On Mon, Sep 10, 2007 at 10:34:16PM -0600, Wanda Lauscher wrote: > Hi Vicka, sometimes transitioning a horse from shoes to barefoot takes > a long time. Especially if they've worn shoes for a very long time. > Boots may help him while he transittions.
*nod* i may end up buying him boots. right now he changes his opinions from moment to moment, and i don't know if he *will* get past the ouchy phase if he doesn't have (limited) exposure to the ouchy bits -- human feet sure don't adapt that way. > and they got him past the ouchy phase, and he had only light riding > during those times. I also gave him the choice of being ridden or > not. If I walked out with a bridle and Hreggur came to meet me, it > was a good day and off we went. If he stood in a corner and tried to > ignore me....I allowed him to be ignored. stjarni is as willing as ever, probably because the ring doesn't hurt and he enjoys the trail anyway. i do let him pick his footing outside, but we've been doing a lot of bushwhacking (i have quite the set of scrapes on my face) and i know it's still not keeping him away from the rocks; that's not really possible in our state forest. > Do you have pics of Stjarni's feet? Hreggur had terribly contracted > feet and it took a long time for his heels to open up. I have pics > somewhere... no, but i can certainly take some if folks would like. --vicka
