Usually, when a client calls in a panic about their horse's feet "falling apart", I'm inclined to think it really isn't likely to be a problem at all, much less a big problem.
This time, I was definitely surprised at what I saw.
The lady was insistent that I know how this happened. All I could do was shake my head and tell her that I had no idea.
I wasn't winning her confidence by telling her that sometimes, "stuff happens".
It's true though. There are no lack of oddities that happen when horses are involved.
This client really wanted to know what my plan was. Could I fix it? Will she be sore?
I understood her concerns, but all I could offer was to take the shoes off, trim her up and see what we have left at that point. If there is enough hoof, I will nail the shoes back on and if we need to, there is always acrylic to use to replace any lost hoof wall.
So long as she isn't really sore (she wasn't as she walked out to be shod) then there is no reason that we can't get her shod for the weekend trail ride and all will be well.
We got very lucky. Even after that horrible looking - whatever that was - everything came out just fine. It seemed to be just another anomaly that "just happens" every so often.
Maybe the mare got into a scuffle or something odd happened out in the field. I have no idea, no matter how much the owner really wanted me to tell her how this could happen.
Scott Gregory
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