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[RC] Alpines new shoes - agilbxrWell, after a year and a half of barefoot, I had to break down today and shoe my pony. I've been riding longer and faster than I ever have, and I'm afraid that I have worn Al's feet down too much. I went to ride yesterday, and discovered Alpine was just smidge off, but not what I'd call lame. Checked his legs with a fine tooth comb, no heat, no swelling, nothing. Sooo, since my farrier was due out today anyway, I put him in his room and waited.
Kenny (the farrier), was checking out Alpines foot after I told him my pony was off, and when he hit the toe area, Al started biting the lead rope. But he never twitched that foot...crazy guy. After a little trimming and some probing later, there it was! The dreaded abcess. (aren't abcess's supposed to make horses drastically lame???). Anyway, Kenny and I chatted about feet and riding and stuff, and it was decided that he needed his feet shod. Darn! I liked paying $20 for a trim. My check book whined a bit about $65 front shoes. *grin*
Anyway, he has a nice shiny new set of shoes ( he got rim shoes. I don't know if that makes any kind of difference or not). He was in the pasture showing them off when I left. And trotting much sounder...I know, not necessarily from the shoes, but cause we found the abcess and opened it. So, I have instructions that I am supposed to show up tomorrow morning and trot him out. If he's 100% sound, he's going on a short ride to get used to his new tootsies. Yay!
Juli and Alpine (hey! wanna see...they are shiny!)
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