Re: E-Z BOOTS & Saskia
This message is from: "saskia schoofs" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hi Sini! > Where are Saskia here! :-))) just very very busy :-((( > and the haflinger-fjord baby?! still inside of Kitty! it's freezing again in Belgium, so I can only encourage her to try to keep it inside of her as long as possible! (though I have a strange tendency to shake her until the foal comes out at last :-))) why can't they be like dogs, three months is long enough for a waiting grandmother-to-be! :-))) well, the merrier I'll be when it pops out! :-) > How are you? impatient and nervous! :-) sorry for not writing earlier to you, though I have wanted to since a long time, I'm just a little overwhelmed by work. for Christmas I got Miller's book about imprinting. you mentioned it in an earlier post (thanks for all the foal-advices!). How do you do your imprinting? Yesterday the vet came for the annual vaccinations. He was afraid that they would recognize him, or his smell, and run away, but they crowded around him, impatient to be vaccinated, and especially when he started to deworm ("o!!! that man has food!!!") they were so enthousiast that we had to laugh, because when he was deworming the little Shet Janosch, the Fjords Sybren and Zeno both climbed upon Janosch trying to get some more of the stuff. Janosch carried the weight bravely, and swallowed as much worm-paste as he could! To my big relief he said the stable was big enough for foaling, if I would be on the premises to be sure everything was allright. I plan to let Kitty choose where to foal, but it's good to know that the stable is okay if it rains heavily etc., or if she should choose it. She enters it spontaneously these last days, something she never did before, so I think she's preparing to build a nest! :-) Sybren was funny yesterday. More than a year ago, I taught him how to carry a bucket. Just for fun. I hadn't played at that again since then, in fact, I had completely forgotten that he could do it. Yesterday I had a terrible headache and was looking rather grey I think, I was sitting in the pasture to get some fresh air (it was cold but sunny), a feeding bucket was still in the pasture, next to Sybren (not surprisingly), so suddenly he looked at me in a funny way, as to say: "hey, look what I remember!". He took the handle of the bucket in his mouth and brought it to me! When I took it over, he had a smile from one ear to the other! Maybe because he thought I would fill it again! He can pull such funny faces! He will be three in May, and sometimes he looks so big and impressive, he has a huge neck and is really sturdy, but sometimes he can look so young and almost vulnerable, it's very strange. Happy Fjording, Saskia
Re: E-Z BOOTS
This message is from: "Meredith Sessoms" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >What sort of problem is caused by a farrier trimming too short in >very cold weather? I've never heard of this. If you have your horses bare feet trimmed up real neat and the ground freezes hard, the horse can wear its poor feet down til they are raw and tip-toeing in a very short time. The same can happen in dry hard summer clay with rocks; and in very wet weather on rocky and muddy ground where the wet weather keeps the hooves soft so that they quickly wear down on the rocks. This happened to Dorina last year. I thought her feet were fine. The weather had been very dry and the ground was hard as concrete. I was marvelling at how neat the ground was keeping her feet and I hadn't needed Dan the farrier in weeks. Then one morning I noticed Dorina was wincing with every step. Her hooves had suddenly worn down way too far and I was very upset because I couldn't get the farrier out here quick enough and I had to watch her tip-toe around until Dan could make it out to put shoes on her. Weeks later when he came out to reset her shoes I could still see where the bruising had been around the hoof wall. I thought Dan was cutting her to the quick when I saw red dots in the shavings. He told me that was old bruising from when her feet had worn down so badly weeks before.:( >>><<< Meredith Sessoms >>><<< Soddy-Daisy. Tennessee. USA >>><<< Dorina & NFR Aagot
Re: E-Z BOOTS
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 1/22/00 9:02:49 PM Mountain Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: << Sue: You meantioned Velcro straps-do they come with the boots, or did you make them? Someone I spoke to who uses the boots a lot said she uses "keepers" just in case a boot would come off, so as not to lose it. I suppose I could call State Line and ask. >> Yes, I made my straps. I have never seen the straps advertised in the catalogs although I know E-Z Boot sells some. One time I was riding through quite fast flowing water and a boot came off, because of the straps the boot was not lost. There are some horses that would come unglued with a boot hanging around their ankle but I was riding a Fjord and once out of the water replaced the boot and rode on. As I said in my earlier posting I have had no problem with my E-Z Boots I don't use them all the time, for much of the year my mare is shod, but they do allow me to give her feet a break from shoes and still allow me to ride or drive her on our rock terrain without bruising her very flat feet. Sue
Re: E-Z BOOTS & Saskia
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 1/22/00 1:23:02 AM Mountain Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: << Hi Sue, you say that you use a Velcro strap hooked into the back of the boot and around the ankle so we don't loose a boot. How do you actually use it? Any other ideas on how they can be made sit where they should? Haven't tried them yet but some people say they can come off. >> I made my own Velcro straps with 1/2 inch Velcro tape and the sewing machine. Not sure how to describe them so they would make sense. The E-Z Boot company does sell a strap to keep the boots on, I have seen it in the literature that comes with the boots. Sue
