at all her entire life. New to present owners, who adopted her out of a sincere desire to take her in and help the old girl out. Had not had hoof care in over a year, possibly better than a year.

This was a spooky mare, who tried her best to just get away from what was going on. She had not one ounce of mean in her old body.

Now, most hoof care providers (read: iron hangers around here,) would have done one of two things: A) had a tantrum and roughed the horse up, or B) had a tantrum and walked off from the horse, after roughing the horse up, and refusing to return calls from the owners.

Instead, calm, quiet consistent handling ensued, and by the last foot the mare never moved, her head was lower, she was licking and chewing, and one of the Golden Rules was seen in full display:

First Golden Rule:
Do No Harm.

Second Golden Rule:
Leave the horse calmer at the end, than they were at the start.

Think sideways folks. Don't just automatically reach for the rough edge, because that is what has been taught endlessly. I'm not saying that you have to dive into a "natural horsemanship" cult or any such thing: I'm saying that you need to THINK about things, and READ the horse. Listen to the horse, and base your communication in what you see and hear there.


There's a mouthful to chew on... ruminate on that, and let's hear your perceptions....

Sonny's Sunday

That is a worried face.

This has been underfoot.
A lot.

This did not happen this week.
Boy do I miss it....


And THIS, below...

Instilled the worried look on Jo,
and kept the Five Pound Assassin indoors.

Since about the last week or so in January, this cat has been under my porch.
I thought maybe it was a *he* lured in by the promise of..
well, since this is a family blog,
Lets just say that I thought he showed up because Kitty Biscuits was in season.

Biscuits has since been spayed (about a week after she was in heat,)
and that cat is still here.
I'm not feeding it.
Actually, I'm trying to ignore it.

Wait- I DID feed it one night.
A couple nights ago, when I went out to call in the Biscuits for bedtime,
Porch Kitty came up on the porch and was sociable.

So.. I fed it.

And saw that it is wearing a collar.

The next morning, it was back on my porch again, waiting with a persistent (and loud)
MEOW.

Dear Husband let Jo the Wonder Nanny Dog out for her morning constitutional,
and next thing we hear is Jo, crying and yelping in terror.

Seems that Porch Cat attacked my dog.

Porch Cat is lucky to be alive, 'cause no one messes with my dog.
(Even if said dog is a 75# chicken in a dog suit.)

Porch cat was chased off,
and I saw no sign of it yesterday.

This morning though, I went to let Jo out, and there it was...

I had to escort Jo out and stomp my feet and make mean noise to chase off the cat,
before Jo would even come out on the porch with me.

Biscuits, who loves to go out and lie in wait to ambush everything and anything
looked out the door and said,
"Oh hell no I am not going out there! I'll go out the BACK door when you feed the horse Mom."

I've already contacted our vet and had the rabies talk about this cat.
I know what to watch for.
Ads are up where ever I can think to post them,
hoping that the owner of this cat shows up and takes it home.

Otherwise, I'll advertise it for adoption.

Seriously-- no more animals here for a bit.

And NO-- there will NOT be an animal here
That will
Chase
My
Dog.


(Except for Sonny. But the dog does not enter the fence.)


Sooooo... anyone want a cat?

What Do You See?

Fairly simple today: in the picture above, there is one main thing. What do you think it is?


More pictures and what not tomorrow.

As to how we bring heels back where they belong, and how toes are brought back as well:
First, we trim heel. (And balance it.) Every trim. As we do that, the entire hoof capsule begins the journey back under the horse.

Bringing toes back: as the heel comes back, so do the toes.

Take only what the hoof will give.... Applying a roll of any sort depends on several things: terrain, job, and hoof condition. In Finn's case, in about two more trims we'll see a vastly different hoof under him.

Heater A- white hooves are made of the same exact substance as colored hooves. I have to wonder if that old wives tale came about because incidents of bruising etc are more visible on a hoof that does not have pigmentation. You've seen for yourself how thick Finn's hoof walls are! I wouldn't let the words of the old iron hanger worry you. Finn will show you what he needs!

Mikey- the NB shoes I've seen used have been by really, really good craftsmen. The owners did not wish to pursue bare hooves, so they went with NB shoes. They look weird, but I like the way horses move with them compared to standard keg shoes.

Now I have a question for pondering: this is JUST a question *I* have- no pop quiz, no argument, no looking to pick a fight (cause I'd tell you if I was...) One of the arguments we hear about shoes V bare is:
- The application of a shoe locks the hoof into one shape, disallowing the required movement/ distortion of the hoof capsule to properly dissipate energy.

- For which the returning argument is:
But look at the heel portion on the shoe! Where it is in contact with the heels, you can see wear marks! The hoof is too able to move when shod!

My Question:
OK- the hoof needs to move in just more than the heels. Are the quarters moving in a shod hoof? It takes the entire hoof capsule to move--- not just the heels. So have any of you ever noticed wear marks in the quarter area of the shoes?

Happy Friday all....

Can We Say OUCH

I don't want to look at hooves today. Or think about them. Or smell them, have horses try to eat my braid, or any of it. I kissed my horse on the nose, and threw him a carrot in his dish, made sure he had water and hay, and called it good for the day. Today is my NO HORSE day.

Instead, check THIS out.

These: stones-- minus two that were sent to the lab for testing,

Recently came out of this:

The Princess Puppy.
Fifteen pounds of love, adoration, and sheer bossy.

Her vet said he had no idea how she was able to move about,
chase Jo around,
and be happy.
Those blasted stones literally FILLED her entire bladder.


Folks, if you see your dog straining straining to pee,
and straining OFTEN,
Consult you vet please.

Can you IMAGINE how those things must feel in there??

The good news is Princess Puppy is now on the road to recovery, and she is expected to be
100% back to her bossy happy self soon.

Goin Bare Part 3- Picture Review (of who knows how many...)

