What's not to love? Lyle has held a special place in my life and my heart since the day he was born. We never got into the showing thing, but if the AQHA ever sanctions a class based solely on personality, we're there!
I can always tell when Lyle is feeling a little off - he becomes subdued, spends less time with his buddies, and he stops harassing me. And a few weeks ago, I could tell Lyle was feeling a little off. That usually means one thing - his feet hurt. He wasn't lame this time, but I knew his feet were bothering him.
He was diagnosed with laminitis about four years ago.
Since then, the vet, the farrier and I have worked together to keep him sound. We've had our ups and downs, but I've been able to keep him barefoot, and he wears his sneakers when we ride.
Lyle's main problem is he just doesn't grow much foot, and his soles are notoriously thin. In the colder months, he wears off more hoof than he grows, then gets sore. I could keep his sneakers on him full-time, but then his hooves get soft and chip alot once the boots are removed.
So after consulting with the vet, I had the farrier come out this weekend and outfit Lyle with a brand new pair of shoes.
Uh, Lyle, you've got your shoes on backwards.
The vet recommended the reverse shoe for Lyle's special needs, and the farrier did a great job shaping them to fit and grinding off the ends at an angle to match his breakover.
Lyle isn't back to his true charming self just yet. He hasn't worn shoes for four years, and I'm sure his leg tendons are still adjusting to the change. But I'm pretty confident this approach is going to work for us. We're looking forward to many miles in the saddle come spring...and to confusing the heck out of anybody who tries to follow our tracks.
oooh, I'm always excited to see Xrays! Very cool post. Love what your farrier's done, that's good work! You and Lyle will have many miles to travel. Love his personality too, but I think that's all your animals. You don't have a boring one in the bunch!
ReplyDeletei can just see an old western movie and the tracker...ummm ya see well...ummm... well, it just cant be LOL what a hoot! how cool that they can help Lyle and love the great backwards shoe caper!
ReplyDeleteHe was just the cutest little guy. He still is. I hope his feet feel better soon, there's nothing like sore feet to put you in a mood. Love the special backwards shoeing too. Love to see someone trying to figure out the tracks.
ReplyDeleteThat side shot you took of Lyle shows that he is such a beautiful pony. I love his color. And shoes on backwards! That's amazing. I guess you could start holding up stage coaches now, and no one would be able to track you.
ReplyDeleteOh, nothing cuter than a little baby horse! He's a gorgeous boy now. Our Bandit has the same problem...poor guy. We have a great farrier that puts pads on the front w/shoes and gets his angles just right to keep him comfortable.
ReplyDeleteLyle is such a cutie and hate it that he hurts, but that's great that you all put your heads together and came up with this backward shoe idea, and as for anyone following your tracks, wellll, HAHAHAHA!!!
ReplyDeleteHe certainly was an exceptionally cute foal! And he's lucky to have you notice when things aren't right. With the backwards shoeing I couldn't help thinking that "the farther I go the behinder I get."
ReplyDeleteMy vet recommends Isosoxsuprine for thin soles. I also feed "Horseshoers Secret." It's wonderful to have a good farrier! Hope Lyles feet feel better soon.
ReplyDeleteOh, Lyle was an adorable foal! Sorry to hear his feet have been bothering him. Hope the shoes help. They can do amazing things with shoes now.
ReplyDeleteOf course he wears his shoes backwards! I would have expected nothing less from someone as unique and individual as Lyle. Hope his tootsies feel better soon.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Welcome to the W.O.W. Team!
I wonder how many other horses in the world can say that they are going where they've already been??
ReplyDelete:)
Mogsie
poor Lyle! We had a horse at the Therapeutic riding barn I worked at who was shod like that. It makes for interesting conversation when newbies went to pick out his feet.
ReplyDeleteHaving a special needs horse myself, I can so relate. It's difficult to weather all the ups and downs, but it's definitely been a great lesson in patience for me.
ReplyDeleteI hope Lyle adjusts quickly to his new shoes and that they help. (He's adorable btw).
