Somewhere between fun, worry, patience and questioning

I find it crazy that snowflakes are so beautiful especially when they land on our equines furried winter bear fur

 Laz, after our awesome ride, noshing on his slurpee

Can I pull out the cavaletti's and work on those in snow?

He's not fat, I promise, but needs help in the belly area.......who doesn't, its January?!

 Pigfest!

Ok, so here's where it gets to be that I constantly worry but also have to balance that with enjoying where we are TODAY. 

Today, I had a great ride on my horse.  

My horse was happily trotting around, wanting to play and we pushed our 'safety' zone a little today with great results (aka riding in closer, closer to areas he always spooks at)

We also worked on w/t, silent whoa's, transitions, figure 8's, backing up and just standing patiently until I ask him to move. This proved to be interesting. I would ask him to "Whoa" and he would but after a few seconds he wanted to go again. I would back him up a few steps and repeat the "whoa" request.  I noticed, he goes through a mental routine.  He stopped, and when he thought we should walk again, he remained standing but starting his nervous chewing. I would just pat him and sit quiet on his back and waited.  Laz would then shake his head, lick his lips and it was the sign, thinking process, of "oh, you want me to stand here...ok" that I was waiting for to say "Gooood boy!" and we would start walking again.  We did that several times and each time the release of understanding came faster. :)

It was a great ride.

But then, the reality of it is, I worry about his feet CONSTANTLY

They just look so horrible

I'm not knocking my trimmer's work-it's just the truth of the time frame of where we are

I know, I know, they look better than what they did...for sure! 

But I just want to make sure I'm not missing a HUGE RED FLAG and being a bad horse mommy who is blissfully riding her hurting boy.  I mean, his physical, and mental body language is: He's happy.  I know that. I also know that Laz has a high pain tolerance and for that, I don't want to wait for any "OUCH-I'm seriously hurting" signs.  Also I want to make sure that we don't digress with his growth of barefoot feet and make sure I'm doing all I can to keep him healing.

So, that being said-Today's photos of feet-up for thoughts!!

Front Left

This hoof always looks the best to me, out of all 4

I know-major major hoof wall separation STILL...ugh, why won't they go away?! What can I do to get ride of it? Seems that if he's been barefoot since March 2010, shouldn't this have healed by now? Is it thrushy? It doesn't smell but I know that isn't the only indication.

Right Rear 

(you know..the devil foot..worse laminitic one)

 Doesn't that hoof wall scare the shit out of you?! It does me. I assume it could have been the damage from his wedge shoes that he wore for months..but can this come back healthy? 

His sole is so odd, like it's callusing to protect him.

Right Front

This is concerning to me for a few reasons

1. Ice stays packed in this foot like crazy

2. Why is his sole BLACK?! Bruised? Or natural pigmentation?

3.  Again, wall separation...jesus

4. I don't like the toe shape or the sole at the toe

5.  Are the bars too high, it may be hard to tell from pictures

 Same Right Front, diff angle so you can see the bars and the toe a bit better

So, yes I will know more when I do xrays in Spring...and Cliff comes in a couple of weeks so I'll ask him his thoughts, etc on above too

Video clips of him trotting before our ride today.

I think he's still looking great and strong and even had some nice strides and movement today

Also, you can see I need to work on our "Ho" as in stop, a lot more.

I think he looks great (considering) here. 

I can definitely see him dragging his left rear toe more than other feet 

Anything else that you see that sticks out? Good or Bad?

This is our "Shhhhhhht" game

I'm sure you've play this, Laz really loves it

And just a funny one for the dog loving readers out there

Billy shoveling our driveway and Mason helping him

I appreciate your thoughts on his feet, etc!

I know so many of you have years of experience of barefoot trimming success

Childhood delights

Don't you remember, as horse obsessed kids, when ANYTHING horse made you giddy?! 

(has that changed? lol) 

Anyway, I personally remember that in between my 3 day a week riding lessons, I would bury myself into books of horses and would sketch horses for endless hours.

