Hooves

Champagne has a new farrier. She saw him for the first time today, and I learned a lot about hooves.

Champagne has been barefoot for several years, so his hoof walls are nice and thick, but she noticed some things she wants to change.

She said his gait is a little uneven (which I certainly have noticed riding him) and that he is high on the right side. That makes sense: he always wants to bend toward the right even when going straight, and has had a hard time picking up a canter left, probably due to the same thing. She thinks she can even him out a bit with his hooves.

Also, she said his heels are too high. (I picture him clomping about in stilettos, but maybe not . . .) She explained that because his heels are so high, he is landing too flat on his feet, which makes it hard for him to get any extension in his gait. As his hooves grow out and get trimmed again, she said the “bars” of the hoof will become more prominent, enabling him to stop better, and the lower heel will let him step out further. This would be a big help as I work on his impulsion.

She saw no sign of thrush, but a little separation of one of the hoof walls, which she said was due to his heel issue, putting more stress on the front. She trimmed most of the separation away, but I need to be careful to pick it out until his next trim.

I felt as if she really understood Champagne’s body mechanics, and I think the change to this farrier will be a good one.