12/31/2023
Meet Marlie! He's a sweet, off track thoroughbred gelding that was having some comfort and balance issues with his feet. His owner reached out in an effort to find someone who could help get him more comfortable after hitting a plateau with his progress. These pictures were taken roughly 12 weeks apart. The only change in Marlie's management was hoof care. Feed, turnout, work load, and everything else remained the same.
So what happened and why does he look SO different with only 1 change? Discomfort in horses causes a boatload of issues all throughout the body! Because his feet were uncomfortable his posture was poor which caused tense muscles and increased pain. That resulted in a compromised ability to move around adequately on his own and graze as much. Additionally, when horses are in pain their body doesn't utilize nutrients properly and they're unable to maintain a healthy weight. By balancing his feet and getting him shod in a package that promoted comfort, he was able to adjust his posture, relax his muscles, move and graze more, and is now a LOT more energetic. We still have a long ways to go to get him 100% comfortable, but his rapid changes were shocking to everyone involved in his care.
Since our last visit his owner has reported that he's never felt more balanced under saddle and that "this dude now thinks he's truly ready for the races"!
Happy New Year everyone! Definitely looking forward to a Balanced and Comfortable 2024!
