Comments for 4 Sweet Feet http://4sweetfeet.com For the Natural Trim, and the Natural Horse Wed, 09 May 2012 15:18:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Comment on The Therapeutic Use of Boots by Dawn Willoughby http://4sweetfeet.com/articles/the-therapeutic-use-of-boots/comment-page-1/#comment-74913 Dawn Willoughby Wed, 09 May 2012 15:18:32 +0000 http://dawnwilloughby/?p=182#comment-74913 Dear Uta, I apologize for the tardy response. When our spring comes, I find it hard to be in the office. My good friend Maureen is an experienced trimmed and helps people online, Skype or phone. http://www.barefoottrimming.com/ This is her trimming site. I am more involved with body work now, although I write for the Easy Care Blog, under "Notes from the Field". You may find some of the early articles about the inner hoof helpful. Right off the top of my head, I would say <strong>leave her heels alone.</strong> Balance them but that's it. If they grow that would be wonderful because higher heels will protect that frog. She will find <em>just</em> the right pressure to develop her frog, and inside digital cushion and lateral cartilages. Don't worry about high heels and the angle of the coffin bone. It will all sort itself out. NAVICULAR really means, The back of my foot hurts. The navicular bone is an innocent victim! Even if there is bone remodeling/damage, the horse will still be fine according to Dr. Robert Bowker who is The Man when it comes to bare hooves. Thanks you very much for your kinds words. I really appreciate them. As for me, I am doing/researching/experimenting with: equine body work and in-hand+mounted riding as physical therapy for the horse. I guess I better get writing about that! Big hug to you over there in Germany and You keep up the good work! I know your horse is so very appreciative of having your as an owner. Dawn Dear Uta,

I apologize for the tardy response. When our spring comes, I find it hard to be in the office.

My good friend Maureen is an experienced trimmed and helps people online, Skype or phone. http://www.barefoottrimming.com/ This is her trimming site.
I am more involved with body work now, although I write for the Easy Care Blog, under “Notes from the Field”. You may find some of the early articles about the inner hoof helpful.

Right off the top of my head, I would say leave her heels alone. Balance them but that’s it. If they grow that would be wonderful because higher heels will protect that frog. She will find just the right pressure to develop her frog, and inside digital cushion and lateral cartilages.

Don’t worry about high heels and the angle of the coffin bone. It will all sort itself out. NAVICULAR really means, The back of my foot hurts. The navicular bone is an innocent victim! Even if there is bone remodeling/damage, the horse will still be fine according to Dr. Robert Bowker who is The Man when it comes to bare hooves.

Thanks you very much for your kinds words. I really appreciate them.

As for me, I am doing/researching/experimenting with: equine body work and in-hand+mounted riding as physical therapy for the horse. I guess I better get writing about that!

Big hug to you over there in Germany and You keep up the good work! I know your horse is so very appreciative of having your as an owner.

Dawn

]]> Comment on Top Three Changes to Improve Your Horse’s Health by Dawn Willoughby http://4sweetfeet.com/articles/top-three-changes-to-improve-your-horses-health/comment-page-1/#comment-74910 Dawn Willoughby Wed, 09 May 2012 15:09:34 +0000 http://dawnwilloughby/?p=567#comment-74910 Thanks for stopping by! Good luck to you. If you need help, my friend Maureen is a very experienced trimmer who will help online or by phone. http://www.barefoottrimming.com/ Also my early posts on the Easy Care Blog, Notes from the Field, explain and show you the inside of the foot. Thanks you for keeping your horse barefoot! Dawn Thanks for stopping by! Good luck to you. If you need help, my friend Maureen is a very experienced trimmer who will help online or by phone. http://www.barefoottrimming.com/ Also my early posts on the Easy Care Blog, Notes from the Field, explain and show you the inside of the foot. Thanks you for keeping your horse barefoot! Dawn

