Heaven's Hoofbeats

01/22/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/18CT3orehF/

01/21/2025

This was a great episode

https://podcasts.captivate.fm/media/26ed3718-e643-4da1-8aed-787d5628a2ea/HITM-3604-final.mp3

01/21/2025

A shorter hoof stand will be a future purchase.

Did you know that hoof stands come in various sizes?

The stands I use are the Hoofjack brand and they come in standard, medium, and mini.

The green pictured here is a standard size. The purple is a medium and it's the one I use every day. I have lowered the post as far as it can go on both. There are inches of difference between these two sizes at their lowest height.

Only a few inches can make ALL the difference to the horse.

I have never once wished I had a taller hoof stand, even when I did drafts. The medium size has been amazing for huge horses to small ponies.

Some horses cannot tolerate a tall stand, especially for their back feet - whether you're resting them in the cradle or bringing them forward to the post.

If your horse is struggling during their farrier appointments, a simple fix is to find their comfort zone for holding their feet up. I have had many clients tell me that their horse couldn't or wouldn't lift/hold their feet nicely for the last farrier. Using the medium or even the mini hoof stand if their range of motion is really limited has helped so much.

01/21/2025

"We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand.... and melting like a snowflake. Let us use it before it is too late."

- Marie Beynon Ray -

01/21/2025

"The solution for me, surely, is neither in total renunciation of the world, nor in total acceptance of it.
I must find a balance somewhere, or an alternating rhythm between solitude and communion, between retreat and return.
In my periods of retreat, perhaps I can learn something to carry back into my worldly life."

-- Anne Morrow Lindbergh --

01/20/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/1GTLvfrmot/

Making Sherlock Holmes proud

If you are finding a good case of thrush and or a "plumber's crack" in one foot but not it's matching partner that is a red flag clue.

(Obviously this particular foot needs a good trim as well but)

For instance if the front left has this going on but not the front right, then a bell should ding that tells you something is causing the horse not to travel on that foot like he does the other.

Maybe an abscess is brewing. Maybe there is a deep bruise in the heel. Maybe there is a shoulder injury. Maybe your farrier has not learned to compensate for the non-dominant hand and trims this one differently. Maybe you ride to one side of your horse.

There are a long list of possibilities as to why.

One footed thrush, etc is almost always indicative of a physical problem and not an environmental issue.

You will have to get out your best ear flap hat and magnifying glass and see if you can solve the case

01/20/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/19UXATigZr/

Jan 20, 2025 | Cold Weather Horse Management, Dr. Clair Thunes, Equine Nutrition, Forage, Horse Nutrition Basics, Podcast

01/20/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/1BKnain6AA/

01/19/2025

This.
Louder for the ones in the back

If you haven’t worked with many feral horses before (or mustangs) it’s easy to see how the idea that the feral has been “traumatized” in some way might cross your mind.

Ferals and wild horses are used to watching their surroundings and reacting in a way that horses raised domesticated do not usually have to, and so do not manifest that behavior. They are often very alert, high headed and watchful when humans are around.

It’s a survival mechanism not a ptsd kind of thing in most cases.

There are a few exceptions, such as herds where people have tried roping them or where they have been repeatedly chased by atvs. Or ferals who have gone through chutes (at auction for example) with no carefulness and have developed a fear of being in a squeeze type situation.

But your regular feral with none of the things above is just doing the behaviors she had to do to keep herself safe out there.

We feel for so many of the backyard ferals and other feral situations.

Ferals where a well meaning person has obtained them, but doesn’t understand how to bring them around into domesticity in a timely manner, so they can lose that high alert and watchfulness state that kept them safe before, but now keeps them on edge.

When you “sneak” around them so as not to upset them you are acting like a predator and so that makes it harder on them.

Be watchful for your own safety, but be matter of fact around them. When working with these guys it’s important to always be building on small steps so that soon they can get the things necessary to the health of a horse living in a domestic world.

Don’t be a tiptoeing lion, be like the little sparrow cheerfully getting on with the matters of life.

If you can put a super human friendly horse in with your feral that will often help things quite a bit.

Working with ferals is a skill set for sure and we have been so fortunate to add some people to our team over the years that are great at it.

01/19/2025

Moto was a cool fellow to work with. Heart of Phoenix does such a great job preparing these horses for their home.

01/19/2025

Prince Enero

The special part about the work of the team at Heart of Phoenix Equine Rescue, INC is we are so dedicated to being there for horses we rescue.

That may sound basic, but it's rare. You can count on us to do what is best for them years into their stories, even when it's hard.

It's easy to use smoke, mirrors, tall tales, people's unawareness and good intentions to raise funds with claims of helping, then actually, not do what is implied or needed (or even cause far more harm).

We see it a lot. I wish we didn't.

It's really important to pay attention to what a person does, not what they claim they do.

Look at the details, the follow up, ask questions, be persistent.

If you ask about Any HORSE in a month or a year or ten, so far, we can tell or show you were they are or what has happened.

We don't claim it. . . We just have a proof is in the pudding approach.

Pay attention in a world with finite donor dollars to help horses. . . That you give wisely.

It helps more horses when you do, and when you don't, you can really cause a lot of harm.

By the way, stay tuned to this gelding's story.