Feathered Fox Farrier Services

08/30/2024

Thank you to all my clients for letting me be a part of your horses lives. 💜

The Last Trim

I gave a horse their last trim today.

I showed up to trim as I always do, to the news that this would be his last trim - his owner was saying goodbye in about 3 weeks.

I first met this horse about 6 years ago, and he was a “senior” horse then. He had been retired years prior due to a heart issue, and his owner has doted on him and kept him comfortable and happy and as healthy as possible in his retirement.

When I first met him, his owner stopped me before I picked up my nippers and shared her concern about how he “was always sore after every trim, sometimes for weeks.” I assured her I would be careful, and we agreed to use Hoof Armor as a simple callous layer to see if that would help.

Over the last 6 years, he has been comfortable and pasture sound over all surfaces, even gravel. His owner insisted the Hoof Armor was a game changer- so we applied it every trim for 6 years.

Together, with his owner’s management and a consistent trim cycle, we got his feet in a much better spot.

The last few months have been tough for him. At 32 years old, his body is starting to fail. He had a few recurrent infections, weight fluctuation issues. It’s gotten to where his owner wants to let him go on a good day, instead of when he is actively suffering. As someone who has seen horses go both ways- I will never judge someone for making this decision, and I also prefer a day too early than a day too late.

So today, I trimmed him, took one last photo of one of his feet, and asked his owner if she wanted to do one last Hoof Armor application.

“Oh yes,” she said, “everything as usual.”
She wants to keep him as comfortable as he has been, up to the very last moment possible.

So we finished up his appointment, I gave him some good scratches, and thanked him for letting me take care of his feet the last few years. And then I said goodbye.

As hoofcare providers, we have the privilege of working with horses every month or so, and get to know them and their owners. They become a part of our lives and we are able to see how they grow and change throughout the years.

It makes that last goodbye that much harder, and while today was sad, I am so glad we could keep this boy happy for the last 6 years.

As hoofcare pros, it means a lot to us to be a part of your journeys. Thank you to all the owners for trusting us with your horse’s care, even into their golden years ❤️

08/09/2024

✨Attention ✨
I will be unavailable until August 14th morning. My phone is turned off and I will be basking in the sun unplugged.
In the event of an emergency please leave a voicemail and I'll get back to you as soon as possible.
Thank you and have a great weekend

07/01/2024

❗ Important Update ❗
Last week I unfortunately suffered a concussion while working on a horse and am listening to my body and it's limitations during recovery. As many of you know (silly equestrian activities often create TBI's) post concussion recovery is not linear and often changes day to day.
Hopefully I won't have to change my schedule around, but if I have to cut a day short or need to take a break mid day please be kind and understanding.
I am going to keep to shortened hours over the next couple weeks or until my body gives me the all clear.
I apologize for any inconveniences this my cause anyone, hopefully it will be temporary. Thank you for your continued support and understanding these past 10 years. Words cannot express my gratitude for you all.

06/28/2024

Good luck and stay safe to all competitors this weekend at the BQHA & NLQHA show in Emo. May your show saddles stay dry and your horseshoes stay on. Have fun! 😄

05/29/2024

05/29/2024

Wee toes 3rd trim with me

04/16/2024

Added a small welder to the van last week. Now minor shoe modifications can be made at the horse.
Practice makes perfect!

04/16/2024

✨before✨ and ✨after✨
5 weeks between photos and 2nd time doing the horse

04/16/2024

🫶

The Rehab Rollercoaster

There was a time when my emotions were directly tied to how sound or lame my horse was that day.

When I was struggling with Vinnie’s navicular diagnosis and soft tissue tears, I used to drive to the barn sick to my stomach of what I would find that day. Would he be dead lame? Would he look okay? What was I going to find walking to his paddock? It became such a huge part of my day to day life and honestly was exhausting. I am glad for the journey it sent me on- the hoofcare certifications, travel around the world, the friends I’ve made- and I don’t regret any of it.

But man, in the moment, it was hard.

I am happy to say that Vinnie is doing well living on a track system here at home with a herd of geldings, comfortable, playful, and content. I no longer hold my breath when I go to feed in the morning.

But I remember the “Rehab Rollercoaster” that can control your emotions all too well.