]]> Comment on The Natural Trim: Marking the Hoof by Dawn Willoughby http://4sweetfeet.com/articles/the-natural-trim-marking-the-hoof/comment-page-1/#comment-74909 Dawn Willoughby Wed, 09 May 2012 15:07:35 +0000 http://dawnwilloughby/?p=216#comment-74909 I followed many suggested ratios and angles when I started but I have learned to trust the horse! So it's pretty simple really. (1) Feel from the hairline down, all around the hoof and mark where it flares out. Those are the spots I would bring to or thru the "broken" laminae. In most cases this is the toe. One of the few RULES OF TRIMMING: Keep the toe back. If there is flare, take it right to the laminae. Stay on top of it, 10:00-2:00, the foot will move under the horse very quickly. (2) Balance the heels, don't lower them more than 1/2 inch (that's the rescued horse) at one time, and let them stand 1/4" (or less if they trim them) over back of foot, EVEN if they appear forward from where they should be. The heel will move back and lower themselves as the back of the foot rehabs itself. This is a mistake I have made, lowering the heels too much. Balance, but leave them alone and in a few months you will have a perfect hoof. It's the toe that drag the heels forward. Stay on top of toes and you are good to go. Some horse like 50/50 also. Please check out my friend, Maureen Tierney's, site on natural trimming. I link to her in my last Post for Easy Care about her re-racing Chance, au naturelle. http://www.barefoottrimming.com/ She will help you online and by phone too. Good luck! Dawn I followed many suggested ratios and angles when I started but I have learned to trust the horse! So it’s pretty simple really.

(1) Feel from the hairline down, all around the hoof and mark where it flares out. Those are the spots I would bring to or thru the “broken” laminae. In most cases this is the toe. One of the few RULES OF TRIMMING: Keep the toe back. If there is flare, take it right to the laminae. Stay on top of it, 10:00-2:00, the foot will move under the horse very quickly. (2) Balance the heels, don’t lower them more than 1/2 inch (that’s the rescued horse) at one time, and let them stand 1/4″ (or less if they trim them) over back of foot, EVEN if they appear forward from where they should be. The heel will move back and lower themselves as the back of the foot rehabs itself. This is a mistake I have made, lowering the heels too much. Balance, but leave them alone and in a few months you will have a perfect hoof. It’s the toe that drag the heels forward. Stay on top of toes and you are good to go. Some horse like 50/50 also. Please check out my friend, Maureen Tierney’s, site on natural trimming. I link to her in my last Post for Easy Care about her re-racing Chance, au naturelle. http://www.barefoottrimming.com/ She will help you online and by phone too. Good luck! Dawn

]]> Comment on The Natural Trim: Marking the Hoof by Sonja Ball http://4sweetfeet.com/articles/the-natural-trim-marking-the-hoof/comment-page-1/#comment-74211 Sonja Ball Thu, 03 May 2012 23:42:00 +0000 http://dawnwilloughby/?p=216#comment-74211 I have about 12-15 horses I trim regularily and would like to know how exactly you arrive at an accurate measurement for the 2/3rd-1/3rd hoof ratio. Thank you so much for your very informative website! I have about 12-15 horses I trim regularily and would like to know how exactly you arrive at an accurate measurement for the 2/3rd-1/3rd hoof ratio. Thank you so much for your very informative website!

]]> Comment on Top Three Changes to Improve Your Horse’s Health by Sandra Gaspar Carreira http://4sweetfeet.com/articles/top-three-changes-to-improve-your-horses-health/comment-page-1/#comment-73866 Sandra Gaspar Carreira Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:43:55 +0000 http://dawnwilloughby/?p=567#comment-73866 Hello! I am learning how to trimm, and i saw a lot of videos in you tube. I found yours and i am very happy that finally i found someone to learn from who does it the same way i think it must be the best way! Thank you, Sandra Hello!

