How to pick up a horse's back feet safely so you can avoid getting kicke...

Saturday and Sunday both days forecasted as stormy but sunny, cool, breezy

 Saturday the horses were in, I got to the barn around 2 or 3pm. /the lady and mann were there.  They are nice, talked to me, saids that their horse, Chewy had finally found a saddle that fits and they like. They were outside on the side of the barn riding around. The horses had been out that day but the threats on the  weather channels said that we would have a storm. Althoguh the weather was good enough, it did rain, clouds sort of sunny but the breezes and coolness made me remember that summer s not here yet.

I was able to be at the barn for quite a while.

I got Beau out of his stall and put him in the cross ties, I was able to brush him a bit. He was happy to see me. I was pretty busy but I was able to spend so much tije with Beau. Brushed him out a bit, worked on the picking up his hoofs. Hes getting so good with me. I

I brought hm out to the arena and we walked a lung just keeping to a walk and I did not ask too much of him. He only went in one direction and we did about 100 back steps he loves to do his excerices with me.

 made his soak fo rhis hoof, we was able to soak for about 3 minutes until he dumped the pan. He kept his hoof in the water (epsons salts, warm water).

As I was getting ready to soak his hoof, Bonnie came to do the feedings, she was so apologetic that she had asked me to pay for the dentist on text when I had already had the check back from her cashing it last week. When I saw her pull in I was walking to et something from my car. She had a good idea, that I could feed Beau his grain as he soaked his foot, it worked out pretty good, evenn when he dumped the pan he still stood in it and there was some of the water in his hoof.  I didnt wrap his foot on Saturday.

I was able to do all his supplements for the next 2 weeks too. So alot of work got completed for the end of the month.

I loved the time at the barn on saturday, the butterfilies were flying and I saw something I have never seen before a group of about 8 butterfiles swirling around the white ones that are around in September. There was a magical day in September when I walked the woods at the end of Debs road, near the barn with a bottle of wine, cheese, crackers. it was magically that day. The barn was beautiful and I sat with my friend in a field on the grass, amazing.

Well back to the butterfiles from Saturday, I had a swallowtail swirl around me, as it flew I was able to catch a cupl pics.

Sunday was so different, in contrast to SAturdy where there was no one with me for hours, there were so many people. Patti, Emma, June, Lynn, we are all in the same ailse too. I was busy taking care of my guy.

As I walked up the hill to get him, there is was sticking his head out of the fence reaching to get grass. He looked up at me. I cant really believe he is the same horse he was the day he ploughed over me and Val last fall. Just so different. He is calm, reponsive, pays attention to everything I ask him, hes not trying to push on me, hes not trying to scare me. 

The added an extra paddock up the top of the hill I think the boys are made because the ATVs care not able to buzz the horses like they did last weekend. I really think that is a jerky thing to do. Not sure about those guys being very difficult to be around with others.

I think I could start to round pen him again, I hope we will be able to get some further progress after I get his hoofs back to shape.

Well I had no problems getting him out of the paddock, the gate is great. We walked down the hill I let him eat almost every step, ife is short so what the heck. 

Let him into the arena to play while I got his pan and meds ready.

Before June, Lynn got to the barn a nice woman named Emma was talking to me about riding spice. She was super nice. She was watching me take care of Beau's hoof. She later asked me if I had any Copper Cuff or soemthign liek that, its for thrush. I did not know what it was and we began to talk about her and riding and the people who own Spice and Joliet She was super nice and said when she tells Krystyn that the horses have thrush she usually does something I asked her what does she do? She said she did hnot know. It was nice taking to her about the people who own the horses and hwo she was lucky tob eable to ride and care for them. I like her.

Patti was talking to Lynn as she had arrived after a while. 

Patti was close talking and they had lots of issues then June showed up. all this time I was working on the pad wrap. I had all of the duct tape lined up and I had his hoof had already soaked, and I was able to use the new spray bottle with epson salts andn warm water. As I was spraying his hoof, and toweling him off while making the duct tape wrap, they were watching me from the front of the ailse. June commented how great Beaus feet looked. Later after the other were wrapped up.  she suggested that maybe Beua would benifit by front shoes, she said she has to do that or that Cisco's feet would disenegrate from the rough paddock conditions.

When everyone left June was very kind, spoke to me about how hard it is for her to care for Ciscos feet. Iw able to talk tot her about how I was struggling with the care of his hoofs but she said that she has had to come for up to 6 weeks to care for Africa's feet. She was very understanding sand said taht many do not know how to wrap a hoof, adn that the more you do it even if you dont want to the better you get. I belive her I have gotten more better. 

