tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8415492346905673232.post2972493868254540945..comments2024-03-14T06:57:29.577+00:00Comments on Rockley Farm: The whole horseNic Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885459438592023135noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8415492346905673232.post-2662236523745869472011-12-15T14:14:35.488+00:002011-12-15T14:14:35.488+00:00Jen, that's a really good point - with bad fee...Jen, that's a really good point - with bad feet even the best fitting saddle isn't going to help sore shoulders. Its one of the areas where its essential for the "team" to work together - saddlers, vets, farriers/trimmers, bodyworkers and most importantly owners - to get a holistic view of the horse and its issues. <br /><br />I think we could well be amazed at where we are in 10 years, given how much people have learned in the last 10 :-)Nic Barkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06885459438592023135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8415492346905673232.post-1136705016422270542011-12-14T15:41:26.473+00:002011-12-14T15:41:26.473+00:00I wonder how many "saddle fit issues" ar...I wonder how many "saddle fit issues" are actually foot discomfort issues. I've had this epiphany, and a friend I know another blogger who had this happen with her mare too. When the feet don't hurt, the shoulders/withers aren't sore, and the saddle doesn't cause issues. Amazing, really!<br /><br />I wonder if, 10 years from now, equine professionals of all types will look to foot health and nutrition FIRST as the root cause for a multitude of issues. Wouldn't that be amazing!jenjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01737679332792618499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8415492346905673232.post-59426438031763392822011-12-13T15:00:23.888+00:002011-12-13T15:00:23.888+00:00Andrea, I am sure you are right, though what is ca...Andrea, I am sure you are right, though what is cause and what is effect is sometimes impossible to work out. <br /><br />For sure the RH would be at risk if taking extra load which should have been shared by the LF but couldn't be. There may also have been hidden, conformational reasons for the LF becoming clubby which you could never have done anything about. <br /><br />Martine, I would hope that as your horse's feet become more healthy things will improve in his body too. Obviously its very important to keep him comfortable for now, either by keeping him on good surfaces or by using boots.Nic Barkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06885459438592023135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8415492346905673232.post-41694077142771832792011-12-13T12:41:18.403+00:002011-12-13T12:41:18.403+00:00What about this situation:
My Gogo had a club foot...What about this situation:<br />My Gogo had a club foot on her LF. It wasn't massively clubbed, but came from her standing splay legged as a foal and no one bothering to do anything about it. She grazed like that for her entire life - RF forward, LF back. As a result, the RF always wanted to run under, and the LF always wanted to be higher in the heel. She landed and loaded evenly on both fronts, and was barefoot and actively competing for years. There was no taking that heel away from her... she has beautiful calloused sole underneath it, and cutting into that (as one farrier tried to do) made her very sore. It never changed, no matter how correct the work was.<br />However, her RH was the one that ultimately killed it. It was the one with the arthritic hock that we watched so closely. It was also the one that just would not heal - both hind legs were injured during her accident, but the RH was the one that reinjured three times, never the left. <br />Now that everything is over and done with, I have to wonder whether or not the clubbiness on the LF had anything to do with the issues on the RH. Probably, is my guess. Asymmetry leads to other asymmetry.Andreahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15902291220984883182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8415492346905673232.post-17684228556779686532011-12-12T18:52:51.041+00:002011-12-12T18:52:51.041+00:00Very interesting post. We've recently gone ba...Very interesting post. We've recently gone barefoot with three horses, one of which has had lumbar/sacro-iliac and shoulder issues on and off for years. We have always accepted that he needs to see the osteopath/chirpractor/massage person regularly. At the moment he is a bit tender on his newly bare feet but your post makes me optimistic that given time, we will see a much sounder horse overall.Martinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14496995504975297110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8415492346905673232.post-8217289480412896442011-12-12T17:56:34.358+00:002011-12-12T17:56:34.358+00:00Absolutely, Susanna - straightness and suppleness ...Absolutely, Susanna - straightness and suppleness are the next steps and the ongoing tasks...Nic Barkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06885459438592023135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8415492346905673232.post-51436383622253097322011-12-12T11:16:24.836+00:002011-12-12T11:16:24.836+00:00Could not agree with your more Nick. I really wish...Could not agree with your more Nick. I really wish people would look at the whole picture MUCH more. I would also throw in the mix correct riding. So basically you need to be good enough and balanced enough rider to school your horse correctly for long lasting results.<br /><br />I also agree with those areas you pointed out and have certainly seen exactly that. <br /><br />SusannaNew Traderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09561484731977639906noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8415492346905673232.post-35935570323175320712011-12-12T09:06:40.918+00:002011-12-12T09:06:40.918+00:00Yes, Bailey had ongoing back problems for years be...Yes, Bailey had ongoing back problems for years before he actually went lame. His diagonal hind foot was also not landing as it should either, he was sliding it underneath himself. Poor boy he must have been so uncomfortable no wonder i hit the deck so many times, and we could never pinpoint the problem until he went lame :-( a happy ending though, he is going really well and his osteopath has said it is the best she has ever seen him. Long may it continue.Laineyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04719790356091011001noreply@blogger.com