I have a two problems with my new guy and need some feed back. I have a
VERY dusty paddock, actually I live in a dust bowl, no grass or trees, just
sandy desert and lots of creosote/tumble weed. Well Jihad has been tearing
from his eyes alot due to dust irritation. I am thinking on leaving a fly
mask on him but am hesitant in doing so since he is turned out on 2 acres
and it is not a level paddock. It has a shallow wash through it and such,
and I was worried about the mask inhibiting his vision. Most people's
horses I see with masks on are in stalls and pipe corrals. Is this safe to
do? It feels like leaving a halter on, which I would never do. But if I
don't what else can I do for his eye irritation. He has no pink eye, the
eye is healthy looking otherwise.
Next, Jihad is interfering at the canter, cross firing. His left front hoof
has a cut on the inside bulb of the heel and his right rear ankle has a cut
on the low inside towards the back of his ankle. Its looks like he's doing
two separate interferences? Mostly it's when he bolts and takes off at a
gallop in the paddock due to desensitzing training(he's goosey about things
touching his hocks and ankles:) But I've noticed a interfering sound with
the same diaganol on the lounge line at the trot too. He has been barefoot
all his life, but trimmed regularly. He is not level, lower on the inside,
with more bulb on his heels on the outside and his hoofs flare out on the
outside. When you look at the hairline of his heel it is not straight or
level. His reach at the trot is huge too. I have a farrier coming out here
next week, do you think a level shoeing by a performance quality farrier
will straighten him out? Should I put rear sports boots or ankle boots on
and bell boots up front? Luckily he is not shod yet or he would really be
hitting himself.
Thats it folks. Thanks for any help offered:}
Cheryl Newbanks &
~~^** Majestic Jihad (rookie in training)
~~}_ _~~ /\| Buckeye, AZ
( )__, ) ~ cnewbank@concentric.net
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