Re: E-Z BOOTS
This message is from: Jean Ernest <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Joni, apparently a horse that has just had its feet trimmed real short could wind up with very painful feet or even frostbite in SEVERE cold, Like -40 or -50 degrees like we were having. I doubt you get those sorts of temps in your area. We had -57F officially a couple time with temps as low as -65F in some of the low lying areas. Since the weather could turn cold again , down to the -40's and below, my farrier was careful not to trim very short. It would not be a problem at -20 even. Jean in Fairbanks, Alaska where we are basking in mid +20's also, with more snow. Only problem is there is no place to ride with 3 ft of snow on the ground and the trails are all snowed in with 2 ft of fresh snow. Skiers are having a ball, tho with all that fresh powder! At 10:09 PM 1/22/2000 EST, you wrote: >This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >Jean: What sort of problem is caused by a farrier trimming too short in very >cold weather? I've never heard of this. And I, for one, am happy to report >that the frigid cold has departed S. E. Wisconsin-we are back up to the upper >20s and I look forward to an enjoyable ride outside tomarrow >:):):):):):):)Joni > > Jean Ernest Fairbanks, Alaska [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: E-Z BOOTS
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Jean: What sort of problem is caused by a farrier trimming too short in very cold weather? I've never heard of this. And I, for one, am happy to report that the frigid cold has departed S. E. Wisconsin-we are back up to the upper 20s and I look forward to an enjoyable ride outside tomarrow :):):):):):):)Joni
Re: E-Z BOOTS & Saskia
This message is from: sini seppala <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hi Sue, you say that you use a velcro strap hooked into the back of the boot and around the ankle so we don't loose a boot. How do you actually use it? Any other ideas on how they can be made sit where they should? Haven't tried them yet but some people say they can come off. Our horses don't usually need shoes under these circumstances. The only reason for having shoes is that it's sometimes quite slippery over here in the winter. We've been wondering if easy boots might be the answer. They also come with small metal studs which can be attached to their bottom and removed. Where are Saskia and the haflinger-fjord baby?! How are you? Thank you Sini in Finland. home page at http://www.saunalahti.fi/~partoy/Juhola6.html
Re: E-Z BOOTS
This message is from: Mary Thurman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --- Bushnell's <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > This message is from: "Bushnell's" > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > Regarding "not shod in the winter." > > We've always had shoes removed in the wintertime and > considered it more > humane but can't recall the basis for the practise, > just assumed the reason > was that metal can be a cruel cold conductor. Ruthie That's one reason for it - although I did use "sharp shoes" with screw-in ice caulks on my riding mare in the winter when I lived in Libby. The metal shoes didn't seem to bother her much. I think most of us pull the shoes in the winter because we don't use the horses much in the winter, so keeping them shod is not economically efficient. Some of us do our own trimming/filing when the horses are barefoot, which also saves money. Around here where it is so wet we take the shoes off for the winter for a couple of reasons: 1)hooves which are constantly wet get soft, so the shoes come off accidentally more easily. 2) hooves with shoes hold more 'gunk' than bare hooves, and are harder to clean. 2) shoes lost or pulled off in the deep mud are impossible to find - sometimes you get lucky and find them in the summer, but by then they are usually all bent up and rusty. It's very easy for a horse that walks in deep mud all the time to step on the back of his front shoe and pull it off - the mud messes up their timing I guess. We have one mare (Line) who has NEVER had shoes on. Her feet are very tough with thick soles and walls. The farrier says he is glad he doesn't need to try to drive a nail through those walls! He recommends that the horses go barefoot in the winter to allow time for nail holes to grow out and to allow the foot to "rest" and return to normal before the next season. Remember, shoes are something MAN introduced to the horse. It's an improvement when using them on rough, rocky ground, but it's still an imperfect solution. Of course, some horses are shod year-round out of necessity - either because of some foot problem, or because they are used year-round and need their shoes to protect their feet/give them proper traction for their work. When we did this back in Montana, we tried to give the horse at least a few weeks off with bare feet during a lag time in the work/competition he was used for. Mary = Mary Thurman Raintree Farms [EMAIL PROTECTED] __ Do You Yahoo!? Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger. http://im.yahoo.com
Re: E-Z BOOTS
This message is from: "Denise Delgado" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> dear ruthie, my farrier told me that removing shoes in the winter gives the foot a bit of a break. it allows the hoof wall to expand and flatten out the bottom of the sole so the frog can make better contact with the ground and increases foot circulation with each step. makes sense and sounds like a good story. he's a very good farrier, keeps up to date and is always going to farrier seminars. be interested in hearing from a farrier on this one. denise in clearing showers and blue sky on the horizon, northern california.
