Progress

Well it's been three weeks and four days since I took America's shoes off. He lived in his sneakers for about two weeks to help him transition. After that, I took those off to let his feet harden. I am going to take new pictures today but I am liking this progress so far. He is still a little more sensitive on  his club foot, but it is not growing as fast as the other. We've only ridden once in all of this time, which is fine. I would rather him heal correctly without any interference.


Hims in his sneakers! 

I also ended up having to take off his boots because they were causing rubs on his heal bulbs, which were swollen and bald! Which I have a feeling is because they either A. Don't fit a 100% right or B. weren't put on snug enough.

Sorry  it's blurry but I am thinking he is looking pretty dang good!

I think I might have figured out the naughty culprit behind his leaky behind as well. SAND! I did a manure test

(Yes, that is poop water!)
You can see a lot of sand around the edge of the jar. Farrrr too much. I'm just glad that it's coming out but I am worried about how much he is ingesting daily if this is how much is from just one turd nugget!!! I may have already helped with this without even knowing it. I purchased a Freedom Feeder for his stall. I really bought it because he scarfs his food down and then is out of hay within an hour, therefore leaving him hay-less until 7am. It's better for his metabolism to be able to extend his food out over longer periods of time. Plus now I know he wont be snuffling around on the ground and eating dirt and sand with his hay! I know, I am so gross for posting this picture :)

I bought my Freedom Feeder from this nice lady Freedom Feeders MS. These are super handy and helpful with porky horses, horses with stall issues, horses who eat too much dirt, etc....the reasonings are endless. On top of that, they are meant to hang somewhat low which is closer to the natural eating manner of a horse, which is infinitely better than the hay racks that are hung up high. High hay racks go completely against the nature of the horse. If you look at horses in the wild, (or in your pasture) horses eat with their heads down, it's how their digestion, metabolism and the biomechanics work best. Not to mention, high hay racks will cause  your horse to gain some funky neck muscles and lose back muscles.