I cleaned up, everything, and left. I did not see the cats, the horses were still out. Beau was in with August and Sienna feeling fine. Ah Leah was in and June took Cisco back out after lungingn him and cleaning his hoofs.

Happy 25th Birthday Beau, May 15th 2025

 

Mothers Day, 4th time with Beau fixing his thrush back right hoof again

 Got to the barn, and Patti was riding Aleah I wanted to just say hi and and then just get my boy and get things going.

Walking up to the gate and paddock, Beau saw me and was very happy. I slip the lead line hook down into the gate's opening, then open the gate, no problem, Beau steps out and grazes right away. Hes a good boy.  So very well tempered. I am very proud of him. No jumping or spooking and jerkying all walking calmly. Its amazing.

I like to get him on the nice day, and walk down the hill slowly so he can graze, it was an exceptionally nice walk down the hill. I was heard sweet sound in teh grass, i looked an a little bunny was hiding in the grass, I thought there might be another one there with him chewign on grass. it make me feel really nice.

Well Beau was great eating his way down the hill. I thinkn he was excited to be gong down the hill into the barn. I brought him in the stall so he could grab some water and hay.

Got the hot water ready before I brought Beau down. I make the water and the epson salts. It took a while to get him to put his foot in. I had to almost dance with him. I also used the rope I had. He soaked for about 8 min. He also put his hoof down flat for that whole time. I was so happy so proud. After soaking I put his hoof into a dry area, down him down. and then I keep working on the criss cross duct tape piece and mix up the iodinne sugar mixture in the diaper.

I made that up. Diaper mixture and worked on lifting his food. I know that picking up his hoof is a pain for him.

I spoke to him genlty while gong through the process of getting his foot soaked and wrapped. He was good even putting the diaper on and just pushed him on it as I laid it on the floor. He stepped back into the wrap and I tied it right up. and put the duct tape on the top and placed a couple more on to secure it. So proud of him today It was a nice visit, Ill be working with him so much more. I cant wait <3

Wednesday Night will Beau, a soak and a wrap

 Drove over to the barn, just really need to take care of my Boy Beau. 

Brought over the sugar, a bit more an then 

He was really being a better boy than I excited 

Being alone at the barn is great. I can just take him out of his stall and hes great on the cross ties, the new ones from Baker, its so much easier, hes been on the cross times so much more, hes a good boy lately.

It takes a while to get Beaus foot intot he warm water, I was bringin my own hot water by way of a gallon container, then bring another gallone of water to mix up.

I needed to have a great amount of duct tape because I need to make a bootie for him with the tape. 

Beau kept on doing what I needed and I fed him snacks and mints. I brought enough mints for everyone.

I wrapped up his foot with the diaper and duct tape, I didnt have as much sugar as last time but it was enough. The diaper gets in the way of the sugr and iodine,on his foot I think.

The soak takes time and then you need to make sure that his hoof dries aout enough before you put on the next step. I had te floor pretty wet, but i knew that that hoof needed to dry it up. It takes about an hour and a half to get it all done, brush out and work the feet and then soak and wrap.

Late Sunday evening with Beau for a soak and a wrap

Krystyn said that Beau's wrap had come off, there was lots of chat from the barn after a while at about the same time. Seemed like maybe chat together. I did not appreciate all the advice that I was getting, some opinions from people that could use better advice for themseves.

At home I got a gallon container of Hot water for his Epson salt soak, and the rest of the ingredients were at the barn. I had a gallon of filtered water in the car. I also brought a bag of spearmint lifesavers.

Decided I needed to go over and treat Beau's thrush. Thrush is a condition that he has had the whole time I have owned him. Its important to pick his feet, keep him dry and clean.

I know I need to train Beau to do better with his feet. Pick up, hold, not kick, and pick up when I ask. 

When I bought him from K, she did not know what was wrong with his feet, she said, "His feet are fucked up". June said his hoofs had been infected for months. Although there is a big push to change his farrier, this will not happen.

I was a bit upset to be spoken to in the tone and manner I had been busy all day doing chores, yard work and meeting up with Raychel and the boys. So after dinner and chores I knew the barn would be quiet peaceful and no stress for him.

I was a bit worried about working with Beau, getting him to pick up his feet,

As I left Bob said, "make sure you are safe" He also asked me if I thought I could do it along.  I thought about it. I know it is very hard. June and Krystyn could do it but I actually helped them by keeping his mind busy. No one would be there to keep him occupied, just me.

I drove over to the barn, it was still a nice day, light out but soon it would be dark. It was about 630pm. 