I am learning how to trimm, and i saw a lot of videos in you tube. I found yours and i am very happy that finally i found someone to learn from who does it the same way i think it must be the best way!
Thank you,
Sandra

]]> Comment on The Therapeutic Use of Boots by Uta http://4sweetfeet.com/articles/the-therapeutic-use-of-boots/comment-page-1/#comment-70555 Uta Fri, 06 Apr 2012 00:45:48 +0000 http://dawnwilloughby/?p=182#comment-70555 Thank you so much for your helpful articles. I do trim my horse by myself since one year now. She has become much better. She got navicular syndrome with the typical toe landing and progressed very much in padded boots. Unfortunately her frog is still very weak and sunken in the hoof. The heals are much higher (only on her ill right front foot, the left front foot is sound), but only a little higher than the sole level, so there is nothing to rasp down. How can I further stimulate the frog. Higher pads? The coronet of the ill foot is also very narrow angled, I think the hoof bone is sitting too high up in the hoof. How can I help this? Would you mind looking at some photos that I could mail to you? Thanks and keep up the good work. You are marvellous! Best wishes from Germany, Uta Thank you so much for your helpful articles. I do trim my horse by myself since one year now. She has become much better. She got navicular syndrome with the typical toe landing and progressed very much in padded boots.
Unfortunately her frog is still very weak and sunken in the hoof. The heals are much higher (only on her ill right front foot, the left front foot is sound), but only a little higher than the sole level, so there is nothing to rasp down.
How can I further stimulate the frog. Higher pads?
The coronet of the ill foot is also very narrow angled, I think the hoof bone is sitting too high up in the hoof. How can I help this?
Would you mind looking at some photos that I could mail to you?

Thanks and keep up the good work. You are marvellous!

Best wishes from Germany,
Uta

]]> Comment on From Racehorse to Gorgeous Thoroughbred by Dawn Willoughby http://4sweetfeet.com/articles/case-studies/from-racehorse-to-gorgeous-thoroughbred/comment-page-1/#comment-69728 Dawn Willoughby Sat, 31 Mar 2012 03:15:40 +0000 http://4sweetfeet.com/?p=919#comment-69728 G'Day Mark! I speak Australian because my daughter lives in Sydney and guess what her new baby daughter is name is..... Matilda! You gotta love it. OTTBs are the best. I have been writing for Easy Care for a year. My last two posts to their Blog were all about GREAT OTTB feet. Check my stuff out under, Notes from the Field. If I hear one more vet or farrier put down OTTB feet, I swear I will bite them. Right now in Delaware, we are going thru a nice dry period and the feet look so great!!! It's a pleasure trimming them. I touched up Sunny and his pal Doc today because we also have lots of green Spring grass, full of sugar. I put a real steep angle on those toes, right back to the laminae and hopefully the walls will stay tightly connected to the bones. We have a challenging time with laminitis and founder this time of year. Actually the thoroughbreds usually get through ok but the Holsteiner and Percheron suffer. That's what I am writing about now...I think Easy Care will publish the lastest blog next week. Say hi if you find me over there! Give Peg a big ole hug for me. Maybe I can meet her some day. I usually get to Oz once a year. BTW its pretty cool that you, a Dad got into riding. Its usually the Mums who always wanted a pony, finally hop on in their 40's or 50's! Good on ya! Dawn G’Day Mark!
I speak Australian because my daughter lives in Sydney and guess what her new baby daughter is name is….. Matilda! You gotta love it.

OTTBs are the best. I have been writing for Easy Care for a year. My last two posts to their Blog were all about GREAT OTTB feet. Check my stuff out under, Notes from the Field. If I hear one more vet or farrier put down OTTB feet, I swear I will bite them.

Right now in Delaware, we are going thru a nice dry period and the feet look so great!!! It’s a pleasure trimming them. I touched up Sunny and his pal Doc today because we also have lots of green Spring grass, full of sugar. I put a real steep angle on those toes, right back to the laminae and hopefully the walls will stay tightly connected to the bones. We have a challenging time with laminitis and founder this time of year. Actually the thoroughbreds usually get through ok but the Holsteiner and Percheron suffer.

That’s what I am writing about now…I think Easy Care will publish the lastest blog next week. Say hi if you find me over there!

Give Peg a big ole hug for me. Maybe I can meet her some day. I usually get to Oz once a year.

BTW its pretty cool that you, a Dad got into riding. Its usually the Mums who always wanted a pony, finally hop on in their 40′s or 50′s! Good on ya!

