12/08/08                                   

Hello and Happy Holidays.

It's been a while i've been kept pretty busy with court appearances and depositions again so have been real busy. Have managed to get several more chapters written in the Ebook "Inside Horseshoeing Secrets of Lameness Prevention" so nearing completion of that project. If i say so myself it's looking great and there's a ton of information there allowing you to recognize if your horse is at risk of lameness. I've been getting a lot of emails lately with people having problems with their shoers doing the trimming or shoeing wrong - the owner of the horse doesn't usually realize something's wrong until the horse is lame .

So i have a quick story for today. It's about the horse named Smarty, a big muscular quarter horse i have been shoeing for the past 10 years. Yes 10 years. You see when i started shoeing Smarty he was full of problems , fear ! It was easy enough to pick up Smarty's feet but every time i'd move my body to get under him he'd tighten up and get stiff as a board. If you're thinking "well he's sore somewhere" and that's why he's having trouble - well that's not it .

Over the years of working with Smarty i have been able to get him loosened up in the front end, that took some time, then was able to fix him from jerking his rear legs back when i was under him. You see he'd stiffen up so much while i was under him he'd wear himself out to the point where to get comfortable again he'd either lean all the way over till he fell or he'd hop or pull his leg back. I have to say pulling the legs back is bad specially when there's a nail still sticking out of his foot , too many times i've had those nails rip right through my pants and skin at the same time - got the scars to prove it.

So i've been able to get ole Smarty fixed up pretty good except he's still always been just alittle bit off ( Just wasn't right ). After i got him to loosen up in the front and back then he turned his anxiety into side stepping and fishtailing whenever i'd just go to make a move. Horse psychology is interesting isn't it - sometimes when you fix one "Symptom" it migrates into another area of the body and this can go on like this for some time and it did with Smarty. I had gotten his legs to soften up but now it turned into a dancing around problem .

My last shoeing with Smarty didn't go well, he was dancing sideways in the ties and just being a royal pain in the rear. I could tell he was just being a shit ! The Fear was still there , no longer jerking his leg - or stiffening up but now causing the dancing as a symptom and now it had gotten to the point where he's being quite , i use the word "Bitchy" about it. Almost a meaness and so that day Smarty and i had words !! Quite a few of them. I can tolerate alot when it comes to horses but when the horse starts getting a real attitude like he's going to call the shots with me and i feel like the next step for the horse could possibly be kicking me then i find it's time to have a talk.

Smarty learned how to stand that day but i pissed him off royally in the process - too bad isn't it sometimes , like a spoiled brat sometimes you just have to tell them otherwise even if you know they are going to throw a tantrum , it's for the overall good. I got done with Smarty that day put him away but the look in his eyes would have melted wax. LOL

Now i got a call from the owner a couple days ago that Smarty needed to get shod again. Smarty is in bar shoes cause he has navicular disease and he's also been nerved due to the navicular. He's a great reining horse and the owner wanted to extend his use and keep using him hence the nerveing. I find it kinda interesting how when a horse gets navicular then is the time to recommend the bar shoes but my way of thinking is why wait till the navicular sets in , why not just use the bar shoes all along ? Well the bar shoes cost a bit more money , not much but enough to put people off from regular shoeing with bar shoes.

What i do to accomplish a bar shoe effect without actual bar shoes is to just fit the horse with a shoe that's a little bit longer in the heels. I'll turn the extra length at the heels inward a bit similar to a bar shoe. This way the navicular bones gets support and the deep flexor tendon stops getting stretched from the heels sinking into the ground because now you've got some extra heel support with the longer shoe. Back to Smarty.

I show up for the appointment to shoe Smarty and i don't even get to square one and ole Smarty starts shaking like a leaf . I could see he's having a serious issue so i don't push it . I stay really nice - talk to him - give him love - rub his nose but it's not working , he's getting into a nervous fit. If i just ever so lightly just tap him with the end of my finger he flinches as though someone was driving a stake into his heart . Maybe he's been bitten by a vampire bat - Just kidding - ok this is no time for joking.

For Smarty the moment of truth had finally arrived. He was out of places to hide and out of physical symptoms to express his fears. The quivering was him dealing with his own anxieties and fears. I had finally reached deep enough into his mind , had finally made enough progress that now all that was left was for man and horse to unite and connect - the real question always is - is the horse capable of it ? This is when , the human factor has to be the most careful , this is where we bridge the gap and the vulnerability of the horse is wide open - the horses trust is for the first time being tested , the horse is finally opening up the doors this is no time for me to be an idiot .

Poor ole Smarty was reaching out probably for the first time in his long life and i could see it happening. Now that Smarty is open my whole approach changes , now my touch becomes a healing touch and i rub him in a way that soothes - i had to make darn sure exactly how i was going to touch him delivered a quality of care and compassion and had a calming healing effect to him. That's what he needed and that's what he got. As he took notice of all this and while he's dealing with his own deamons the connection between man and animal was made . Within minutes Smarty stopped quivering and the sighs of relief came for him. What a site to see.

Oh and how wonderful it was , now that the quivering stopped and now with our connection when i asked for his foot he'd just give it , when i pulled his leg out to the side so i could get under him he allowed it , he was comfortable , and sure in himself , relaxed , relieved and almost euphoric. What a joy to work on horses like that. (-: Smarty and i had traveled a long and complex road together. We have "Arrived" at the Destination . Here's a picture of Smarty , the look in his face for the first time is one of the most peace i have ever seen in him . He's a bit frazzled looking but also very relieved, he kinda almost looks child like in a horse sense . Here he is .

                                                           
        
   
As usual happy and safe riding and always remember to www.Care4Horses.com   

John "TheFootDoctor" Silveira

ps. Remember you can still have consultations for any horse shoeing needs
     just email me directly at John@Care4Horses.com    consultation is at no cost .  FREE !

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