That last photo gave me a good laugh! I had to do a double take to make sure I was seeing correctly! I hope that is the solution to Lyle's problems. My horse has really flat feet, so we have the potential for sore feet, too. Great post!
ReplyDeleteI hope that works for you Linda. All three of our horses are barefoot and it works for them and for us. We have a great barefoot farrier who really knows what he's doing.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes for a good riding season.
Dan
Lyle is such a pretty boy...I sure hope he gets to feeling better soon. I've heard of the backward shoe thing...hope it does the trick!
ReplyDeleteMy old sorrel QH Toby has really flat, thin soled front hooves too...the QH breed needs to get feet bred back into them like my mustangs have. I feel for you...hugs to Lyle~~
I'm sorry to hear that Lyle is sore, but I give a big thumbs up for the backwards shoes. Siete has been wearing hers for a couple of months now and they have really helped. We also did all the big diet changes - no 2nd cut hay, carrots or grain. And she's lost 100 pounds. So, she's feeling much better. I hope that Lyle heals up quickly. It's so hard to see them hurting!
ReplyDeleteWe had a old Welsh Pony mare that had Cushing's Disease. She was lame off and on many times over the last few years of her life. She too, wore her front shoes backwards. We would have worn ours backwards for her if it would have helped! It's so hard knowing they are in pain and frustrating trying to find what works.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting post. Lyle is so luck that you are so attentive and knowledgable to his special foot problems - and I'm relieved that their is a solution to his pain that allows the two of you to continue to ride!
ReplyDeletePoor Lyle, I hope the backwards shoes works for him and makes him more comfortable soon.
ReplyDeleteLyle is such a good looking boy, and that baby pic! Love that great AQHA butt!
Hmmm...Waska and Lyle have a lot in common as far as personality and laminitis go (it's good to share the first thing, but not the second!).
ReplyDeleteWaska also wears boots for riding and is able to go around barefoot in his pasture/paddock. Sometimes he is off though, and Amber just has him wear his boots 24/7 for a week or so, and he feels better.
Kudos to you for going through this with him and not just giving up. :)
What a muscular foal Lyle was as a little colt! Our barb fillies look nothing like it! :-)
ReplyDeleteI have learned so many interesting things from your blog. This is a new one indeed for me. I love your blog....your photos....and although I'm not really much interested in pigs, I think Wynona is pretty cute. Smooch is drop dead cool (I'm really a dog person). George, Alan, Lyle and Hank along with Deets and the others kitties keep us all amused. Thanks for sharing all the time with such wonderful stories.
ReplyDeleteSweet little Lyle. That poor baby. I must admit it is fun seeing a shoe on backwards.
ReplyDeleteHope he's feeling better soon.
(stopped over from Dan and Betty's place.)
Laminitis is a tough one, I used to have a little pony prone to it, its a constant issue. I hope Lyle's new shoes help him out.
ReplyDeleteThanks to you - and I am new to following your blog, I understand much more about horses than I did. Always wanted one when I was a child. Was always asked - "Do you know how much care they need?" Guess I didn't much listen, I was headstrong and wanted one anyway. I am an artist, so I often draw or paint them...love them still. Now live in a part of the country where having one is a possibility. Helped out a neighbor last year to try to save their horse whose stomach twisted...it ended up dying, but we walked and walked that mare - into the cold and windy nights and watched and waited and prayed. You put into perspective what the care is all about. Your love shines through in your words. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHello there,
ReplyDeleteI am not really sure how I ended up in your neck of the woods but glad that I did. Your pics are great. Just had some laminitis ideas for you...heart bar shoes worked great for us and keeps the pressure off the frogs (didn't know if you.
Also my vet had me help him with an experiment when we thought we were battling our last plight of "founder" we use nitroglycerin gel for heart patients in a gel form, put around coronet band and heel with gauze pads and vet wrap, we thought he had to be put down one night and trotted off 10 minutes later!!!!