Happy December!

It's been a while since my last blog. Not much has happened, not much to report!

Hollywood was trimmed last week and he is MUCH better. His heels are opening, he has a nice concave on his front hooves and the trush is gone!

I have been riding him or working him 4 times a week and he is doing great. I don't notice any lameness or soreness riding him or working him. So, now I just need to get him back into shape! Ha Ha!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Fun, Fun, Fun!!!

Hollywood and I have been doing some riding!!! On Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, we did some light riding in the hopes of getting him back in shape. Well, my daughters wanted to ride around with me in the turnout on Sunday. It was great fun! I was riding bareback, my youngest saddled, and my oldest bareback. Whatever happened for sure, we won't know, but my oldest ran into my youngest and then into me. My youngest fell off scraping her elbow and I fell of brusing the left side of my rib cage. I haven't been able to ride since Sunday. I am pretty sad. I'll work Hollywood in the round pen later today to pick up where we left off. He's getting kinda fat!!!!

My neck is sore from sleeping on the recliner. My oldest daughter feels so bad about all of this that she has really stepped up with helping me feed and care for all of our horses. She is such a sweet girl!

I wasn't able to ride at soccer practice last night but my oldest was able to go with me. She just traded her appy for a paint mare a few weeks ago and has been really eager to try horse soccer. Well, they did great! The league owner wants her to join the youth league now! Looks like my sport is now hers!! That's okay. I love watching my girls and their horses!!

That's it for now. The pain meds are kicking in and I need a nap. In the recliner.

Horse Soccer!

It's been a while since my last post. Probably because not much is happening around here! The weather has taken a turn for the better and it's gotten cooler. 50 at night and 80 during the day!!

I joined the Arizona horse soccer league in October. I took my daughter's horse, Blaze, for the first few times to see how I would like it. Well, I LOVE it! On November 2nd, I took Hollywood, too and just let him loose in the arena while we played soccer. He was a bit frightened of the ball when it got too close, otherwise, he was fine. Then, on the 9th, I took only Hollywood. He kicked the ball a few times with me when I was on the ground. When the group started running, I mounted up and Hollywood just wanted to stay behind the pack. So, we chased the other horses, not the ball. Again, when the ball got to close, Hollywood would get a little nervous and try to run away. I kept his head pointed towards the ball and that seemed to help.

I wasn't able to go on the 16th (yesterday) so on Sunday (the 15th) my daughters rode their horses and kicked the ball around a bit in the round pen. I think my girls like soccer! I'm hoping I will be able to bring them over Christmas break.

Now, for the best part. Hollywood is doing great! I haven't ridden him much, just want him to heal. I took him to a Halloween "Spook" clinic on the 11th, Veterans Day. We have done the obstacles before so not much bothered him. It wasn't a riding clinic so we just did a ton of ground work. I'm hoping to ride him this week and see how he does. I don't anticipate any soreness. His trimmer came out on the 9th and said his heels are in the acceptable range and that he can now be trimmed every 6 weeks instead of every 3 weeks! YEA!!

That's it for now! Make it a great day!

Great Day!

On Tuesday, yesterday, Hollywood and I did some riding work. He was a little hot considering I haven't ridden him in a while. He calmed down after 10 minutes and we had a blast. He sure wants to please!

I rode him in his boots and gave him some pain reliever afterwards. He isn't sore today. I am really glad! I was soaking all four feet after a ride but this time I didn't.

My trimmer recommed a chiropracter for Hollywood but I am reluctant. I think his soreness in his shoulders is from sore feet. Now that he is starting to feel better and walking heel first, I want to wait and see.

I'm going to ride him hopefully tomorrow, Thursday, and Friday. The weather here has turned freakishly cold and windy.

Anyways, make it a great day everyone!

Another sucessful trim! Week 9

My trimmer was out on Monday (yesterday) to check out Hollywood. He was at his 3 week trim but only his toe needed to be trimmed up a bit with a mustand roll. His heels are looking good, too! I am so pleased that things are going so well. He is still a bit stiff in his shoulders walking down into the washes but I'm going to give him a few more weeks to see if he doesn't improve.