Dawn

]]> Comment on Hoof Trimming Videos by Dawn Willoughby http://4sweetfeet.com/articles/hoof-trimming-videos/comment-page-1/#comment-69726 Dawn Willoughby Sat, 31 Mar 2012 03:06:13 +0000 http://4sweetfeet.com/?p=749#comment-69726 One more thing. Check out Easy Care Blog, Notes from the Field, where I have written numerous educational articles. One more thing. Check out Easy Care Blog, Notes from the Field, where I have written numerous educational articles.

]]> Comment on Top Three Changes to Improve Your Horse’s Health by Dawn Willoughby http://4sweetfeet.com/articles/top-three-changes-to-improve-your-horses-health/comment-page-1/#comment-69725 Dawn Willoughby Sat, 31 Mar 2012 03:05:28 +0000 http://dawnwilloughby/?p=567#comment-69725 Hey! So very glad to help you. I know exactly what you mean. I used to always forget to bevel the heels on a flat footed horse...that's a Pete Ramey trick. It just wasn't what I learned first! At some point I wrote a reminder on my hoof stand!!! Big hug to you and your poinies. Sorry for the late reply. OBTW I have written a ton of articles for Easy Care Blog, under Notes from the Field. I haven't had a chance to copy them over to this location. Hey! So very glad to help you. I know exactly what you mean. I used to always forget to bevel the heels on a flat footed horse…that’s a Pete Ramey trick. It just wasn’t what I learned first! At some point I wrote a reminder on my hoof stand!!! Big hug to you and your poinies.

Sorry for the late reply.

OBTW I have written a ton of articles for Easy Care Blog, under Notes from the Field. I haven’t had a chance to copy them over to this location.

]]> Comment on Hoof Trimming Videos by Dawn Willoughby http://4sweetfeet.com/articles/hoof-trimming-videos/comment-page-1/#comment-69724 Dawn Willoughby Sat, 31 Mar 2012 03:03:34 +0000 http://4sweetfeet.com/?p=749#comment-69724 Dear Amy, I am sorry for the late reply. I won't bother you with my excuses! Normally I am not this tardy. The Charlevoix thing was a family reunion and since its my husbands side of the family and he doesn't want to go, I am not going either. It's been 6 weeks since you contacted me so perhaps you have found a trimmer? One of our super stars is Dr. Robert Bowker who lives in Michigan. I wonder if you could visit him for a weekend of training. No doubt he has helpers too. Also the Equine Science Academy would be a good contact. Ask if they have anyone in your area. I usually begin women with a short rasp to give your muscles some time to get used to the work. then I would move them up to a 14" rasp. I can send you one...the company stopped making them so I bought several boxes. $25 plus shipping. I will throw in a leather cover. You can pick up a wooden screw on handle online from any Farrrier Supply store. I hope you will get a Hoof Stand too. The work is too hard without. Hoof Jack Hoof Stand is my preferred one. If you can't find any help, I will help you online but it would be much better if you found a trimmer. Again Sorry for the late reply! Dawn Dear Amy,
I am sorry for the late reply. I won’t bother you with my excuses! Normally I am not this tardy. The Charlevoix thing was a family reunion and since its my husbands side of the family and he doesn’t want to go, I am not going either.

It’s been 6 weeks since you contacted me so perhaps you have found a trimmer?

One of our super stars is Dr. Robert Bowker who lives in Michigan. I wonder if you could visit him for a weekend of training. No doubt he has helpers too.
Also the Equine Science Academy would be a good contact. Ask if they have anyone in your area.

I usually begin women with a short rasp to give your muscles some time to get used to the work. then I would move them up to a 14″ rasp. I can send you one…the company stopped making them so I bought several boxes. $25 plus shipping. I will throw in a leather cover. You can pick up a wooden screw on handle online from any Farrrier Supply store.

I hope you will get a Hoof Stand too. The work is too hard without. Hoof Jack Hoof Stand is my preferred one.

If you can’t find any help, I will help you online but it would be much better if you found a trimmer.

Again Sorry for the late reply!
Dawn

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