The white hooves of yesterday belong to this sweet man- his name is FINN. Finn has been a barefoot customer for about four trims now. When we first met him, he had some pretty interesting feet. Thus far, his heels have made about a 60% recovery of where they need to be. We have found with various geographical areas, being aggressive with rolling the toe causes more of a problem than helping a problem. Finn's overall movement has steadily improved as reported by his owner, his body structure is improving, and Finn is a happier horse.

(*Side note: ANON-- we use care with toes-- if you take too much back you actually wind up with more of a dubbed situation. No need for extreme speed in Finn's recovery. Time is on his side, and he is improving significantly.)




Ahhh the favored arrows!
ORANGE- growth since going bare. Fairly impressive-- wait-- no it isn't== it is EXPECTED growth. If you have been reading here for ANY length of time, and learning anything, you will recall hearing me say (or reading what I've typed,) that in transitioning to a proper barefoot trim, there will be an accelerated growth period. Why? Because the foot can finally function as it has been designed to, and the protective systems are getting healthier and stronger. This strength equals growth in replacement of poor quality hoof with healthy hoof.

BLUE - Underneath this toe section (which I did neglect to photograph this time,) is a very nice toe callous.

RED - THIS is where the controversy may begin. (Why "may"? Because I don't know as though many of you out there are reading, and not getting glassy eyed, thus with holding comments.)

NOT ONE person asked about the quarters being elevated. Not. One. Everyone however, DID point out that it looked "wrong". Well, *of course* it looks "wrong"--- it is NOT what we have been taught for ages now is "correct".

The quarters, if you ask any traditionally trained farrier, are there to A) nail to, and B) help support the horse. (Yo Mikey-- care to chime in here please??)

BUT.

That is NOT the job of the quarters. According to the research provided to us by Dr. Bowker, we understand that the primary job of the quarters is energy dissipation. How so? Because they need to have limited distortion capability. The entire hoof capsule distorts on movement. Were we to load that foot on Finn (ie: Lift his near side leg, putting more weight on the off side,) you would see a marked difference in the hoof on the ground. (No, I didn't think to get that photo. Will get one soon to show.)

Now-- the orientation of heel growth IS very forward.

POP QUIZ: How do you correct that?


Now, this horse--- yes his heels are quite high. His toes are long. And his quarters are on the ground. This is the epitome of a traditional trim. Can this horse go barefoot? Not trimmed like that-- not in this lifetime. BUT-- begin trimming this horse properly, and he might well do fine. However, from the solar image we saw, he'd have a long way to go. His soles are quite flat, which indicates the health of the lateral cartilages and digital cushion are not exactly "optimum".

This is NOT a foot trimmed for inner performance.

Picture day will continue tomorrow... for now, I must take care of business at The Asylum.....

Going Bare Part 3 (of who knows how many...)

Can you spot the difference?

Tomorrow, we go over pictures...
In the meantime, compare these two.
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Now that you've taken a bit of time to look at the picture's from Pete Ramey's site, and maybe read a little bit there too, you at least have an understanding that there is much more to the hoof than just what we see outside.

There are two main components to transitioning hooves to a healthy bare state. First being the internal "toughness" of the digital cushion and the lateral cartilages, and second being the walls, sole, and frog on the outside.

When you start trimming to the physiological "correctness" of the hoof, your trimmer is working towards correcting the orientation of growth, (ie: hooves that have under run heels, which push the hoof capsule forward, or heels that are incredibly upright, causing the horse to exert more pressure on the toe, and coffin bone,) and encourage proper movement. This movement will help improve the toughness/ condition of the digital cushion, and the lateral cartilages, so they can dissipate the energy generated on movement.

Which means:
Think of those two sections as a high school jock. The Jock gets sidelined with an issue, and is forced to severely restrict his movement. His muscle tone turns to fat, and he looses overall condition.

Now, open up that ability to move freely again, and he regains condition, over time able to do more, move more comfortably, and increase his overall health.

The same can be said of the digital cushion and lateral cartilages. Ideally, these are tough, fibrous tissues. But when constrained due to "improper confinement" (bad trimming, and or bad shoeing,) they rapidly loose condition and are prevented from doing their intended job (energy dissipation.)

For the second part of the equation:
The outer portions; sole, bars, frog, wall.

Much like you needing to go from a really, really bad pair of shoes that cause you pain, and cause you to walk oddly (gait alterations,) once you switch back to shoes that fit properly and help condition your feet and the muscles there in, the sole etc need time to toughen and harden as well. Callous needs to be built in various areas. Walls and heels need to be balanced.

How to achieve this?

First: Understand that Your Horse Did Not Get This Way Overnight. Your Horse Will Not Get "Better" Overnight, Either. TIME. It takes TIME.

Second: Movement. That jock did not regain health and muscle tone sitting on the couch did he? Nor will your horse's hooves regain health/ condition by being still. Movement movement movement.

Third: LISTEN to your horse. Yes, he is going to pick his way more carefully for a time, as he adjusts to the situation. Again- and I stress this-- This Is NOT Lameness, But The Prevention OF Lameness.

Fourth: There are commercial products available that can help encourage sole toughening. Keratex does help at times. Personally? Use it sparingly. Instead, choose your movement areas with care for a bit of time. (That time will entirely depend on your horse. It may be a week, two days, or two months. Every hoof on every horse is going to be a bit different.) Why do I opt for this? Because quick fixes always seem to bite you in the end.


There are a few things to be wary of.

First: Any trimmer who insists that you have to induce (or force) concavity in the sole, and to do so you must remove large portions of the heel/ sole/ bar area is to be IN MY OPINION, avoided like the plague.

Second: Any trimmer who says that a string of painful abscesses is a "normal part of the healing process" should also be avoided like the plague. (Yes, there may indeed be the OCCASIONAL abscess--- but NOT a whole slew of them.)

Remember: Do not believe what ANYONE tells you, until you do your OWN research, ask your OWN questions, and listen to your horse. The interwebs are a wonderful tool, that will allow you to find out an amazing amount of information about hooves and hoof health. Use it with care, and read. Watch your horse- look at his feet. Watch his eyes, and his body. LISTEN to what those visual cues are telling you. And give it Time.