Re: E-Z BOOTS
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Joni, I keep an EZ boot on hand for the time when one of my horses throws a shoe but have never used it for riding. I always thought if we went to the Black Hills to trail ride (it is very rocky terrain) that I might try them. They are awfully expensive and you can't really alternate them much between horses because they come in a bunch of different sizes -- unless, of course, your horses have the same size hooves. Susan
Re: E-Z BOOTS
This message is from: Jean Ernest <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >Regarding "not shod in the winter." > >We've always had shoes removed in the wintertime and considered it more >humane but can't recall the basis for the practise, just assumed the reason >was that metal can be a cruel cold conductor. Ruthie Generally the "winter shoes" here are put on with pads, either the 'Huf-grip" rim snow pad or full pads so maybe that insulates them. I just got the summer shoes removed and the winter shoes and pads put on my guys yesterday ...HOORAY!!!... My farrier thought that it was better to leave the plates on rather than remove them if he couldn't put the other shoes on, and it has worked out ok. He is VERY careful not to trim short when the weather might drop to the -40's etc. and didn't take much off their hooves yeasterday for that reason. He says that some other farriers have trimmed hooves too short for the cold conditions and horses have had problems. He wouldn't trim the girls at all yesterday for that reason even tho they were a bit long. The reason he wanted to leave the summer plates on rather than just take shoes off when it was too cold to put the others on was that the ground was so hard that taking the shoes off would have caused more problems than leaving them on. I trust my farrier and he sure knows his business shoeing here in the extremes of Alaska! After the boys got their borium shoes and pads yesterday they discovered that they had a lot more traction and 25 year old Bjarne went racing and bucking around the paddock, stopping occasionnaly to roll in the snow. Before, he had acted as if he wanted to roll, pawing and starting to get down, but then would decide against it, as his shoes must have felt slippery perhaps. but now he rolls with abandon to get the snow off his back then bounces up with a buck and races around chasing the others. We are enjoying balmy temps here, +25 degrees and we had about 18 inches of snow over the last few days. Sure glad I have a snow bloer as there would be no place to PUSH the snow! I still have to dig out the pickup and shovel snow off the deck ( Maybe try to get the snowblower on the deck to do that) then I can think about snowblowing the little arena and maybe I can actually RIDE! Hey, wouldn't THAT be a nice change..wonder if I remember how? LOL So when it is COLD here, it is WARM down there in the lower 48...And when it is Cold down there, we get the balmy weather! I like it this way..you folks can enjoy winter for a while! Jean in Fairbanks, ALaska, Almost shirt sleeve weather at +25! Jean Ernest Fairbanks, Alaska [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: E-Z BOOTS
This message is from: "Bushnell's" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Regarding "not shod in the winter." We've always had shoes removed in the wintertime and considered it more humane but can't recall the basis for the practise, just assumed the reason was that metal can be a cruel cold conductor. Ruthie At 11:21 AM 01/20/2000 -0500, you wrote: >This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >Our one experience with ezboots as a means to protect an injured >hoof for a short time was very positive. They are expensive, and >getting a good fit is not easy, but we are considering buying sets >for one of our teams which are normally not shod during the winter. > >
Re: E-Z BOOTS
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Our one experience with ezboots as a means to protect an injured hoof for a short time was very positive. They are expensive, and getting a good fit is not easy, but we are considering buying sets for one of our teams which are normally not shod during the winter.
Re: E-Z BOOTS
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 1/19/00 6:43:41 PM Mountain Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: << Anyone out there tried E-Z Boots on thier Fjord? I haven't had shoes on my 91/2 yr. old gelding for about 4yrs. The only time I feel he would need protection is when we trailer to a park that has rocky areas and that's not very often, so I thought perhaps E-Z Boots would be the way to go. They're also supposed to be good for winter riding. Any comments? Joni in Wisconsin where we are enjoying one of the finest mild winters that I can remember! >> I use E-Z Boots on my Fjords and they work well. Katrina is shod and padded most of the year but I like to give her feet a break in the winter so we switch to E-Z Boots. We drive on dirt road, some are covered in large gravel. I have been ponying my 20 month old filly, Heather, behind the cart since she was a year old, and as she is too young to be shod I also use E-Z Boots on her. The only problem I have had is when we move from gravel to pavement, especially where the gravel is on the pavement, we get a bit of sliding. My girl friend only uses E-Z Boots on her Fjord, for riding and driving, and has had no problem. We both use a velcro strap hooked into the back of the boot and around the ankle so we don't loose a boot in mud, water or because a horse has stepped on the back of a boot and pulled it off. E-Z Boots are not cheap but they are less expensive than keeping shoes on all the time and protect my Fjords feet well. Hope this helps. Sue
Re: E-Z BOOTS
This message is from: "Rebecca Mayer" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I did try e-z boots and they are great for an emergency, but they were always a struggle to get on and could be thrown off with enough action. Becky
Re: E-Z BOOTS
This message is from: Marsha Jo Hannah <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > Anyone out there tried E-Z Boots on thier Fjord? Only as an emergency shoe replacement, to keep the hoof from chipping up until the farrier arrives. Unfortunately, my Fjords seem to have hooves that are a different shape than what the manufacturers of Easy Boots designed for. Of my 3, there's only one that I can keep the boots on---and he's the one that needs them the least! The ones with rounder, drafty hooves keep stepping on the back part of the boot and ripping it off, no matter how tightly it's adjusted. I'd suggest that you borrow a pair and try them on your horse first, before investing in them. Marsha Jo HannahMurphy must have been a horseman-- [EMAIL PROTECTED] anything that can go wrong, will! 30 mi SSE of San Francisco, Calif.