The barn was quiet, and all the horses made sounds as I walked in. I took all of my supplies out on the bale of hay. The First Aid bag with the wraps and diapers, duct tape, Sugar, iodine.  I felt good about using the Poltice pad from 3M with athletic wrap. 

I took Beau out, of the stall, put him on the cross ties, I was a little stressed that I wouldn't be able to do it that it was too much for me. I looked Beau in the eye and I told him all I was feeling. How I felt inadequate compared to how smart he was and how experienced he was with his care. I held his head and held his body in a hug. I wanted him to feel my love. I cried as I spoke with him. I was sad but its because I thought I might be failing him. <3

I became emotional, talking to him from my heart. I brushed him, all the way from his had dow his main his back rump and under his belly. I kept talking to him. As I began to think what I was to do next. 

I brought out the small low pan, filled it with the hot water and mixed the cooler water in it so that it was plenty warm. I added about a cup of epson salts. we sort of danced around trying to get his hoof into the pan.  it took me a while. He held his hoof into the pan, at a tilt.

After a while I begain to splash the epson salts on his frog. He was in the water for a while. I am still worried that his not getting all of the cleaning of the frog. 

The first thing I did was to brush him dry and to get the poltice pad, wet it in the warm water. I cut the piece to fit his bottom hoof.  I brushed out the hoof, dried, and put the pad on the bottom of hoof. I got the athletic wrap started to wrap his hoof. 

It was a bit of a flurry of movement, Beau stepped around as I was getting ready to put the duct tape wrap on his hoof. He scraped if off onto the ground. I felt like I needed to take a break.

I grabbed the diaper, mixed up the iodine and sugar, fixed the duct tape dried off his goof.

I also found d a way to get him to lift his hoof, I do a tap to his front hoof, then give him a reward. It really worked out every time Beau listened to me and did what I needed, I gave him a spearmint and  had one too. I had a bag so it went along pretty well.

I grabbed the diaper, mixed up the iodine and sugar, fixed the duct tape dried off his goof.

I also found d a way to get him to lift his hoof, I do a tap to his front hoof, then give him a reward. It really worked out every time Beau listened to me and did what I needed, I gave him a spearmint and  had one too. I had a bag so it went along pretty well.

I was able to mix up the iodine, put the sugary mixture into the diaper and then get it on his hoof, wrap the hoof up ad taped it around the top. It was quite a trick. I was very proud of how well Beau worked with me. I want to make sure that we keep doing this.

I was happy with myself and with Beau, got the job done. Im not sure just how long it will stay on but Im happy to try again if I need to tomorrow after Doug's mother' the wake. 

Saturday 1030am to put on his wrap with Krystyn

 

Got to the barn, as they were doing the stalls. 80 degrees, humid.  The goats were in the fields and and the horses were out. Bonnie, Kevin the young kid, Krystyn.was finishinng up cleaning the goats stalls. Beau was on the hill in his paddock. when I got there he was very happy.

I really see a difference inn him. I know his hoof was feeling better. We walked down the hill while eating as much of the green grass as he could get down his throat. We walked pretty well down the hill into the barn. 

He was very nice, well behaved, made me feel so good. I walked him into the barn, I had all of the stuff set up.

I got all the supplies I bought that June had suggested, plus, the pads that all you have to do it to wet it and use it in place of the sugar, iodinne

Krystyn set up the duct tape, she twisted everything, the soak, I set up the warm water with epson salts. 

He put his foot into it pretty well. I am proud of him. 

He soaked prett well and very quickly, Krystyn cut a beautiful piece of the special gause for the bottom of his foot.

Krystyn was very happy to hear that I had it, no need to use the iodine, sugar on the diaper.

Just the wet the pad, put on the elasticized medical wrap, then put the duct tape on the bottom, twisted it up to a beautiful hoof, like a ballet slipper.

I waited keep him inside, let him cool off.  

Brought him back up to his paddock, he was great, I had the oatmeal bars,and bandana. We played inn the paddock, I shut the gate and he played with me walking backwards for 50 steps.

I thnk he'll be feeling better soon.

I brought him back to his paddock, and returned to the sweet peaceful barn to sit quetly listening to music and doing the supplements. I finished off the Bug off, did 15 bags for the next 2 weeks.

Patti showed up and she got Ah-leah readied for a ride in the arena. Lynn was helping Patti. She had Ah Leah all saddled up for a short ride in the arenna.

As I was leaving I met up with June, she and I both feel the same way about the US and the freedoms we are losing with this terrible president so we talked for a while as she pulled into the driveway and I was on my way out.

Birthday with Dr Katz April 22, Tuesday