Fire Away....

Sonny's Sunday

No, these are not scenes from the paddock this morning- all three of the images used today are from October 2009.

The weather today prevents any horse play, as it is once again, raining.

Not much to report on the Sonny front this week.
We did ride, and enjoy a bit of time outside playing.
However, once my back went "crunch"...
That was pretty much the end of THAT.

Big Red did get a lot of grooming this week. He is really letting go of his winter coat.
Which is awesome.

I can't wait until his summer coat is in-
slick, soft, and shiny.

Today though,
Well, it's a good day for a nap.
Might just have to go and try to convince the Locust Brothers that
NAPPING
IS
GOOD.


Dear Husband Update:
We took a trip back to the Doctor yesterday.
However---
we might have a lead on what is causing the problems.
Cross your fingers. We hope to have more information this coming week.

Going Bare- Part 2 (of who knows how many...)

Above, some images that have been sent in, along with two found from a random search on the web. I didn't see any contact information, so I sure hope the person who owns them does not get ticked at their horse's feet being here for a comparison...

In the comments, let's hear what you all see. The main thing here- can you spot a traditional trim from a barefoot trim?

Remember: there is one BIG fundamental difference between the two styles. That's the only hint I'll give for now.

~~~~~~~~******~~~~~~~~~~~~~*******~~~~~~~~~~~~******

Merri, you mentioned you have a Navicular horse, that is going well in shoes, and has been for the past 4 to 5 months. You said, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". Now Merri- this is NOT NOT NOT a beat you up section. This is not a "you are a bad horse owner" session. This is a question- a question for everyone. The intent is purely to take one step to the side, and look a bit sideways at the situation, to see if there is more to the story.

What makes Navicular (essentially heel pain)?

What brings about that diagnosis? Is there something in there, that truly is "not broke", or is the shoeing series a cycle, where the horse does fine for XXX amount of time, and then.. worsens. So the next stage is THIS type of shoeing alteration... and then THIS type.. and eventually all options are exhausted and one is looking at nerving, long term pain management, or euthanasia.

I am not trying to convert anyone to barefoot. I am not trying to poke fun. The goal is to ask horse owners to think outside the box. Ask questions. Watch Your Horses. Watch every horse you possibly can, and learn from their movement.

~~~********~~~~~~~~~**********~~~~~~~~~~********~~~~~~~~~~

To understand a bare hoof that is able to perform at it's best, you need to think inside. There are protective systems built into the hoof and leg, specifically designed to dissipate the energy created on movement. To deal with concussion, and prevent lameness. The engineering of the primary system is pretty amazing, and when functioning at it's best your horse will have utterly amazing hooves.

(Dr. Robert Bowker... take a look at any of his published works.)

How do you get those systems working again?

- Proper balanced weight bearing trims
- Movement
- Healthy, often times simplified, diet.

Movement- just like for those of us who are working on getting back into shape after a long winter's rest. Our bodies need to slowly return to toughness, as do the supporting systems inside the hoof.

We're not talking about running a marathon, or getting the horse out to cover twenty miles a day. We're talking about turn out, routine trimming, and following an "exercise program" with your hoof care provider. Start slow, over varied terrain, and build up to that twenty miles in time.

(Pete Ramey-- he has some great images available, as well as information written to be easily understood by laymen. Take a look. Be warned-- there are dissected cadaver hooves displayed.)

Going Bare Part 1A (of who knows how many parts)

Before we get back into the discussion today, I'd like to send prayers and condolences to two fellow equi-bloggers. Midlife Mom, way up in Tundra Country, lost the family pony, Skipper, very unexpectedly the other day. Skipper was a rescue, and for seven years Midlife Mom and her wonderful loving family did their best to show him kindness, love, and health. MM, please take heart in knowing what a happy pony you made him. You gave him an incredible life- one to be proud of. RIP Skipper.

The next to Susan and Randy at Painted Promise. They recently took in an older mare, abandoned in the desert and left to fend for herself. Susan rallied the troops, and they were able to bring the mare in, and make her comfortable for her remaining few days. RIP Melody, and may the bastards that dumped you get what they have coming.

One last thing- bear with me. This morning I was attacked by a half full gallon of milk, and in the fight for my life my lower back once again was the sacrificial lamb. (That's my story and I'm sticking to it!) I'm limping along, (sorry Heater A for not being able to keep our appointment this morning... but we'll see you soon,) on pain meds and extremely careful movement.

