Cordless Grinder best xmas present :D

Last post for 2013

Ozito Cordless Grinder to do Horse's Feet Now

NOW I CAN GET THROUGH THOSE HARD FEET!

Very nice little machine. It took me about 4 seconds to get used to handling it.
I can lock the switch ON & move the machine around into either hand or hold it at all sorts of angles & do a nice job.

Here's a couple of photos of the finished work on Sonny's feet.

There is no way I could have done these feet by hand as they are so hard just now from extreme dry conditions & dry paddocks. But after a little knife work trimming tags, I used the grinder to trim away overlaid bar & define them. Too easy!! No aching arms after a heap of rasping or slashed wrists or torn shorts from the knife slipping on the extra hard hoof.

I found I can be very precise with where I touch the hoof & because this machine doesn't rev at 10000-15000 like tradies tools do, I have far better control of it. And of course much less noise.

I'm experimenting with leaving a bit of heel as that is supposed to aid building of thicker soles. Now that I have the toes much shorter I felt I could test this theory without fear of the toe running forward so fast.

My rocker has turned into a bevel of just the wall because I think I have to toe back as far as it can be just now. Maybe after the heel stands up more I can bring the toe back a bit more then.

I haven't ridden him again yet. He is a bit tender on the RF since the test ride but I will try again in the next week after this trim settles. Possibility of taking him to the beach which should work a treat.

Happy New Year to everyone who reads my blog.
I'm excited about the coming year as things are really turning around for me.

Short Test Ride on Sonny

Yesterday I went for a short ride on Sonny along the old highway.

Here's a short video of the event.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4eKy4VhQgg

I met the new neighbour down the road who has horses too. I wanted Sonny to have something to want to go 'out' for. He's become a bit of a lazy bones home body. Previously he was always telling me he wanted to go riding or to go 'out'. I would say "want to go out Sonny?" He knew that mean going for a ride & he would beat me to the gate!

But now it's like 'do I have to?'  So I figured if he knew there were more horses down the road he would want to go meet them again & be happy to go 'out' until it becomes more exciting for him again.

This evening I checked his feet for heat but there isn't any as yet. I think his back is a bit sore from carrying this big lump of weight around! lol  I used to be 25kg lighter last time I rode him any distance. (:-/

Looking Good Now :)

Well it's all good this month.

I've learned exactly where the live sole & corium is in Sonny's feet, the frog apexes never moved back at all this month meaning they have reached their correct location, I got the heels down to what I think is the final height & I think I have found his individual dorsal wall angle.

The biggest improvement this last month has been that on the softer back paddock he is not displaying any soreness. woohoo!!

So next weekend I plan to put his boots on him & take him to the front gate & see if he wants to be ridden out down the road. It's his call.

The bars are beginning to have a much better shape with the cracks beginning to fill in which means the stretching of the foot has almost been completely reversed. The bar stay lumps are getting smaller now too.

The first half of this month was very dry so Sonny's feet were rock hard. Then we had some good rain & his feet went nice & soft & there was exfoliatable sole which is such an improvement. Then the weather dried out again & so did Sonny's feet. But a few days ago we had some rain & his feet softened again so I got in & was able to do a full trim on all 4 feet for first time in probably 2yrs.

Here is the link to a short video I made showing Sonny's collateral cartilages & digital cushions that I have been assessing plus some of Sonny trotting without lameness on the hillside.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQLeNdbH1Hw

Here are some photos with a lot more at this link:-

http://s340.photobucket.com/user/claireT_2008/library/2013%20%20all%20photos/2013%20November%20Sonnys%20Feet

 



 



 

I have even started fixing his hind feet now too.

 

 

 



 



Sonny is feeling much better now too. His feet aren't hot anymore & he seems to have little or no lameness. It certainly must be a huge relief for him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.