Well, we are back from Gainesville,
a lot poorer and a little wiser.? Alpine has bad bruises all over his front
feet from some lousy farrier work.? Our normal farrier broke his pelvis about
12 weeks ago, and we had to have a replacement come in to do feet.? About three
weeks after that, Alpine went lame.? None of us liked the first guy’s
job, so we called a different one to come out.? He was no better.? Alpine’s
feet were seriously out of balance, they allowed his heels to stay too long,
and set his shoes about ¾ of an inch too far forward.?
On the bright side, Alpine has beautiful clean x-rays.? The vet says his x-rays
don’t tell that he’s a 14 year old well traveled horse.? The
farrier at the university reset his shoes, putting them quite a ways back past
his heels and really rolling his toes.? He spent a lot of time with me showing
me exactly what I want to see when Al’s feet are trimmed. I tried to
bribe him into coming to Jacksonville
to do Al and Merlin’s feet, but I got told I can’t afford him.? He’s
probably right.? They said he should be fine in a few days.? When he’s
sound, ride him.? He is already moving better trotting around the pasture when
we got home.?
So!? This means that Alpine CAN do endurance again!!!? I’m
excited.? Actually, the most interesting thing of the whole day is that he
weighed 928 #’s today!? He’s 14.1, and I always assumed about
800-850#’s. I’ve been under dosing him when I worm him…..?
Juli and the Herd
Alpine (I did not enjoy my trip today.? I do NOT like hot shoeing.? I REALLY
didn’t like the TB Stallion neighbor there)
Merlin ( phew…thought I was going to be started sooner
cause Alpine was unridable)
