New in 2012 02/17/2012
 
I have had a wonderful start to the year with new and exciting opportunities arising. A once monthly trip to Johannesburg to trim being the main excitement. I also have a clinic planned in Limpopo next month as well as a talk in Pretoria. A few days ago I visited a farm in Somerset-East where I got to help a very desperate owner with a Saddlebred that couldn't hold up her back legs long enough to be trimmed. Besides that problem, there are no farriers in the area and everyone that offered to help suggested rather un-savoury methods of restraint! With a little bit of a struggle and an eventual mild dose of sedative, I managed to give the poor mare a good trim. She seemed more comfortable afterwards but time will tell as she was still recovering from the sedative when I left. I have left her in the capable hands of my pupil who impressed me very much with her dedication and trimming skills. We will be in regular correspondence via email so that I can guide her and assist with the mare's rehabilitation.

Corlia injured a sesamoidean ligament about 2 months ago, he is sound but I am not doing any more than a walk until I can get a good vet to scan the leg. It seems he is always hurting himself so nothing comes as a surprise anymore! I have also managed to injure my hamstring and knee which has left me doing only mild work for a while. It is a big frustration in my life at the moment as I have had to quit a lot of the physical activity that was important in my daily life, running  being one of them. On a happier note, Corlia and I do basic exercises together, I managed to teach him to rein-back quite nicely a few days ago. My Mom was around and caught it on video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-K3bt4lXBo0&list=UUZ2t6ynYVRnE1vQm6EPSqvw&index=3&feature=plcp

Fortunately Fifi is still on her feet and we are having a blast. She is really beginning to muscle up and is learning some new things such as rein-back, trotting over raised poles and cantering on the correct leads. She seems to think that she is very clever. And she is indeed, at least considering I've almost been out of town more than in town this month so riding has taken a bit of a backseat!

The Equine Fusion Jogging Shoes seem to be a success, I have had only positive feedback so far. One of my clients is possibly the first to ride in anything other than metal horse shoes in her country, Namibia. We wish her the best of luck for her 100km race tomorrow!
 


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