Bob's got these weird bulges in his front hooves. One is worse than the other (the photos are of the worse one). I worry about them. I don't know if they're diet or trim related, or what... Some locals have recommended a farrier but I have no faith in farriers. I also don't know that I'm doing them justice so I don't know what I'm going to do. Just something to think about.
Crappy, off-center photos. Bob was pretty sure that having me crawling around on the ground in front of him was not kosher, and he wouldn't stay put.
Pedro's foundered front hooves are looking better, so that's good. Scout's hooves are always the same. Bella, on the other hand... she was very sore during her trim today. It's not a hoof thing, it's that right stifle. She could barely stand on that leg while I trimmed the other feet. Then when I trimmed that one the leg popped a lot. Poor girl.
The weather was cold and became pretty windy while I worked with Joseph in the round pen tonight. I think we would have been better off if I'd left him in the pasture, but I couldn't have known that beforehand. He was very tense. Wore the big heavy, creaky saddle with the back cinch and breastcollar. He just couldn't relax, no matter how much I simplified our activities back to levels he should be comfortable with. Oh well, I guess they can't all be good days.
His ears always look so big in photos. I swear he doesn't look like that in person. Or does he and I just don't notice? Hmmm...
4 comments:
I hope the hoof problem isn't anything serious.
I think Joseph's ears are cute. They accent his noble face nicely.
Is Bob sound? I mean, his hooves are kind of funky-looking, but if he's sound, it might be a wait-and-see type of thing.
I think, after getting some advice and thinking on it, that his hoof walls are too long at those points. I'm going to revisit his trim as soon as I have a chance.
He isn't lame, but donkeys don't show lameness until they're in terrible pain. I hope I don't find an infection in there when the hoof wall grows down to that point.
They do look rather like growth rings. They don't coincide with a change of feed, season or pasture do they? I don't know much about donkey feet but I think they always look a little funky if you are used to horse feet; very boxy, but that is how they are supposed to be. Maybe Carson at MSN ranch can give you some advice. She has three there with nice feet.
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