I’ve often mentioned that one of the first NoCo lessons I learned is that when it comes to the care of equines, you’ll never see a three-legged horse.
As a result, I will go forever without seeing to my own needs, but I am meticulous about the hoof care of Claire and Honey.
Every four weeks, five if something unexpected comes up, Jason shows up and digs out, clips, shaves and files each of their hooves.
I’ve written about Jason in the past. He’s a bright, quirky, and funny character. He came along as part of the package when I adopted Claire. Thank God for that. Claire wasn’t about to break in a new farrier while breaking in a new caretaker.
Mani-Pedi Morning With Farrier Jason Bastemeyer – The Wise Novelist
Jason saw to Mr. Rogers hooves as well. He was very upset at that mighty mule’s passing.
When Honey arrived at Casa Claire, she had issues with the misdirection of her hooves due to poor care in her prior life down in Arizona. Jason worked extra hard in getting those hooves in alignment. Honey’s hooves grow quickly, so if you don’t keep on top of them, they will extend before her feet like elf shoes. That puts unwanted pressure on the joints. You don’t want that.
Claire’s hooves are huge. But during normal NoCo winters they can crack along the edges like a chipped fingernail, so you have to make sure to negate those cracks before they extend too high.
The other problem with winter care is that ice balls can form in the center of the hoof pad and if it is constantly freezing, it forces the mules to wobble when they walk on the ice balls. If you keep the hooves short enough, less build up will accumulate and the balls will come free most of the time on their own.
Luckily, we have been blessed with warmer weather this year, with almost no snow, so Claire’s hooves have remained issue free. That’s the two of them grazing away out back yesterday afternoon.
I’m like an old, worried grandmother when Jason is working, looking over his shoulder as he works, asking how the hooves are looking. I need to hear him tell me that they are all sound and issue free, or I can’t sleep at night.
Claire and Honey have the benefit of walking on all of the unpaved earth here at Casa Claire except when they come to the back door for their crackers. So, they don’t need shoes, which is great because I’m sure I’d never be able to watch them get those things nailed into the hooves. I’ve been told its painless, but I never trust a human’s observation of suffering when it comes to other creatures. I do have some horseshoes hanging over doorways here at Casa Claire. A much better use for them. Good luck.
The most stressful part of the farrier process is catching Claire and Honey and tying them up to the closest fence before Jason arrives. I have to admit, that they have taken pity on me lately and only offer a little resistance. In the beginning, they would openly run from me. Now it’s just a gentle cantor just to make sure I get my cardio.
After the farrier comes and goes, I have to deal with a far more dangerous creature. My gran, Savanna, gets her turn with a one-on-one overnight with her Nona today, so that means I get to make sure everything they want to do together gets done. “They also serve who only stand and wait.” John Milton, On His Blindness.
Well, I better get a move on. I have other chores to do as well.
You fine, five readers take care of your weekend errands, and then settle in for some well-deserved relaxation–maybe read a book, or five.
And no matter what else we get up to, let us make today a great one.
