When we made our move to AZ I had said, "I am going to try one more thing with Sassy and if there is no improvement, call it quits."
Well here I am at that point where I said I was going to "Call it quits". She is not improving, she cannot even trot in a straight line without limping. I talked it over with TC and Simon, and we agreed that maybe it is time to just go ahead and let her go.
BUT......
Then I read some more stuff on what Pete Ramey does for horses like her and it gave me hope again. If only I could find someone else who practices what he does. You would think in a city this size with as many horses as there are here, there must be someone who subscribes to the theory that "toe first landings are what cause the navicular degeneration, rather than the other way around." Because the one thing that is obvious about Sassy is her toe first landings. I need to find a way to make it comfortable for her to land heel first.
I did mention this to my current farrier. He disagrees. Doesn't make him a bad farrier, just means he believes in what he believes in.
So here I am...back to "one more thing" that I feel like I must try. So I am searching for the right farrier/trimmer. I wish I could just do it myself. I lack confidence in this area. I don't understand enough about the hoof yet to tackle this on my own.
I guess I need to start making some phone calls. I need to talk to these trimmers and see what they believe.
Interestingly enough, when you go to Pete's website and you click on the "find help in your area" tab. There is no one in AZ. Awesome.
Excuse me now while I go bang my head on the desk.
I know just how you feel, it's what started me off on trimming myself. I tried to get help through Ramey's site as well, even sent an email to the website manager and to the two farriers listed on his site for NY, they all said no thanks, too busy. I was really a bit surprised and disappointed, I kind of thought they might at least be interested in Ramsey. How often would you have an opportunity to see something like that after all, but no one wanted anything to do with him.
ReplyDeleteThere is a Yahoo group called barefoothorsecare that has a lot of good info and you might be able to find someone who could help you through them. I see people ask for farrier recommendations fairly often and usually someone has a lead. It is free to join and a pretty good group as far as forums go.
I don't know if it will help you or not, but if you get some good pictures of her feet, I'd be happy to give you my thoughts, for what they are worth. I do think you could do a lot of the trimming yourself. The hardest part is getting brave enough to start. Seems like no one else has been able to help her though so what have you got to loose?
DD I want you to know that it is because of you that I am beginning to think that just maybe I can do this. You are right...I have nothing to lose.
DeleteThank you.
I may be sending you those pics.
Boy oh boy, do I understand your frustration! Years ago, it was with Scooter, and now with Missy...so difficult to know what is the right thing to do. There are so many differing opinions out there. I struggle as you do, with knowing what to do, or not do, and when to just give up. I am way to stubborn to quit! I'll keep on trying until that day when I look in my horse's eyes and see despair. Then, I'll know in my heart that they're ready to quit. Until then, I will try...
ReplyDeleteI do hope you prevail.
I am a firm believe that God brings the people in and out of our lives as we need them, and as they need us. I know I have mentioned that more than once.
ReplyDeleteShortly after posting this I received a phone call. An offer of help coming from my new friend down the road. She has been studying the barefoot methods for several years now, with help from different clinicians all around. She has study Pete Ramey's teachings, and many others as well. She is not a professional, but I am beginning to question the theory that "Professionals always know more".
Will update with what we figure out.
I'm with you on the people come for reasons and seasons. And sometimes when we think all hope is lost, someone comes along and gives us a much needed and usually way too long overdue, kick in the pants to remind us- You know this already. You've done this before. You handled something similar long ago... and that's we pull our head out of our a$$ and get to work. It all comes back, we know what to do or at least where to turn and it happens. Life comes back around to normal.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on this! I feel the exact same way. There are no trimmers listed in my state either on the Ramey website. I'm lucky that Chrome is still sound, but my gut instinct is that he won't remain that way if he continues to be trimmed incorrectly, but I don't know enough to do it myself... it's a frustrating dilemma knowing something needs to change, but not know how to change it. I'm glad you found someone who has studied Pete Ramey's methods and can help you. Good luck! :D
ReplyDelete