Thanks to Nicole Church who sent me this photo of her horse Ruby, trying on her new Epics this week.
Earlier this year Ruby was reluctant to move and had been for some time. So Nicole finally pulled the shoes and called me to do a barefoot trim. We ran the horse out pre trim bare, post trim bare, and then post trim booted in front. The mare moved much better in the BARES which I lent to Nicole, so she ordered a set of boots for the horse herself. She chose EPICS because they are a bit easier to get on and off than the bares.
This photo was taken the day the EPICS arrived, and shows Ruby exhibiting the flehmen response...which I guess is the equine version of a swoon. Quite appropriate given the improvement in her way of going with the boots on.
Hopefully over time Ruby won't need the boots so much. She'll be able to strengthen up the hind part of her hoof while having the foot protected. But for now, she loves them. And Nicole loves riding her in them. This is what she wrote the first day she tried my loan pair of BARES.
"I am absolutely astounded at how much difference the boots made - unbelievable! I waited til Glenn
got
home after you left and we took Rube down to the arena and I hopped
on. Could feel a difference the instant I started walking, much bigger
striding and nice feeling! Then trotting- fantastic! This horse who
has recently been shuffling round, constantly having to be reminded to
keep going, was just zooming round the arena and felt really happy to
be going and I didn't have to remind her to go once!"
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