Once in fact, in High School, I was yelled at in the front of the class by my 'teaching' Nun (blah) who held up my journal of notes with doodles of horses all around it.  Little did she know that her class of religion would do nothing for me as an adult, but my doodling horses brought me all the joy in the world.  Ha!

So, have any of you ever read this book below?

I remember it being one of my faves as a child and just recently found a copy for my home...can't wait to re-read as I've forgotten the story quite a bit other than Sky Rocket was a small Bay that loved to jump...I think?!

AND..it's illustrated by Sam Savitt who I basically drool over his illustrations.

Hmmm, quite interesting that this little Bay Horse...

Looks JUST like another Bay Horse I know...

Perhaps that came into play in my subconscious when we met in the field, that random Fall day in September of 2008, lol!

Isn't it great that our Childhood loves have grown into our Adult loves and we get to have a special port back into time of fun, innocence and love of horses!

***

And here is something that I wanted to share, that was emailed to me by a sweet Parent of my Husband's Bball team:

4. Horse Sense : Tips for Working with Horses

By Chick Moorman and Thomas Haller

Children are different from horses. Parents are different from horse handlers. Sleeping in a barn is different from sleeping in a bed. Horses are bought and sold. Children are not. Horses pee and poop in a field. Children are potty trained to use a toilet. Raising horses is a lot different from raising kids. All that being the case, you might not expect to find any useful parenting strategies employed by horse trainers and their owners. But, then again, you might.

Consider the following:

1. Communication takes many forms. Most important is that horses understand what we are trying to say and that we understand what they are trying to say.
2. Horses push. They test boundaries. If the boundaries move, they figure the boundaries will probably move again.
3. If what a horse pushes on moves, you can bet he will push some more.
4. Horses don't particularly care where our boundaries are, but they are more comfortable when we have some and are consistent with them.
5. If a horse can move us without a consequence, he has learned an important lesson.
6. Many adults blame the horse for learning that lesson and forget to look at the person who taught him that behavior.
7. How we react to a testing of boundaries will influence how the horse looks at us from that point on.
8. Many adults label a horse as pushy, disrespectful or bad, even when he has learned the behavior from his handler. They often want the horse to be fixed.
9. Catching a behavior early is easier to deal with than if it is allowed to continue for a longer period of time. It takes less energy on the part of the horse and the owner.
10. Sometimes the cure for a horse problem is to allow the horse to go for a good run without being chased.
11. Some horse handlers look at an unwanted behavior and label it bad. Most often that behavior is just the horse letting you know how he is feeling in the present moment. He is providing us with information.
12. What we do with that information flows out of how we decide to see that information.
13. Patience is important.
14. A horse's body and behavior is telling us what is happening internally.
15. Most miscommunication between a horse and a rider results from the rider not giving enough direction. This often occurs when the rider is indifferent.
16. You have to stay connected with yourself if you are going to connect effectively with your horse.
17. The more upset a horse gets, the quieter you need to become.
18. If your horse increases his emotion, it is helpful to decrease yours.
19. Very few new horse-training techniques exist. There are only those that are new to us.
20. Horses thrive on consistency.

Obviously, not all horse owners treat their horses with the respect these ideas reflect. Some people beat their horses, blaming them for inappropriate behaviors. Others let them starve physically or emotionally. Some ignore them and their health needs. Others frighten them with whips and shouting.

Our hope is that more people learn to respect horses and build trust without wounding their spirit. Perhaps these ideas will help more parents—we mean horse owners—raise more responsible, caring, conscious children . . . we mean horses.

Winter Play

I started a new label called "I (heart) Michigan"

Reason being, I was born and raised outside of Chicago on the North Shore. It's one the my favorite places and I miss it although my family still lives there so I get to visit (not as often as I would like) and we are only a 5 hour car ride away.  I've lived in Michigan since I came here for College and ended up staying on accident. It's taken me a bit of time but as of lately, I've grown to love and appreciate it.  Especially in the last couple of years when we've been so trashed on and people out of state make horrid comments of living in Detroit.  Granted, I don't live in DETROIT, but in Metro Detroit. I want to show you readers that actually, it's a beautiful place to live.

