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Renegade Hoof Boots

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One of my Equine Podiatry specialist friends turned me on to the new Renegade Hoof Boots, in particular their Ice Boot which has studs for traction. I have had a tough time keeping Easyboots on, even the Bares and Epics, at a gallop, which we require while Skijoring. This past weekend, we had the opportunity to test them out at a race. They were fabulous. Manny was faster than he has been all season, the boots stayed on, did not accumulate snow or debris and did not rub or irritate his feet in any way. He wore them for about 7 hours and we had no traction issues at all. Love them and endorse the product completely. More info at http://www.renegadehoofboots.com/ .

Manny pictured below, at a gallop, sporting his bright orange Ice Boots. I know the orange doesn’t fit our fashoin motif, but hey…they are tough to miss and quite a conversation piece.

Perfect Hoof Wear, Volume One

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About a year ago, I took on the care of my horse’s feet, myself. I pulled the shoes and started trimming. I read everything I could get my hands on and studied very hard. I finally hooked up with KC LaPierre and his HPT theory in June and have been studying his program exclusively since. The difference in my horses’ soundness has been huge and we are able to do more and more…shoeless.

KC’s theory teaches us not only how to trim for balance but why stimulus is so important for the developement of great structure and therefore function. His new product Perfect Hoof Wear, is an amazing new concept in protective hoof wear in that it allows expansion of the hoof and therefore allows stimulus to affect the foot positively. More info is available at www.equinepodiatry.net .

I elected to test drive this product on my OTTB, Canon. He has decent feet and no soundness issues currently, but he has pretty typical TB feet. He has a clubbed RF and his LF heels are chronically underrun…the perfect test case!

RIGHT FRONT (club)…


To be honest, I couldn’t be happier with the current condition of this foot, even though it is still quite upright. I’ve given up on the idea that it will look exactly like the other front foot.

Above the PHW applied. I’m pretty sure I have the webbing up too hight over the heel bulb…but will get some feedback on that, I hope.

LEFT FRONT (underrun heels)

Again, there isn’t alot to complain about, but I am interested to see if he can develope more heel here with the PHW

Canon has had seedy toe in the back feet, but that is a thing of the past. He does have this quarter crack that I just can’t make headway with. So I’m curious to see what will happen with the PHW here.


It was 20 degrees here when I applied the PHW, which requires application of an epoxy, soaking of the wrap in warm water…hmmm, challenging.

I came up with this cheap fix. A small styrofoam cooler, hole cut in the top. Fill with luke warm water. Cover the epoxy gun with a plastic baggie and slip through the hole. It worked well. Kept the Epoxy warm and the water for soaking too.
Stay tuned for my next installment…when the PHW comes off in a month (I hope).

Paddock Paradise

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I’ve had some requests to show some picture documentation of my ‘paddock paradise’ here at Resting Heart Farm. This all started when I found myself collecting horses, lol. I went from 2 to 6 horses over the past year and have only about 12 acres of pasture for grazing (4 or so are not even mine). After reading Jaime Jackson’s book of the same title, I used some (not all) of his ideas to create a network of fencing alleys that do several things…. Right now in winter, it is a simple track around my main field. It allows the horses 24/7 access to the main barn and stalls, but keeps them off the main pasture and on the perimeter only. The circular nature is great for keeping them moving…in contrast to a small paddock approach to winter. This is particularly useful with youngsters as they get pretty bored very easily. So I’ll give you a tour…

Here I am standing at the barn looking down the track. The water trough is at the bottom of this limb to the left. I put it there so the horses have to walk down to get water in stead of having it in the barn where they can be lazy. The horses you see are around the corner and in a secondary feeding area.

The water trough and mom’s dogs (they enjoy running the track too)

Now we are turning the corner to a secondary feeding area. Its important to keep food along the track to encourage movement from place to place. Miss Molly in the foreground, Peanut behind her.
You can probably see there are some gates in this area to other paddocks. In the summer I open and close different gates depending on where I want the horses to graze. I change the configuration every 4 to 5 days. And the great thing is that I don’t have to move any horses…they move themselves.

This is the Lounging Rock at the far corner of the track. Its where the horses hang and discuss important things, sort of like town meetings. This spot offers a view over the rest of the property and has a perch for the little guys. Magic is up on the rock in this photo…part goat I think.

Magic, Peanut and Doc heading down to the road…..dogs in the rear.

