[accphotography]

Most people in my area won't mustang roll because they say the horses don't need it. They do a "pasture roll" instead.

Also... she barely touches Lacy's bars. She takes her knife to them some because they tend to want to lay forward... but she certainly doesn't go at them like she's really trying to remove them.

ACC

[JBandRio]

You're finding yourself in a situation where it might be time to learn to do some maintenance.

the flaring is likely what's making her tender on gravel. Think about having your fingernail partially torn off the nailbed And then tap it on something firm with uneven pressure

The good news, if you can look at it this way, is that progress is being made. It's just unfortunate that it's being made soooo s-l-o-w-l-y.

Talk to your trimmer next time and make her show you how to keep a roll on the feet, at the very least. That alone will help keep the flaring down somewhat.

When you say you can't find anyone else, how have you looked? Have you gone to shows or other gatherings (ie a big farm) and seen feet you like? Ask who does the feet, if you haven't already gone that route. That's a bit more likely to get you someone than picking a farrier/trimmer and deciding you don't like their clients', trying another one with the same thing, etc.

I wish you were closer

[JBandRio]

Originally Posted by accphotography

Most people in my area won't mustang roll because they say the horses don't need it. They do a "pasture roll" instead.ACC

Not exactly sure what a "pasture roll" is, but assuming it's merely taking off the sharp edge of the bottom, nothing more, then it's no wonder it's causing trouble

[accphotography]

OK JB... do you feel she is not putting enough roll on them? If that is the case, will it do me any good to have her teach me how to roll?

I really would like to look into learning to do this myself... but where in the world do I even begin?

I have done everything I can think of to find another farrier/trimmer. I look at feet EVERYWHERE I go. Trust me when I say, my mare's feet are the BEST feet I have seen in this state, bar none. Even when they're 5 weeks out of a trim. You would NOT believe how awful some of these feet are. There's a mare that boards with us who gets done every 4 weeks (I'm usually there when she's being done, and I have checked the calendar). Her feet look like they are 10" long and almost STRAIGHT up. Poor girl trips all over herself when she moves. Her owners wonders why she's not living up to the dressage sensation she's supposed to be. Her farrier's comments? "She's got Saddlebred feet... that's just the way they are." Possibly the most contracted heels and atrophied frogs I have ever seen. Another mare boards with us, goes about 5 weeks, different farrier. Can't keep a shoe on and they wonder why. Her feet are so flared it's not even funny. They are HUGE all the way around and the separation is glaringly apparent. Those that have the most acceptable trims aren't even half as nice as my mares. Sigh.

Unfortunately I am in Thoroughbred country. The best trainer in the country has the worst feet I have ever seen... go figure.

ACC

[JBandRio]

Originally Posted by accphotography

OK JB... do you feel she is not putting enough roll on them? If that is the case, will it do me any good to have her teach me how to roll?

Yes, and yes. If these feet were 5 weeks out of a trim, it would be difficult to tell what sort of roll she was putting on. But 5 days - it's very obvious there's not enough. So yes, it will be beneficial if you can do it. However, there are things beyond the roll that aren't being addressed, and even if it was a good idea for you to touch up the bevel between trims (which it is, don't get me wrong, I refresh my horse's bevel every 1, MAYBE 2 weeks) and the farrier/trimmer really needs to be doing a good job on trim day. Not to start making you wig out or anything, but if you're going to take on some maintenance yourself, IMHO you'll need to be prepared to put a SERIOUS roll at the quarters

I really would like to look into learning to do this myself... but where in the world do I even begin?

Baby steps Get the trimmer out as soon as you can. I know it will be a few weeks. Just tell her you want to start learning. Have her show you how to hold and use the rasp. Have her show you the difference between the outer, pigmented hoof wall, and the inner, unpigmented wall. The outer is was you want to bevel away. Pretty strongly in this case. Get it off the ground, period, and get it out of much of any contact with it as the foot rolls off the ground. Buy, if you have to, an older, duller rasp off her. Then get some blocks of wood and just practice. Get gloves

I have done everything I can think of to find another farrier/trimmer. I look at feet EVERYWHERE I go. Trust me when I say, my mare's feet are the BEST feet I have seen in this state, bar none.

Unfortunately, I do trust you I am so saddened by your area, above many others, being that scarce of a good trimmer

There's a mare that boards with us who gets done every 4 weeks (I'm usually there when she's being done, and I have checked the calendar). Her feet look like they are 10" long and almost STRAIGHT up. Poor girl trips all over herself when she moves. Her owners wonders why she's not living up to the dressage sensation she's supposed to be. Her farrier's comments? "She's got Saddlebred feet... that's just the way they are."

That is about one of the scariest excuses I have heard in a long, long time

[buck1173]

just reading the last few dialogs here... sad, so sorry acc

it was the lack of an understanding and capable and reliable farrier/trimmer that led me to trying on my own... it was out of sheer desperation. an enormous leap of faith was required too, as I always felt 'only professionals should handle feet'.

though I know next to nothing, I've learned so much from actually paying attention to feet.

[JBandRio]

And we know that acc already has started paying very close attention to the feet and has started learning what are good and not so good things, and that is the biggest first step

[accphotography]

I know in my head what needs to be done... really, I do. It's just making my hands reproduce that that is making me very nervous.

Tell me... is walking across the gravel/rocks good or bad for her?

ACC

[JBandRio]

Originally Posted by accphotography

I know in my head what needs to be done... really, I do. It's just making my hands reproduce that that is making me very nervous.

LOL!! You *knew* what had to be done to drive a car, and probably sweated it the first few times. You just have to do it

Tell me... is walking across the gravel/rocks good or bad for her?

Depends If she's sound on it, the more the merrier. If she's not (which I believe you said) then given the flaring she has, I'd keep it to a minimum. Since I think you also said she's sound on concrete/asphalt, then if you can take her for walks on that 20 minutes a day, or several times a week, that would be MOST awesome for her feet.

[accphotography]

She's sound on everything but the rocks. Quite gimpy on them. So I should wait until she's sound over them? What good does it do at that point?

Funny thing is... Lace ripped that quarter crack open before the last trim and it was kinda dragging on the ground, so I borrowed a friend rasp to see if I could at least get it off the ground... OMG. I obviously had no clue what I was doing with my hands... sigh.

ACC