Now onto the fray.. err, I mean, continuing hoof education series.


~~~~~~~~>>>>>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>>>>>>>>>~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I knew once this series started, it would ignite a variety of responses. Ignite? Maybe not the best word there- Elicit may have been better- but ignite it is, for ignite it has. My inbox the next day was packed full. There were at least 50 emails in there, asking questions, expressing thoughts, and sharing information and pictures. It's been GREAT, and I encourage everyone to keep them coming.

I'm sorting through pictures to find the best examples of a traditional pasture trim, and good barefoot trims. As soon as the best examples show themselves, we'll have a picture day where everyone can chime in before I spill the beans.

Sydney pointed out in her comment, that her horses wear Easywalker shoes, even though she is a barefoot proponent. Sydney reminded me that I need to re-read what I write now and again because I made a cardinal mistake- the way that I had written a few statements seemed an awful lot like an Absolute was put into play. What's the first rule? There Are No Rules/ Absolutes.

Can absolutely all horses work over that type of terrain (carriage horses, hauling over macadam and cobblestone type footing, at times upwards of 100 miles per week) with no protection? No. What is the best protection? That all depends on the horse. Sydney has promised at a future date to post on her blog the different methods she has tried, and the results of each. I'll be sure to let everyone know, and link, so we can all take another look at another view.

There were comments and a couple emails as well, stating that this simply is NOT an option for every horse, these people knew because THEY "tried" it.

Know what? First, I don't have enough information to say what happened with your "try". But from past experience, I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that something was wrong in the "try" process, because either you do it or you do not. Every horse is not a textbook case. You can not go by "the book" for ANY horse, or every foot on one horse. Every foot is different. Every outside influence is different on every horse- even horses in the same herd environment.

Now for horses who have radiographic proof of thin soles I ask this: the horses with thin soles are shod in front (to protect the thin soles) nine times out of ten, and bare behind. Why aren't the hind feet affected, so that those soles are also thin?

Can a horse like that be transitioned to barefoot? Yes. We've done it several times. It Takes Time. It took turn out, boots when needed, a hard look at the nutrition available to the horse, careful trimming and evaluation, radiographs, and time. But it worked, and the last radiographs showed a thicker sole, with a happily barefoot horse.

Have we ever met a riding horse who simply could NOT go barefoot?
One.

Out of... shoot I don't even know how many over the last ten years.

One horse. Here is some information on him:
17 hands, mixed breed, predominantly Quarter Horse type. Weight about 1400 to 1500 pounds. He looked great until you got to his feet--- on a horse that size we typically expect to see something close to the size of dinner plates. This poor guy was standing, all the way around, on feet the size I'd expect to see on a 13 hand pony. Dear Husband worked on that horse for a long while, and the horse never did get comfortable, the wall quality improved slightly, but not much. Owner went back to shoes, and eventually sold the horse.

There were a couple mentions of "natural" trimming. I don't call what we do a "natural" trim, anymore than I claim we are barefoot trimmers. We are hoof care providers, who strive to work with the physiology of the hoof, working towards optimum hoof health and high performance. I know- it's a mouthful.

So why don't we just simplify, and call it all "Natural"?

Because it isn't. If you want natural, toss Dobbin out on a couple hundred acres and let his feet take care of themselves, along with the rest of him. He'll either live, or he'll die. (And it won't be a pretty death either. Ask Melody.)

When someone walks up to you and says that they are a Natural Trimmer, what is your first reaction?


Taking a horse to true, healthy, high performance bare hooves is NOT dealing with the outside of the hoof. A well studied and trained hoof care provider needs an intricate knowledge of the inner workings of the hoof. You need to have an understanding of HOW the energy is dissipated. WHAT the importance of healthy digital cushions and lateral cartilages is. WHY there are protective systems built into the feet and limbs. WHERE those parts need to be, in order to work cohesively and smoothly, providing optimum health and balance. And we need to know WHO to turn to for that education.

Our goal is to trim for Optimum Internal Health. The outside is the icing on the cake.

I think I'm going to call it quits for today. My back has had enough sitting on this old chair, and I need to formulate tomorrow's post, where we'll begin taking a look at inside the hoof, and how everything works together in there. I invite you to comment, criticize, share your stories- the good, the bad, the ugly- and as always my inbox is open twenty four hours a day, seven days a week.

Fire Away, y'all. I'm looking forward to it.
~MM

Going Bare Part 1 (of who knows how many....)

Without a doubt, this is a hot button topic in the horse world. Everyone has an opinion on it, and the debate of to shoe or not to shoe has ignited tempers and caused blood pressure to raise in various parts of the equine community.We horse people are nothing if not a passionate lot. Every time I post about barefoot hoof care, and talk about it, there are usually a few people who comment along the lines of "Barefoot is great, but *my* horse can not do it...." and they list the reason(s).

All fine and dandy. We're all entitled to our own opinions, right? Right. Just so happens that *my* opinion is that it isn't your horse that can not make the transition to proper healthy bare hooves as much as it is A) a lack of understanding on hoof physiology on the part of your hoof care provider, and B) YOU have hang ups over your horse, and are not willing to make lifestyle changes in order for the horse to make the transition. Is that bad? Hey- who am I to say- you shoe away and do what YOU need to do.

But if you do want to make the transition to healthy bare hooves, let's take today and look at a few ways to accomplish this.

First- understand that simply pulling the shoes and rubbing a rasp around the hoof is not "going barefoot". This is de-shoeing. Applying a "pasture trim" is not going barefoot. It is a "pasture trim". Not a trim that works towards the optimum function of the hoof and it's protective mechanisms. If you simply "pasture trim" your horse and continue working over varied terrain, then yes, your horse will not be able to continue with out shoes. But that is not the fault of the horse, nor a reason to say "My horse can not go barefoot."

