HEATHER - CANADA

You can say that I'm a 50 year old that had never trimmed hooves before. Your seminar gave me the confidence and knowledge to venture into trimming my own horses  and mules ( 6 in total). At your seminar, I had hoped to learn enough to trim my horses properly and then to maintain their hooves by just rasping when needed. I learned all this and more - seeing a setup where the horses have to walk on gravel to get to water, food and mineral so their feet are naturally exercised; examining the insides of a hoof and seeing how it's put together, and discussions on how the  diet  is so important in hoofcare were all a bonus. I was also pleasantly surprised that there were several women in my group. In addition to all this, I won't hesitate to ask Lane a question when one comes up.

I would highly recommend the lodgings, the deliciously nutritous meals, and I've only seen more books in a library!

So for the trimming – I’ve gotten around all 6 of our animals – the mules with the high heels I’m doing in stages. I must say that I was able to do my mare’s hind feet without any trouble and our former farrier always had trouble with one of her back feet in particular, where she wouldn’t let him keep it.

Now is where I really brag – I did the back feet of our 39yr old mule this afternoon – and nobody has been able to do his right hind leg before without tying ropes on him to keep him from kicking. This is why I left him till the last. So I am really pleased – he didn’t even threaten to kick – just held it up and away from me, but let me rub his leg and put it down on the stand… slowly. I think he previously took offence to people grapping his legs and doing things before he was ready. So I am just thrilled!

On Sunday, I showed Russ pictures of hoof stands on the internet, and then he went out to the shop and whipped  up a cradle and pedestal, that I can interchange into the umbrella stand I was using to put their feet on. So I tell people that I got a hoof stand from Russ for Mother’s day! I will send you pictures of this, too.

As you can see, I’m only doing about 2 hooves at a time, as you suggested, Lane, and that has worked out well for me. I have recorded when I did them and in 4 weeks will start over again.

Ginger in Boots