Wow. It's already the 2nd week in August and it seems like we just got through with spring mud! It's hot, muggy and incredibly busy here at Penzance and with Penzance clientele.
This summer I've focused on mainly pathological hooves with the majority being laminitic and foundered critters. A good number of navicular syndrome, too with more than my share of Long Toe/Low Heel Syndrome as well. I can say in all honesty that the Natural Trim continues to amaze me with each horse I treat. There has been one set-back this year with a mare who penetrated both front soles with her P3: the owner was sadly taken up with care of a very ill family member and was not as vigilant about the hooves as should have been. Understandable considering the circumstances however her mare re-foundered this March after not getting trimmed for 2 months. The rotation is actually a lateral rotation rather than a straight down rotation which makes the trim treatment and rehab just a bit different than the "norm". However, good news as of this writing - the mare is again almost completely sound and her hooves are, once again, looking pretty sharp. I'm finding, over and over again, that the 4th month into recovery is seemingly a "magical" month when it appears that overnight, the previously head-nodding lame horse becomes sound with no noticeable appearance of lameness. I'm not sure what the 4th month has to do except that maybe that is the 1/2 way mark of new hoof growth. Perhaps someone "out there" will someday have an answer for me on this but as it stands, I've begun to tell clients that they can expect their horse to show remarkable changes during the latter part of the 3rd month into the 1st week or so of the 4th month.
Several clients have had their horses "vet checked" for soundness and the horses have come through with flying colors. Most noteably is "Call Me Ishmael" who, a year ago last January, had an appointment to be euthanized due to "incurable" navicular. As of July of this summer, 2005, Ish was pronounced 100% sound by his vet and is going home into full working training for eventing on September 1st. While he remains here at Penzance, he is in semi-training as his owner can get here. His owner, living over 100 miles away, cannot be here on a daily basis. We are excited, though, to the prospect of seeing Ish competing successfully this fall or next spring. A bittersweet good-bye, I know it won't be a "forever" goodbye to Ish as I will be periodically "checking" on his trim and natural hoofcare. He is a most sensitive horse and such a positive addition to Penzance that all here will miss him terribly! He is one of those horses to whom most are drawn with an almost magical awareness of something "special" about the horse. Even before hearing his story of recovery, his presence softly beckons those who have doubts about this "fad" of natural hoofcare! As people watch and want to know about his movements now, he graciously and surprisingly exhibits his new hooves in an awesome array of high school movements completely at liberty! His capriole is magnificent; his passage without flaw and his all out "catch me if you can" is breath-taking. But then, when asked to simply "trot" he is most willing to comply quietly and gently with a soft nicker as if to say, I am happy to show you and I promise not to scare you! Yes, we will all miss his presence here in the tall pines but I can guarantee that no one will ever forget him. (go to www.barefoottrim.com and click on "Pathologies" then "Navicular" to read about his history and recovery here at Penzance.)
Another noteable is "Kyle" from southern Rhode Island. Kyle is a 23 year old TB who was in shoes for most of his life. In the 7 or 9 years he's been at his present home, he had never presented totally sound. His hooves degenerated over the years and subsequently he wore pads with wedges but to no avail. The vets and the farriers all were perplexed as to just *what* to do with him. Finally, after his owner found him extremely lame one morning, the vet said, "Let's just pull his shoes and give the ole man a rest." So ... we did. That was just over 4 months ago as of this writing. When I removed his shoes, he was so long in the toe and so low in the heel that the thickness of his hooves are reminiscent of fat pancakes. His heels were underslung and bruised; his white line so stretched that I could barely take off 1/4" of toe in the first trim without invading right through the white line. He hobbled away after that trim and lived on bute for quite awhile afterwards. Just barely 14 weeks or so into his recovery, however, the vet went to see his progress and pronounced Kyle 100% sound! The first time in years or maybe forever! He, as Ish, is now going back into full work. Kyle also presented initially as a very aloof horse - stood facing the corner of his stall and didn't want anyone to touch him. Now he greets me with a whinney and prances around just begging for scritches and pats (plus a few cinammon treats here and there! *G*) He is vibrant and personable and full of life. He's got a good number of years left on him afterall!
Goldie, Hawk, T.O., Trigger, Peaches are all more horses that presented with both laminitis and navicular. New "patients" this summer and all are doing well in recovery just weeks after their initial trims. Chompers is in the showring this spring and summer after a "hopeless" bout with Navicular and Cammie, aka "Winnie" is now starting back under light riding after penetrating both her fronts and almost losing 1/2 of her rear hind. Cali is sound with her club foot although there's no "correcting" the club as she is truly sporting a left front that is clubbed. Banana rail shoes did more harm than good for this young mare and I was doubtful when I pulled the shoes that she would be sound. How little faith in the horse's capability to heal itself given the correct parameters. She is remarkably sound for what she's been through in her short years.
I could go on and on as I'm just so totally amazed as the power of the horse to "heal itself" but then, horses have always amazed me in general! These gentle giants are the epitomy of God's love and forgiveness. His timing, His giving, His courage and His grace. I thank Him everyday for the horses who bless our farm and for the humans they own who recognize the love for which they stand. I thank Him that everyday I am able to somehow help just one more recover from pain and suffering, mentally or physically. I pray that as long as I live that each day I can be a positive part of a horse's life and continue to be able to see the incredible miracles of healing that God allows in nature by His divine designs. The Horse has to be the finest example of infinite beauty and grace. 
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