I can’t keep up obviously…so here they go around the far side back up toward the barn.

This is their second time around…..in fast forward!

So I hope that creates more of a visual aid. Comments and questions welcome.

The Lounging Rock

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I kept this big rock within my ‘paddock paradise’ track, as the horses just seem drawn to it. Its where they hang out, play, even take alittle snooze. Here Manny and Molly contemplate spring and the lower pasture, which will soon be green and lush!

Peanut’s second ride

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Peanut had his second ride undersaddle yesterday. Very successful…..we played with connecting the direct rein to the front foot and the ‘go forward’ cue. He doesn’t really understand the concept of why I would ride him, I don’t think. Perhaps more purpose would be helpful next time. Hmmm….

Skijoring…

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This is my second year skijoring with Manny. We’ve competed in three races this year and have climbed up the ranks from 13th to 4th to a very respectable 2nd in this past weekend’s event at the Newport Winter Carnival. With my brother, Bear in tow…..we weren’t the fastest but managed to strategize to minimize penalties. The really good teams go much faster….but we’re getting there.


In the Peewee division, Marina made an impression with her style and enthusiasm.

Good Morning!

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A few days ago, I was afforded a great photo op at my place. I had been out doing my barn chores and had let Manny out in the aisleway to hang out while I worked which is commonly our routine. I ran into the house to let my freezing Yorkies in and get a second cup o Joe. When I came back out to the mudroom, there was Manny, escaped from the barn, knocking on my door quite literally. He was sampling the ornamental corn on the door! Too funny!

Peanuts First Ride!

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Today was a beautiful, clear day and I was home early from work. I couldn’t resist doing some saddle work with Peanut. He stood quietly in the barn aisle (well, his feet weren’t moving…just his big mouth). He touched, tasted and stomped on both the saddle pad and my beloved Brainard saddle (ouch!). Its a good thing I don’t think this saddle will fit him for long! He accepted saddling on the first try. The cinch meant nothing to him…

In all honesty, I did not expect this process to go so smoothly or so quickly…and since there was plenty of daylight, I continued on. First I set him out on our ‘track’ and had Doc take him for a run with his new appendage. He had a few very small bucks in him at the canter, but not much excitement…all in all.

So…feeling lucky, I decided to press on.

BTW, I love this horse….he makes my butt look small!


Its a long way up there! Even with my ungraceful start, he was pretty interested in this new developement and waited to see what was gonna happen next.

He kept ahold of the end of the lead rope, just in case!
Success! He’s actually more interested in Mom and the camera than me on his back!

Alittle lateral flexion…soft on both sides. What a good boy!

Rope over the head…no problem!

Notice little Magic keeping a close eye on the goings on here….’How can I get up there!’

A five minute ride…I couldn’t be happier!~

Summer 2007….Mom and the minis

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With my Mom’s retirement finally here, we moved her into a small apartment here at Resting Heart Farm, so she could enjoy the things she loves…beading, knitting and her dogs. But she felt like she was missing out…in the horse department. So when a pair of minis became available, we couldn’t resist….

We added Miss Molly (formerly ‘Sunny’) and her colt, Magic to our herd in August 2007.

Magic and Peanut were of course, instant friends!

Peanut Butter Fluff

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Peanut is a Belgian Draft horse and my first baby. He was born in the driving rain on 6/6/6 about a 1/2 mile from my house and I happened to drive by his pasture about 10 minutes after he was born and stopped to watch him struggle to stand and then his first feeble steps. Soon he was running…I was starstruck. In my heart I claimed him for my own and a few weeks later sealed the deal with the dairy farmer who had no use for him.

Pictured here at 3 months old. Never haltered or handled.

He and I soon came to be ‘buds’. Halter trained and leading lessons behind us….sharing a morning cup of joe…at 4 months.

December 2006…six months old and nearly rideable!


The neighbors called constantly…’I think there is something wrong with your youngster!’ He loved to sleep…anywhere.


Here he is with the crew…winter 2007…8 months old. Look at those legs!

Nearly a yearling…hmmm..he’s getting big!

After a few days spent with Mark Rashid in the spring of 2007, Peanut was off to a great start! Ground driving 101. Here he is 16 months old.
Mark was glad we started him so young…when he was relatively small!?! He said I could start sitting on him when he was 18 mos old…yikes! Stay tuned!