So what is a pasture trim? In most standards, a pasture trim does NOT address the sole of the hoof, and it leaves a considerable length of wall for the horse to walk on. The thinking is that the extra wall is acting as a shoe would and "protecting" the sole. Extra (retained) sole is left as "protection" as well.

What generally happens is the hooves undergo a lot of chipping and breaking, in an attempt to get rid of the extra material there, in order to function as they have been designed to function. Owners spot the chipping, breaking, and "ugly" wall, and immediately call the hoof care provider, requesting shoes be reapplied. Problem solved, at least in their minds eye, right?

Second, be aware that this WILL take time. Your horses hooves did not get to the state they are in today overnight- they can not mend themselves overnight either. I can not, will not, sit here and tell you that your horse will have fantastic hooves in (insert months here) time. Every foot on every horse is different. Every horse has different circumstances, health, movement, jobs, diets, parasite loads, mineral requirements, digestive abilities, and all of those factors affect each and every hoof differently. If your horse has a pathology (Navicular, rotation from founder, white line disease, severe deep tissue thrush, etc,) or is severely overgrown, or has a significant amount of retained sole- it will take longer for the hoof to return to health.

Thirdly, take a look at the lifestyle of your horse. For optimum hoof health (and optimum overall health,) as much turn out as possible (preferably twenty four hours a day) is recommended. The horse will determine his movement patterns, and each and every step will be one step closer to healthy internal workings of the hoof and body. Hooves do not heal from the outside IN, but from the inside OUT. Examine the diet too. A diet high in a good quality, first cutting, grass hay fed on a free choice basis will benefit the digestive tract of your horse tremendously. Consider your feed carefully. Consider supplements carefully, and do not go overboard on either one.

One of the biggest "reasons" that I hear for a horse not being barefoot is "He limps over stones!" Well hell Gertrude, wouldn't you limp over stones if you put your 1100 pounds on one hoof, over a sharp, pointy object? Did you ever stop to think about that? Watch the horse go. You are not seeing a lameness in that horse- you are seeing the horse actively preventing a lameness because he can actually feel the potential danger to his well being. In the early stages of transitioning your horse from shoes to barefoot, yes, he is going to move much much differently. He is going to be much much more aware of where his feet are, and what he is placing them on. IN TIME -- again with that pesky TIME thing-- this too shall diminish/ pass. Why? Because IN TIME, those soles will toughen and build callous in the proper places. IN TIME the wall and sole will work together, and the entire hoof inside and out will be incredibly resilient and seemingly impervious to insult by rough terrain.

Another reason I hear is because the terrain covered is hard/ rough and the hooves wear too quickly. Just a quick note on this: in a healthy hoof, growth will equal wear.

There are an incredible array of hoof boots available now for owners to use during this transitional period. No, the horse does NOT need to wear them twenty four hours a day- in fact, in the vast majority of cases, that would be counter productive. But a boot over rough terrain for a while would not hurt. (I like Old Macs and Boa Boots still.)

This is a subject that I could literally go on and on and on and on and ON about. Instead, we'll break it up into a few days, digesting things as we go. Keep in mind: if you truly are taking your horse to proper bare hooves, it takes time, conditioning, dedication on your part, probably significant lifestyle changes for your horse, time, a skilled hoof care provider, time, and dedication on your part. (Did I say a few of those a couple times? Yeah. I did. Think about it for a bit.)

In the meantime....
Fire.
Away.

Clean It Up!

A while back now, I got an email from Kayleigh Fitch, with Leather CPR. Would Oh HorseFeathers! be interested in testing a sample, and reporting our findings on the blog? Well, sure we would! Anything that can help us clean up around here (one of my OCD's,) would be appreciated.

My sample arrived a few days ago, and I just today got the chance to check it out. Here are my impressions:
*Opening Box*
1) Wow- full size "samples". Neat.
2) HA! A SPONGE! And it's MINE MINE MINE! (Sponges walk away in this house, just like my SPOONS do...)

I started with my boots. Bear in mind- these boots are four years old now, and I honestly do not think I have ever cleaned them. Never. Ever. They'd get dunked in a mud puddle by way of cleaning, and that about sums it up. Excess mud and muck are scraped off on the side of whatever is handy, or with a hoof pick.
Before Cleaning

1) Dude- smells great
2) This *has* to be too easy. Nothing ever lives up to the claims, so we'll see...
3) Dude I like this aroma... too bad my BOOTS stink so bad

4) Huh. Look at that wouldya...
Left one cleaned and buffed, right one not.

Next, on to my Billy Cook headstall and favorite reins...

1) Ok- once again- this has to be too easy
2) Load up my sponge and gently massage into the leather? That's it? Really?
3) Hey this FEELS good- no nasty residue on my hands
4) Whoa--- wait a second-- that grime actually came OFF.


Overall? I'm impressed. It's a product that actually lived up to it's claims. My boots did darken a bit, but that to me is not an issue. They still have all the character that four years of daily use and abuse leave on a good pair of Chosen Hoof Wear. They actually have a shine on them now. A *shine*. There was not even a shine when I BOUGHT them, brand new, four years ago. Come to think of it, the texture of these boots might have been rough when new... time has smoothed them off. In the areas where my jeans come down over the tops, where the boots were smoothed the most, there is a HIGH shine. I need to get Dear Husband to shine HIS boots with this stuff. Not only does it smell WAY WAY better than the stuff he uses, I think it shines more too. He is required to have his boots with a mirror like finish, and I think this would do the trick.

The Leather CPR itself was as easy to use as promised, and actually CLEANED the gunk. It took less than half the time than usual to have my tack clean and put up. Come to think of it, my fingers, where they came in contact with the Leather CPR, are softer too. I did notice my reins feeling better as I massaged the cleaner in, but thought honestly it was my imagination. Turns out it's not-- those babies are as soft as butter now.

Now, if YOU want to save time (and who doesn't?), get a product that actually WORKS, and deal with a company that actually has Good Customer Service, that is based IN the USA, sign up HERE. Quantities are limited, so you might want to sign up fast. It's well worth it!



*Leather CPR graciously provided free samples of Leather CPR, and Leather CPR Boot Polish, for testing by Oh HorseFeathers!

Sonny's Sunday

Jo the Wonder Nanny Dog was worried about a lot of stuff this week.
She still won't get more than five feet away from me,