Last week I rode Hollywood two days in a row. I thought he'd be sore after the first day but it was all good. We rode for 45 minutes each day and worked on his speed control. Hollywood LOVES to run so he was reved up and ready to go when we went into a lope. I waited until he wanted to stop before we went back to a trot. I haven't loped him since May so I am surprised that he was so easy to control!

I'm going to ride him again on Thursday. We'll see what happens!

Make it a great day!

Just a little collection....

I rode my Hollywood again yesterday morning. The weather was sunny and 75 degrees! Yea for winter! Well, as close to winter as Arizona gets, ha ha!

We trotted for about 10 minutes working on collection. Then we worked for 10 minutes on bridleless training. He was great and we enjoyed our time together. Hollywood is such a love bug and tries hard to please me. I sure love that boy.

I booted him for our ride and kept the boots on until lunch time. He hasn't been a bit sore, just a bit stiff in his left leg/shoulder. So far, so good.

I wanted to ride him bareback and work on our bridleless training today but it was raining this morning and it's pretty muddy out there. I'll try this afternoon when it dries up.

Make it a great Wednesday!!

Great Weekend!

I had a great weekend! Now that the weather is cooling down, my girls and I are able to ride during the day. Yea!!

I rode Hollywood at a walk bareback on Saturday while my oldest ran laps around us. I guess all my desensitizing work last year with Hollywood paid off!!!!

Sunday, my oldest decided it was time to desensitize her horse to gun shot noise. Since dad was home, she thought a cap gun could do the trick. (There is NO way dad would let her near a BB gun much less a real gun!) We had a blast! She handled that horse very well. I have never seen him move out so fast. He is a typical kids horse and his lope is as slow as it gets.

Of course, during all of this commotion, Hollywood fell asleep. He really didn't want to be a part of it.

After my daughter's horse got tired loping around (a whopping 5 minutes), he decided that the noise wasn't going to kill him and he calmed down. I decided to try out my daughter's english saddle and trotted around with her. Hollywood did great. I didn't notice any pain in his front feet but we only did a few laps around the turnout.

He was a tiny bit stiff this morning so I soaked his feet (still having some thrush issues), gave him some pain reliver and he's as good as new. I have to admit that I like soaking his back feet because of the way he shakes his feet and takes huge steps!! Ha!

Get out there and enjoy the weather!

Make it a great day.......

3rd trim

Hollywood had his 3rd trim on Tuesday. He is totally on his soles now.

He is still doing great! He was a bit sore that day and maybe the next, but besides that, he is fine.

When I went out to feed this morning, he was running and bucking. His feet have to be feeling better!

I am so pleased with his transition. I have ridden him twice now at just a walk for about 15 to 20 minutes at a time. He did great! I haven't ridden him since May and he was so sweet, calm and willing. Maybe it's because I spent all summer grooming him and messing around with his feet!

He will have another trim in 3 weeks. I plan on working with him this coming week; we need to do some more ground work.

Have a great weekend!

Week 5

Well, we've made it to week 5.

Hollywood is still doing great. He was a bit sore after his last trim (picts in previous post). But after booting him and giving him some STP, he was trotting around the turnout chasing our pony, Ginger, again.

My trimmer said to start riding him so next week I will. We'll start off easy and see how it goes. This time last year Hollywood tried to go barefoot. He didn't do very well. Now I am more prepared to keep him comfortable and am determined to keep him barefoot.

I also have been soaking all four hooves twice weekly in a water/lysol mixture. I have noticed that his heels/frog have opened up a bit and the thrush is gone. Thank goodness!!!! Soaking hooves is NOT my favorite chore to do!

Make it a great day!!

We've made it to Week 3!

Hollywood is doing well. I found pictures of his feet a week before his shoes were pulled:

Oh ugh!! His toes are really long!!!

Now here is a picture of him after his shoes were pulled, getting ready for his first trim:
This is his fronts:

Here he is now, his second trim. His toes aren't as bad as before but still pretty long.

