Submitted by Amy Allen, Team Easyboot 2014 Member
January 23, 2014 “Anise is said to be a 2 year old and stands about 14’1hh. She is friendly and easy to handle. She picks up her feet and enjoys scratches. She is almost 1,000 pounds and should grow into a beautiful well built mare. She is a gorgeous sooty buckskin and quite unique in her coloring. She has a piece of hoof that appears to have broken off but it does not cause any lameness that I could see and she appears to be sound.” Deadline: 1/29/14.
Anise’s left front hoof, entire wall torn away. Ouch!
February 26th, 2014, the day she arrived at her new home. Her new name was Meadow. Her mane had been rubbed raw by the kill pen feeder, she was covered in ticks, had suffered sickness, had dry flaky skin and hives. She had no idea that she had arrived at the the very best home, where she would receive so much love and quality care by her new owners.
April 13, 2014 The spark was coming back into her eyes. Her feet are being trimmed by hoof care practitioner Ann Szolas and were looking so much better. There was a little bit of shine to her once dull coat. She was now healthier and ready to start her training.
April 26, 2014 Meadow, a week after arriving at Allen Acres to be started.
However, she appeared “wise” during her training sessions, didn’t have the eye of a three year old filly, took to riding like she had done it before. She has some white hairs on her right side and shoulder, most likely previous saddle-fitting problems. She could also pack a bit, but would try and pull the reins out of my hands, evade the bit by putting her nose to her chest, and would try to carry her head very low. She would pin her ears and snap her teeth when she was confused or worried. She had done none of these things when I restarted her in a halter, it all came about when a bit was placed into her mouth, which showed prior training and harsh use of a bit.
After having being in training for a week, and showing way too much wisdom for an unstarted three year old, I took a closer look at her teeth. I did some research and to me they looked like the teeth of a five year old. I emailed the photos to a horse dentist and received a quick response, “She is coming five.” That explained a lot.
Meadow lives on soft pasture at home and with the great amount of movement required of a horse in training, I booted Meadow in the Easyboot Glove. When she is bare she shows some sensitivity on gravel and hard ground. With her boots on for protection she shows no signs of tenderness. With all the movement and balanced nutrition, her inner structures are rebuilding and growing a stronger foot. She is on California Trace minerals, which are helping her grow in a healthier hoof and they also contribute to whole horse health. Such a huge transformation from that injured hoof she had in the kill pen. The transformation is not yet complete. However, with the team that is supporting her, she only needs more time to grow in a stronger, healthier foot.
April 28, 2014: the second ride for Wanda and Meadow, the first ride was in a rope halter. Ground work was done before mounting, always ground work first to build a solid foundation and a trusting relationship. Meadow is wearing her front boots and moving out in comfort. In just a short time she has learned that a bit is not going to bump her and hurt her and she can move forward in balance and lightness. The relationship continues to grow as Meadow learns to trust Wanda as her confident and fair leader.
May 1, 2014 Meadow wearing her Easyboot Gloves on the fronts. We just got back from a short trail ride with the dogs. Sometimes she evades the bit or flings her nose (in this instance she wanted the grass), but we don’t bump her and instead show her a kinder, fair way of training and the correct use of a bit.
May 7, 2014 Meadow, moving out in her Easyboot Gloves.