and she keeps checking on Dear Husband too.
Last night, she wedged herself between us on the couch,
just so she could grace us BOTH with her magical powers at the same time.

Even the DAT was getting in on the action, staying near by and purring an extra lot.
In FACT, DAT stayed away from Sonny yesterday when I snuck in a ride.
She actually sat off to the side, and just watched.

Apparently, since she has been nominated as the primary protective source these days,
she's decided to play it cool and keep an eye on things carefully.

Sonny Bunz and his magical nose have been a sanity saver too.
His big kissable nose,
looking for treats and attention has helped me stay centered.
To be strong for the kids, because frankly it was a BAD week for them.

Sonny made us laugh.
He helped me breathe again when we rode.
Our ride the other day was most excellent.
I was able, for the first time in absolute ages,
able to fully relax my back and tush muscles
and just
ride.
Just sit up on that big red horse,
and ride.
We duplicated that yesterday as well.
I breathed
(and then sneezed like crazy from pine pollen and horse hair.)
All the tension drained from my neck
back
and legs.
And all I could feel, hear, see, and smell
was Sonny.

The steady, rhythmic brushing before our ride was therapeutic.
Made me sneeze like crazy for the rest of the night, but it's worth it.
Nothing like horse hair (and fricken pollen) stuck in your nose
to let you know Spring is on it's way in full force.

The past couple weeks have been miserable.

I'm seriously looking for things to change course, and straighten up again.
Dear Husband is gaining- leveling out and learning to deal with things. He went back to work,
saying he missed the smell of gun powder.
The kids are bouncing back in the way that kids do- mostly.
Cub is having a tough time with sleep walking and nightmares,
as he is wont to do when he is stressed.

Wrecker? Today Wrecker is FOUR.
Granny bought him a cake.

*sigh*... there is cake and ice cream in my house.

Yeah. Cold shower, a hard look in the mirror,
and a ride are in order to combat the siren song of the cake.
Chocolate.
Cake.

With Ice Cream.

Oh boy....

Going, Gone

Today, that title *could* apply to what is left of my mind right about now. A quick Dear Husband update: he has been hanging in there, seeming to gain strength, until this morning. He woke up with a headache, and didn't feel quite "right". A quick poke for some blood, and we found his blood sugar to be running at 377. Off to the Doctor he went, and I am sitting here, chewing my nails, waiting... waiting... waiting... Which I am notoriously NOT good at. I'll post an update when he gets home... ETA: Dear Husband is back, and we are looking at some big changes- he is OK though, and we'll be learning a whole lot on living with diabetes.

In the meantime, I'll tell you a review. Or a story. Or a bit of information. Maybe all three....




On Saturday, Laura Crum's new book, "Going, Gone" arrived in the mailbox just in time. I spent the day stressing, and after the kids were safely tucked in for the night, I knew there was no way I'd be able to sleep. I turned to a book, for books have been a source of huge comfort in times past, and this was no exception.

Now I must say, I feel privileged to have been able to "talk" with Ms. Crum in emails, and I've truly enjoyed getting to know her. I had been able to read one of her early publications (and loved it), but being able to freely talk with Laura increased my eagerness to begin turning the pages.


"Going, Gone", centered around veterinarian Gail McCarthy and her now husband and sweet son, grabbed me right away. It allowed me time to break away from the reality of what was going on in my life, but at the same time, it gave me some very deep things to ponder. Life, death, spirit, and soul among them. It brought to mind those loved, lost, and those with me still.

Now, I'm not going to lie and say I was able to read this book with a dry eye. Maybe it was stress. Maybe it was exhaustion. Maybe it was that I am just getting to be soft in my old age, but there were parts where Gail is looking back on her life, that had my bawling and reaching out for Jo the Wonder Nanny Dog. Luckily, Jo was there on the couch with me, and only rolled her eye a bit as I sobbed into her heavy coat.

However, after I composed myself, (in other words, a sharp mental shake and a stern talking to, telling myself to COWGIRL. UP.) I read on. And on. And on. The descriptions of the animals are fantastic, and I found my favorite animal character to be the tough little yellow horse, Sunny. The child star, Mac, caught my heart too. He shares a talent with Cub, to seemingly see things and an ability to ask questions beyond his years as well.

The deeper into the book I got, the more I was wondering-- who did it? WHO was the Bad Guy? Laura's writing style grabbed me, and held me in a tight spell. Her skill at describing the animals, scenery and characters is fantastic.

"Going, Gone" gets my full approval. Get your copy, or shoot- a copy of any of Laura's books- and check them out!

Sonny's Sun... err Mon... Wait-- TUESDAY!

Jo, hiding behind the Confederate Rose. She thinks we can't see her there.


I didn't ride Sunday. Or Saturday.
But I did ride through the week, and it was spectacular.

As I worked Sonny on the line yesterday, Laura Crum's recent post, To Lope or Not To Lope,
came to mind. Sonny stepped up into his long stride, ground covering, easy paced lope at a bare suggestion,
and I watched the muscles play across his back, lion, and hind quarters.

I watched how he used his neck, where his feet were placed,
and the expression in his eye.
Sonny.
Likes.
To Lope.

I can't wait until we lope together...

I crawled up on my Big Red Pal, and we warmed up my legs by doing some walk work, basic leg yields, whoa, back, and changing walk speeds.

Dear Husband came out and watched, and got some video of us, before the batteries died in our camera. It was great- he has not seen Sonny go in a while, so it was great to get his take on our progress.

Sonny and I trotted along, doing circles, figure 8's, squiggly lines, trot-to-whoa-to-trot, and we had fun wearing out Jo the Wonder Nanny Dog.

I had thought about trying a lope with me up. It never got past the "thought" stage, as it suddenly felt like I had run head first into a brick wall. Sonny cooled out easily, munched some grass, and went happily back to his paddock for some fresh hay.

The plan for today?
I'd like to ride again today, before the bugs come back out, and the sun gets too hot.
(Yes, the fricken sand gnats are out in force, and the sun even early this morning was getting warm. I am dreading summer this year.)
Whether we'll lope or not I don't know- we'll have to wait and see.
But if we do, I bet that you'll all be able to hear me cheering....

Sonny's Sunday Post Poned

For some Good News!

Dear Husband is HOME. Yep- you read that right- HOME.

Turns out... there is an interesting twist to this story. Back a few years ago, he had his gallbladder looked at. Doctor said, "It's not good, but it's not bad either. You'll be fine for a few years plus." When the pain started, the first thing we suspect was gallbladder.