Fronts:

And rear:

3 weeks now! Happy Labor Day!

Hollywood is at 3 weeks now! My barefoot trimmer came out this afternoon to check Hollywood and do a trim.

He cut off quite a bit of toe and just filed a little on his heels. Hollywood is now walking just fine. No more walking toe first! He is sore this evening so I gave him a pain reliever.

It was getting really dark up north so I hurried and did my chores outside quickly. Now it looks like the storm is going to pass us by. Ugh!!! It is so stinkin hot outside, I wish it would rain and cool things down.

Well, now to get the kiddo ready for bed..................

Make it a great weekend! And Happy Labor Day!!!

Yep....he's got thrush

Okay, since I had a few hours to myself yesterday I decided to web surf. I found a great website www.healthyhoof.com and read all of it! I did need some Tylenol afterwards - but... whew!!!! Tons of info there!

Hollywood has long toes, contracted heals and bad frogs. He fit the criteria for thrush. So, I gathered up the sugessted supplies and headed out after dinner to get to work. I don't have soaking boots, something I'm going to get today, so I put him on a rubber mat and hosed down his feet.

After scrubbing the bottom of his feet, I attempted to keep them wet with a water/Lysol mixture for 20 minutes on the rubber mat. Then I squirted antibacterial ointment/athlete's foot fungus cream into every crack and crevace on his frog. I led him to a dry rubber mat to dry out his feet. About 20 minutes later he was dry so I booted him. Mind you, the boots had Gold Bond antifungal powder in them.

Now, according to the website, I'm supposed to do this for a minimum of 5 days. I DON'T THINK I CAN POSSIBLY DO IT!! It took about an hour just to do Hollywood's mani/pedicure!!

Does anyone have a better way??? Oh, please say yes! One can hope, right????

Our First Sucessful Week!!

We've made it a week now! Hollywood is doing really well. So good, as a matter of fact, that I am tempted to hop on Hollywood and go for a ride!!

I'm thinking of calling my trimmer out a little earlier than planned because Hollywood's toes are getting a little long already.

I didn't get pictures of my boy's hooves the other day. We had a nasty monsoon tear through and there is no way I'm going outside! As soon as the wind starts blowing, the horses start running! They absolutely love the rain and mud!

Make it a fabulous day everyone!

Day 6 Barefoot

On August 18th Hollywood's shoes were pulled. He was a little tender footed that day but is doing great! He is still his frisky self, chasing the pony around their turnout and trotting through the wash.

Last night Hollywood and my 2 other horses were doing laps in the turnout. His stride was a bit reserved but considering he WANTS to run and play tells me he is feeling good.

I'll get pictures of his hooves this afternoon and post them tomorrow.

Make it a great day, everyone!

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog! Well, the welcome should be from my horse, Hollywood.



Hoping that his health will be positively impacted going barefoot has led me to pulling his shoes.



Now, a little about my dear Hollywood. He is a 12 year old gelding, 15.1 hands, palomino quarter horse. I have owned him for 2 years now. I don't know anything about his past but he has had some fine training and some really bad handling. When I got him he had a lot of fear and trust issues but, thanks to a really good friend/horse trainer, we have greatly improved and are moving forward.



Hollywood and I were at a riding clinic in March, 2009 when I noticed that he would trip on his left front leg occasionally. I tried to dismiss it because we were doing some manuevers that Hollywood wasn't very good at like roll backs.



My vet was out in April 2009 for everyone's spring shots, teeth floating and sheath cleanings. I mentioned Hollywood's tripping to my vet and he looked at him. After lunging him, flexing him and using his hoof testers, my vet diagnoised Hollywood as mildly navicular. I was crushed. Hollywood was going to be my gymkhana/trail horse. I absolutely LOVE to run with him. I feel like I'm flying with my best friend.



Needless to say, I have since learned more about navicular than I ever thought was possible. By going barefoot with Hollywood I hope to ease his pain and be able to fly with him, even if only for a day, after his barefoot transition.