Trying to catch up:)
I rode Harley yesterday. We had a good ride. And best of all, he didn't seem to have a sore back by the time we got back. We rode about 3 hours, and did lots of trotting and lots of long hill climbs. Hopefully I have that problem solved.
Chris is coming next Tues. to reshoe. I know that is going to screw up the timing for my next ride, 1) but I want that pad off, 2) he is still clicking really bad, every step when we trot, 3) he is still occasionally kicking himself in the pasterns on the rear.
We are going to have a serious talk about all these problems BEFORE he starts working on him:). If he dosen't get it fixed this time, I'll have to find another shoer, which I really don't want to do.
I'm just not sure how to approach it with the shoer, they always get so defensive...LOL, so sensitive. But dam, the horse was doing none of these things the day before he shoed him, so logically it has to be that the shoe job was what caused the problem.
I've been gathering information about these types of problems and I think he needs to shape the rear shoes with a "trailer". That will keep his rear feet on the ground longer and stop the clicking, and he needs to trim the inside of the rear foot more to keep the horse from turning his toes out so much which is causeing him to kick himself. At least that is what I've gathered, but I'm not sure about this last thing. I'd think that would make him unlevel and might cause leg problem??? That's what I need to talk to him about.
Becky
I don't know either, but I hope the shoer will take the time to talk about it, and watch the horse go, if necessary, to see what's needed.
You can try brushing boots if he's hurting himself, but I don't like them on trail. The boots get wet in water and either sag or rub. When I was a spoiled arena rider, I thought they were great, but they aren't great on trail when there's water or mud involved.
I think that's what the problem has been all along. He trimmed him unlevel last time, took off too much on the outside, and caused him to start whacking himself all of a sudden. He didn't have this problem before so it's gotta be something that happened at the last shoing. IMO ;o)