When going through rehab for soundness issues, it can be easy to hyperfocus on what’s wrong. The wrong step, the head bob, the ouchy turn, the less than fluid movement, the joint that just doesn’t have the range of motion you want it too. And that’s where we start to spiral. That’s where we spend all our time watching and waiting for it to turn.

Now, owning a hoof rehab facility, I have realized that with every case being so unique, I had to shift my focus and perspective on its head.

Instead of focusing on the large glaring issues in the beginning of rehab, or throughout the process even, in order to assess progress I had to find the little changes.

I started seeing the small improvements….

The quality and angle of the wall at the hairline.
The more balanced wear patterns of the hoof.
The depth of the collateral grooves.
The firmness of the frog.
The texture of the sole.
The width of the back half of the foot.
The angle of the hairline at the heel bulbs.
The feeling when palpating the frog and digital cushion.
The tightness of the white line connection.

And slowly, I can start to notice some slightly bigger things.

The more extended stride length.
The willingness to weight the back half of the foot in movement.
The comfort over harder surfaces or gravel.
The willingness to move farther to find the next hay station.
The personality and playfulness returning.
The change in tension lines throughout the body.
The more comfortable posture at rest.

Sometimes, we don’t see a sound horse for months or even years (!) as the body unravels years of compensation and damage while also working to strengthen areas to compensate for internal pathology or heal past injury.

Sometimes, like as a bit of a cruel joke, we see rehab horses fall into two categories:

With some horses, we see soundness return quickly.

With some, consistent comfort is a journey where we see all the smaller changes as the body relearns proper ways to move to prevent reinjury.

If you have a horse you are rehabbing that falls in the first category- give them a hug and thank them for showing you that it can be done.

If you are rehabbing a horse that falls in the second category- this month, try to find one improvement in their hoof or body to know you are headed in the right direction. If you can’t find one, have another set of eyes to see if they can find any changes. If there truly isn’t any positive change, you may need to redirect your approach, whether that be diet, environment, bloodwork, hoofcare approach, etc.

The small changes are what are going to allow the large changes (soundness!) to stick around for the long haul. We need to develop strong structures to develop a sound horse.

Sometimes the Rehab Rollercoaster is unkind.
Sometimes it gets stuck or gets derailed.
Sometimes there are sudden drops or sharp turns.
So many of us have been there.
You can do this. You’re doing great.

04/02/2024

✨ IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT ✨
New Number Alert!
For all calls and texts please use 807 357 7582.
Please remember personal direct inbox messages will not be answered, use the professional pages only.
A friendly reminder that messages and calls will not be responded to on weekends, holidays and after 6 pm. Call and leave a voicemail if it is an emergency.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for everyone's continued support and understanding.
💜

03/26/2024

Please remember you're not preparing for a flood. Let them touch the ground 💃

03/26/2024

If anyone wants to try these let me know - I'll be placing an order in a couple weeks when the other shoes are released

03/22/2024

Hairy toes

03/22/2024

🧜‍♀️

03/22/2024

All that glitters is not gold - sometimes it's and

02/06/2024

Friendly reminder I am off until the 26th of February. I CAN NOT receive texts the entire time, and will be checking my FB messages here once a week.
Thank you 🌴🧳🐴

01/18/2024

A friendly reminder I will be off from February 5-26th. I will be ☀️out of the country ☀️and unable to receive calls, texts and voicemails.
I will be checking the messages on my page only once a week.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support. 💜

01/15/2024

To all my clients - while one of our own Greg Huffman; is off while recovering from an Injury and myself will be taking care of his clients.

Reach out to either of us and we will book you in as soon as we can.

Please be reminded we have regular business hours just as any other trade does. Please text/call 807-632 8021 or through the business page.

Greg will still be paid for all services rendered - etransfering him directly will be easiest.

We all thank you for your patience. The 3 of us have full books and are scheduling weeks if not months in advance for our regular clients already, we will do our best to accommodate clients schedules and expect flexibility in return.

Thank you to my regular clients offering up their slots so I can get some of Greg's in sooner. It is greatly appreciated.

01/05/2024

12/01/2023

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12/01/2023

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12/01/2023

💅

12/01/2023

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