Turns out those gallbladders that like to collect stones can create all kinds of problems with the pancreas. And when the "nurses" in the ER screw up, and give DEXTROSE fluids, rather than Potassium Chloride, his sugar shot way, way up to 383. Between that, and the pancreas having a hissy fit over the expulsion of a large gallstone, Dear Husband was one sick and hurtin' unit.

Pain killers, lots of fluids, and insulin were the order of the night. When he finally DID get to a room (after almost 14 hours in the ER, waiting,) he managed to wind up with some sort of Franken-nurse. You know the type--- big. Burly. Surly. The kind that belong in insane asylums. As patients.

We saw the Doctor this morning, and he was very pleased with Dear Husband's recovery thus far. Said that all blood work came back wonderful- red and white cell counts were normal, sugar was normal, pancreatic hormones were normal, and Doc said, "Get out! Go Home! See your regular Doctor for follow up, and go rest at home. Drink lots, eat what you can, and live a good life. See ya later, bye bye." Which made Dear Husband about dance in his bed. (Me too to be honest.)

Life in this little corner will slowly work it's way back to "normal" (whatever that is.) There are still four lives, in Tundra Country- two immediate family members, two by marriage- that hang in the balance this night, but strength can now be gained for what the future may hold.

Thank you, everyone, for your thoughts, prayers, jingles, healing energy, emails, phone calls, and love. Who ever honestly would have thought that we would form such a strong, caring, determined community? The caring, compassion, and sharing of our lives we do is amazing, and I am continuously overwhelmed by the sheer generosity and heart that are evident here. You have all become like extended family, and I truly hope that this family continues to strengthen and grow.

Now my friends, it is time for me to gallop off into dream land. But first, I'll read a few more moments in my new book, "Going, Gone". All I'll say right now about it?

Get. This. Book.

Seriously.

More on that in a few days.....

Happy Hoofin', sweet dreams, and stay healthy...
~MM

What. A. Day.

Here is a lesson that we learned today.

If for a bout a week or so, you just don't feel *right*...
And then start having pain that leaves you gasping for air with tears in your eyes, and barely able to control your bladder,

Go.
To.
A.
Doctor.

Dear Husband put it off... and put it off....

And is now in the hospital, for an undetermined amount of time, with an acute infection that invaded his pancreas, and sent his blood sugar to 383.

I'll post more as I know more, but we surely could use a bit of prayer, jingles, thoughts etc for a speedy recovery.

Cause I can barely function with out him.

Thanks y'all-
~MM

I Blame It All On C.R.A.F.T.

Why CRAFT? What the heck *is* CRAFT?

Can't
Remember
A
Flipping
Thing

It's the Mac Daddy of CRS- which is Can't Remember Sh*t, which is genetic in our family. (You get it from your kids. That's what Dad tells me anyways.)

So what am I blaming CRAFT for?

I totally forgot the ending of that day. If you have not yet read "Flying Fireballs and Wild Grapevines" over at GunDiva's blog from yesterdays Ride of the Week Post, go read it... I'll wait! I promise!!

OK? Ready? Here we go...

After Bev and I returned from our ride (in one piece, right down to my very expensive new glasses,) we were hungry. We cooled our horses out, gave them a good brushing, and put them back in the pasture. We'd already decided which horses to ride next, and what movie to see that night, so we were good to go on picking up a snack.

We hopped in Bev's trusty old Escort, and trucked on down to the local grocery store. Now this store had an absolutely amazing bakery. The breads and donuts there were simply bites of Heaven. And I have been known to have a tremendous sweet tooth from time to time, so of course, we got a dozen donuts too.

Loaded up, trucking back home, we approached a four way intersection that had a state policeman doing "routine" traffic duty. I turned in my seat, got a fresh, still warm, sweet and lovely donut out of the box, and JUST as we passed the policeman, I looked him dead in the eye and took a HUGE bite.

Yeah.

We got pulled over. Bev got a ticket for her registration being overdue by two days, and I caught holy what for from Bev about luring the cop in with a donut. (Hey, I offered him one.. not my fault he declined!)

To this day, my best friend in the world (next to Dear Husband that is,) will not let me eat donuts in her car, NOR will she let me look at a cop. Even if I am the one driving, she won't let me look at a cop.

By the time we got back home, it was getting on feeding time and dark, so we headed out for pizza and a movie instead. This time, it was a police-free drive.

Oh, and the state policeman that pulled us over? He was the big brother to a guy we went to school with. Their family has a long line of state policemen in it, going back several generations. Yeah- we heard it from Cop-To-Be the next day in school too. I can say with complete confidence, they were all- every single one of them- fantastic cops.

And thus ends the day of Flying Fireballs, and Wild Grapevines.

The Diva is planning on hosing a ride of the week on Wednesdays for a while, so if you have a horse story to share, hop over to her blog and sign up!! It ought to be a blast!! Next week, Juanita from It's A Horse Life is guesting. Can't wait to read her story!!

Guest Post at Tales From The Trail!

Today is the day... My guest post is up and live at "Tales From The Trail". Be sure to check out "Flying Fireballs and Wild Grapevines". It truly shows that I've been...well.. "Not Quite Right" my entire life.

Happy Reading!

Looks To Be Topic For TWO Days...

I started out this post, trying to answer each and every one of you who commented on yesterday's adventure. But that was turning into a long, long, long, long, LONG post. Instead, I'll do it this way, and try to cover all the bases.

First- for those who would like to learn more about the laws in your state about permits, and carry (concealed versus open), please visit here:handgunlaw.us They give a very thorough state by state listing of all the information you need. It's well, WELL worth a visit. And if you DO carry, KNOW YOUR STATE LAWS! Period!

Next, Canada and Germany-- I'm sorry to say it, but crime happens everywhere. Since I do not live in either location, I do not know how much people see on a day to day basis, but I strongly suspect that it depends on the location. Bad Guys are not going to NOT live somewhere, just because there is a "law" there that bans citizens from owning or carrying a firearm. Know what? Great Britain does not allow it's citizens to carry. What is crime like there? Oh- no guns? Well hell, let's just slice someone to death instead!

What would I have done differently had Plan B been with me? Plan B would have been in my hand. My foot would still have been heavy on the accelerator, and Plan B would have been held in my lap, for *just in case*. Just because I carry Plan B does not automatically mean it will be put to use. If anything, it encourages me to THINK more. To use Situational Awareness (or BE AWARE of) my surroundings. Look for alternative exits and strategies. Pay attention to who is around me, and what they are doing, so I know when to get the crew out of Dodge. Like I said yesterday- I don't shoot to kill--- I'll shoot to LIVE. So my sons can LIVE.



