Day One - Sunday 18th July 2010
Barefoot man came riding in on his trusty white steed (err sparkly mushroom coloured 4x4), took their shoes off and we were in love! Our horses have been liberated from the oppression of metal shoes... They're free, finally free!
We rush out and get a pair of Cavallos and use them for the walk to turnout. Neither horse looks too bad, just freshly trimmed and feeling their way in new feet.
Day Two - Monday 19th July 2010
I went up to the yard on my own just to give them a carrot and check them over. Horses looking a little sorry for themselves in the field and emergency boots application definitely required for Lottie. However, this is quite difficult with only one pair of hands in the field, particularly given said horse’s reluctance to pick any feet up now they’re sore!
Ring Chris and arrange a zero seven hundred hours rendezvous the next morning... Have already fallen out of love with hoof man!
Day Three - Tuesday 20th July 2010
7am Down to the field armed with two purple pilates mats, new boots, pastern wraps, halter, vet wrap and big stick to discourage other horses. No hoof pick... Ooops! Chris ended up using fingers and an old towel to clean feet while Lottie used the Pilates mats as chew toy. We put bright orange vet wrap around the boot straps in the hope of holding them down and left the field wondering what we'd find at our evening visit.
6.30pm Both horses looking good! Lottie kept her boots on and even kept the vet wrap completely on one hoof boot. She is sporting the other band of wrap as a bright orange anklet... Very eighties/retro!
The routine with one pair of boots is - Bring Lottie in take boots and pastern wraps off, give boots a quick wipe and take back down to the field to get Jazz. Put boots on Jazz in field bring her in and take the boots off. Give food. Put boots back on Jazz to turn her out and then take them off in field. Clean boots and Lotties feet thoroughly before putting boots back on to turn Lottie out. I'm sure we'll get quicker but it's 8.00pm before we leave the yard!
Called barefoot man at around 9pm from home in blind panic at the level of management and footy-ness already (not sure what I was expecting?!). He said to give low level anti-inflammatory and to bring in if Lottie is out in boots and it starts to rain. I look out the window at home (circa one hour’s drive from yard) and the heavens open. He agrees to my request and will come back on Thursday (Not sure what I’m expecting him to do exactly!.. Other than some reassurance!)
Day Four - Wednesday 21st July 2010
Lottie kept her boots on again and have to say I'm pretty impressed! She's never worn them before and was initially sure it was 'another new game that these weirdo humans have devised for me'. You could see her considering what we might want her to do with them as she stuck her forefoot out in front and checked the boot out, one eye at a time (left eye first and then the right!). This is the potential problem with teaching your horse to be a puzzle solver that the NH gurus never warn you about!
We had to walk both horses in past the farrier... Cringe! We tried to look small and to convince the girls to cover up their footiness and be nonchalant but I’m sure they only exaggerated it more whilst giving him the “save me” look!
We did the boots routine and Jazz still looking a bit sore on harder ground but seems fairly even on both feet. You can definitely see when she's stood on a stone though... Ouch!
Day Five - Thursday 22nd July 2010
Get up to the yard early (about 4pm) and bring in before we have to go out to dinner and in anticipation of Mr Barefoot returning. It also means Lottie gets some time without the boots on as we've been warned about the damp in the boot potentially being a problem. The boots do smell like old trainers already, in spite of the milton and hibiscrub treatment. Jazz trotted up to greet us and Lottie did a lovely floaty canter, which was impressive in clumpy boots!
Get back to the yard after dinner and barefoot man calls to say he can’t make it and is very apologetic. I’m stumped when he asks whether he can help over the phone... As the weeks gone on I think we’ve come to terms with the fact that it’s going to be challenging and just take some time.
Day Six - Friday 23rd July 2010
No work, so morning meet-up at the yard. After a quick tail wash we took Lottie out into the big field (long grass, pretty smooth although still quite hard ground) and moved her about a bit without the boots on. Definite reluctance to trot so we didn’t push it, let her graze and brought her back in with boots on.
Brought Jazz in and she seemed the same as before... Little sore in the field but not reluctant to move and ok with boots, even though pretty big boots on her!
There’s been quite a bit of rain and the field was softer than it had been for some time so we turned both horses out without boots on in the field.
Day Seven - Saturday 24th July 2010
Jazz’s boots arrived! We brought them both in and one boot seems a little pinchy on Jazz but hoping they’ll stretch?! Lottie was uncomfortable and we agreed to keep the boots on in the field for the next few days, unless we get enough rain to soften the ground a bit more!
Turned them both back out together for the first time this week! Lottie kept her boots on and Jazz took her new boots off in the field (saving them for best J)
We’ve got two pairs of boots and a routine now... Who knows, we might even be able to do something non-foot related with them next week!
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