Foot Service

Shoeing Day

Scott, my farrier, called last night to tell me he could come to shoe the Boys today. He asked me to leave them in their stalls for him.

Mind you, I do not have to be here for my shoer. It has always been a source of some pride for me that my horses will stand on the crossties for the farrier so no one has to hold them. Tucker was a little difficult when I first got him and even now, he can act up a little, but it's more annoying then actually dangerous. Today he was absolutely golden.

I locked them in their stalls after breakfast, but as the morning wore on, I decided, since I was home anyway to turn them back out in the glorious sunshine. I had thought about riding early, but I had no idea when Scott was coming and didn't want to be out on a horse when he arrived or to have a hot horse in hand for him to shoe.

A few hours passed. I headed outside to do some tree trimming. I have some determined trees that keep growing up along the fence in the arena, so with saw and clippers I went out to attack them. It took some good sawing and nipping to get rid of all but the stumps. Then I trimmed some of the vines and briars growing up along the fence area around the gates to the pasture. The woods just insists on trying to overgrow my place so this is a constant effort. I cleaned a nice area--there is much more to do--and finally pooped out. Hey, I ain't as young as I used to be!! (My 60th birthday is next week.)

Back in the house, I fielded a phone call from another mortgage lender, had a snack and kind of vegged out for a while. Sometime after noon, my doorbell rang, and there was Scott. Out I went to collect the horses.

Scott has a new, young (around a year old) border collie named Mic. He came out into the paddock area with me. Well, that aroused the Boys' curiosity no end and all three of them came trotting in out of the pasture to see just what that black and white critter was near their barn. So, without actually knowing it, Mic helped me bring the Boys in. He and I had a grand time playing fetch...a game that will go on to infinity with a border collie...while Scott and Kyle worked on the Boys' feet.

It was somewher around three when the shoeing was done. I let the Boys back out and came into the house. Not sure exactly what I did, but before I knew it, it was feeding time.

Fed, gave the Boys some time and went back out to lunge. I just worked Tucker and Chance this time.

The fun part was the jump I set up for the end of the sessions. This one was about 2' for Tucker and a little smaller for Chance. Tuck had a grand time until he hit the rail and then he took off bucking. He was certainly careful the next time over, so I guess he'd be pretty smart in the jumper arena about hitting the rails. As I've noted before, he also sets himself naturally for the fence, balancing himself back--except of course, when he's acting silly.

Chance was a little too relaxed on the lunge. Still, I like that better then made careening. His approach to the jump was interesting. He did break into a canter on his own, but he can't quite figure exactly where to take off. He jumps well when he places himself correctly, but has a way to go as far as developing the gymnastic skill that seems to come naturally to Tuck. The other thing that he does is not necessarily stay forward once he is over the fence. That makes his hind end trail just a bit so he would need to learn, as well, to gather and maintain a little more impulsion through the whole effort. But, I do like his casual willing attitude about the whole thing. It makes him look as if I would actually feel safe riding him over some jumps myself.

Toby was perfectly happy to accept his quota of treat carrots when I was done. He really doesn't have to do any work to earn his except to just be my Toby.