Some mention of statistics was brought up as well.
According to the National Vital Statics Report:

Major Cardiovascular Diseases are the cause of 39% of deaths each year.
Motor Vehicle accidents, a bit down on the list there, about 1.8% per year. (Actual number: 43,354)
Firearms are at the bottom of the list, and they are 1.2%. (Actual number: 28,663 )
That is a 14, 691 person difference there. Huh.
Oh- and THAT particular table? Firearms Statistics Include Gang Warfare, Self Defense Shootings and Criminals Killed by Police.

Now all of that information piqued my interest a bit more.

I next took a look at some swimming pool information. According to the CDC:
In 2005 for example, the number of accidental drownings: 3582.
An average of ten per day.
And 1 in 4 of those deaths were children 14 and under.


Also on the CDC, and I quote:
"Motor vehicle injuries are the leading cause of deaths among children in the US."

Huh. Not firearms.

So where does that leave us? Well it makes ME think we need to have a Constitutional Amendment to regulate motor vehicles! And have more training in the use of those vehicles! Let's make it harder to get those horrible rolling death machines! While we are at it, we can BAN SWIMMING POOLS! And ban swimming in lakes, rivers, and oceans!

Let's go one step farther and start blaming SPOONS for making our kids FAT!

YEAH! WHO'S WITH ME???!!!


*cough cough* Pardon me whilst I wipe the froth from my mouth.

So that leaves me thinking I am much more likely to have a heart attack and die in a car accident than I am to die from a gunshot wound. In fact, in my 16 year span as an EMT/ Fire Fighter, I never once responded to a gun shot call. Granted, we were in a rural area, but that rural area was home to prime hunting ground. We'd get city slickers up a few times a year, every year, who got lost in the woods and had to be hauled out, wrecker their fancy cars on our mountain roads, and had heart attacks while tromping through the woods in search of their tree stand, all the while with loaded weapons at their disposal. Know what? I hauled a body or two out on the back of the rescue truck, and peeled them out of car wrecks, but never once hauled a SHOT body out. And for the most part, these were folks who were NOT competent with firearms.

In short here folks, don't blame the TOOL for how the hand wields it.


Just out of curiosity, how many of you horse folks have been hurt by a horse?
Bucked off?
Stepped on?
Bitten?
Smushed?
Concussed?

How many of you know someone who has been killed in this sport? I do- as a brand new EMT, I was at a county fair. A 12 year old girl- who had been raised around heavy Belgians her entire life- was leading her old mare to the wash rack. Something spooked the mare, and she bolted. The girl tried to hold the horse, but tripped, spooking the mare worse, causing the mare to kick, and the kick landed square in the girls face. She died.

How about knowing someone who has been BADLY injured, but lived? Yeah, I know some of them too.

Now how many of you have been in a car accident?
Lost someone to heart disease?
Lost a loved one to drowning?
And how many have lost someone to gun shot?

Now rest assured, I will from now on give Plan B a stern talking to when we leave to go in public, making SURE it won't leap from it's holster and go on a random shooting rampage. I promise I will not let it shoot up passing cars, school buses, or even punks who are doing a dope deal in front of me. I'm sure Plan B will pout, but the threat of regulating it's activities might just keep it in line and holstered where it belongs.

Sheesh. Tomorrow, lets get back to horse stuff, shall we? Don't forget, there is a guest post in the works at Tales From The Trail. Be sure to pop in and see what kind of hell I raised on horseback in my teens....

Topic Of The Day...

Is not quite what I had in mind earlier. I *was* thinking of a post that came to me out of the blue, after an amazing ride yesterday. Maybe that will happen tomorrow, provided I don't run out of time.

No, today I'm going to do a post that will probably offend some. So be warned - if you believe that firearms should be banned, and that Americans do not *need* to carry them, then you might not want to continue. Shoot, you might just be best not reading here at all, since my family are ALL strong Constitution supporters, and we guard our Second Amendment closely.

The weather was beautiful today. Dear Husband is working, so the plan was for the Locust Brothers and I to head to a long standing much valued client this afternoon. This is something I have done quite often in the past, with no incident.

Now, those of you who have been reading here for any length of time, know I routinely carry. These days, it's a sweet Belgian made 9mm. Today however, my firearm was on my husband's hip at work, where he is required to be armed.

Not thinking anything of it, I loaded up the kids and headed out, knowing this would be an easy trip. The client lives in a rural setting, in a nice neighborhood that is being swallowed up by a rather slimy segment of society. The first five hundred feet of the road are dodgy to say the least, and we usually try to get through the area with speed. Normally, any people that are out scatter like roaches when you turn the lights on.

Not today.

Today, I had three gangsta punks standing in my lane. There was on coming traffic, so there was no option for me to swerve into the other lane to get by the punks. I slowed the truck, a full size Ford Bronco with a sweet heavy duty engine under the hood, and was treated to watching a drug deal.

The next thing I saw, as the on coming car passed me, was the skin-head punk turn, look me dead in the eye, lift his shirt, and begin to reach for the gun in his waistband.

About that time, I was thinking he'd make a damn fine hood ornament, so I stomped the accelerator, chirped the tires, and aimed right at the bastards standing in the road. The two to my right scattered, and the skin-head punk headed to the left. I kept my foot heavy on the gas, and got the hell out of dodge.

Now- for those of you who are going to argue that I didn't need a gun, but instead a cell phone to call 911, I'm going to tell you this:

When you need help the most, the cops are MINUTES away. Had that scumbag pulled his gun and fired at me, I Would Not Have HAD "Minutes" To Wait For A Cop.

I carry a gun because it is my RESPONSIBILITY to protect myself and my children.
I will USE that gun to do just that. Today, instead, I used a Ford. Ford's are not bulletproof folks, and we got lucky that I won the game of chicken.

I carry because it is my Constitutional RIGHT to protect myself, and my children.

I carry because I wish to LIVE.

I don't shoot to kill -- I shoot to stay alive.

The client was fine. The horse was her usual wonderful loving self. My sons are safe, and I have a new appreciation for my life.

Y'all think about this for a while, and get back to me.
Mrs Mom