My daughter, Suzanne Haevischer, who lives near Fayetteville, TX, has an 18 year old black Tennessee Walking Horse gelding, which she has owned since his birth. He has always been somewhat tenderfooted and a little "pacey" in his gait.

About five years ago she started having him shod in heavier shoes to improve his gait. Although his gait improved with the heavier shoes, he had intermittent problems with lameness, especially in his front feet.

 

Then, two years ago, she stopped using the heavier shoes and had another farrier do a "pasture trim." Each time the horse was trimmed, he was lame a few days. After three or four sessions with the farrier, we learned that a nearby natural horse care trimmer, Eddie Drabek, had openings for new clients. Eddie came out and trimmed all our horses for the first time in November of 2007.

 

He also advised her to use Easyboots when she rode him until he was able to travel comfortably barefoot. For about three months, she used Easyboots on all four feet when riding. With the Easyboots, his gait improved immediately and significantly.

 

Now his feet have improved so much that she can ride him barefoot on all the sandy and clay based trails nearby and only uses his boots when we ride in rocky, mountainous areas. He is comfortable riding in a nearby park that has a few miles of gravel trails, as well as on the shells at Matagorda Beach on the Texas Gulf Coast.

 

His gait? It's better than it has ever been. He travels fast and smooth! He is living testimony to the benefits of Easyboots and barefoot trimming.

 

Photo taken by Jim Edmondson at the Supreme Trail Challenge Competitive Trail Ride held at LBJ Grasslands near Decatur, TX, on May 3, 2008.

 

Other photos by Jim can be seen at his website www.opticalharmonics.com .

 

— Relda Sterkx
Round Top, TX