One-we have amazing public parks in my town of Royal Oak.

Friday evening, I took Mason there for some Mommy-Puppy time.

You see, before my Husband, Pudgie or Laz..it was just Mason and I 

So our alone time is important for me to give to him...or so I think :)

 Frozen solid water from melt a week ago

 And since I can't jump my horse, I have a hunter/jumper Lab...

 Such determination and bravery...  ;)

 Look at this scopey Pup!? 

7 yrs old and what form! He even flipped his velvet ears just so, held a frisbee and managed to jump in perfect form.  If Mason was a horse.....oh boy.

(I can't imagine what neighboring people were thinking if they saw me, lol)

 Cool down

On Saturday afternoon, the skies cleared up, the snow stopped falling and Laz and I had a great 45 minute ride!

Nothing beats riding the fresh pillowy snow!

I

 winter time rides!!!

They are so peaceful.  Laz, Mason and I enjoyed a quiet ride all together.  Mason finally decided that walk around the arena with us for almost the entire time.  It was funny. I could tell Laz liked following him and felt calmer with him there.  At one point, Laz gave a tiny hump of a buck and threw out his front legs along with a head toss at Mason.  He literally wanted to play with Mason.  Mason was thankfully clueless and just trotted along but I circled Laz and backed him up.  Although the baby buck was funny and cute that he wanted to play, he needs to remember manners during a ride and none of that is appreciated.  But it was cute!

 Is there anything better that when your rehabbing horse has happy perked ears?!

I'm so happy that Laz enjoys his work

After our ride, we did some Parelli games.  

I needed to work again on the Porcupine game which is encouraging your horse to come into your allotted space, and out of.  Laz has a tendency to crowd and it's part of his wanting to dominate.  He did great and was awarded with his slurpee.  Which when I bring him his bucket of soaked beet pulp with Aloe juice, he knickers so loudly, his whole belly shakes.  This is when the Porcupine game comes in handy too as he started to get really rude and pushy wanting his slurpee.  I now make him back up, stay out of my circle and wait with unpinned ears for it.

He learns so lightning fast that I have to keep working on manners so he doesn't develop bad ones.

And because this post isn't long enough ;)  a couple of funny dog videos 

Pudge and Mason with one of their new disgusting Xmas toys..a skinny possum that they adore

Life's passions

The snow is back after our melt.

Makes for better footing and I do like the brightness of snow white coloring everywhere.

While designing from my home office (ahh best job ever!) I was thinking about life's passions.

Like most (if not all of my readers) of you, one of our passions is our horses

For my Husband, it's basketball.  

I think I've mentioned before, he went back to school this year to get his teaching certification after years of being a Pharmaceutical Rep.  It's been a great decision for he and I.  During this, it's his 3rd season of being the Head Coach for Boy's Varsity Basketball in our neighboring city of Clawson.  He loves it.  In turn, I have quickly grown to LOVE it.  My Dad used to take us kids to watch the Chicago Bulls play (I <3 Pippen!) so I grew up loving basketball, but this is a new spurt of love.  I love the kids, their families, the support, the goals, the screaming, the popcorn, the squeaking shoes, the wins and even the losses when they play their guts out anyway.

What makes it great, is we support each other's passions.  Instead of it being something that tears our time away from each other, we take time to support and encourage it.  I try to go to every game and it's so fun and makes the winter go by so quickly! In turn, he comes to the barn every so often and never EVER grumbles when I head out the door for my 4-5 hour visit to Laz.

The other bonus of him being a coach, is I get to know the parents and the players very well.  Last year, the support we got when I was going through facing a tough decision with Laz, was incredible.  I can only assume that they aren't 'horse people' although a few are, but they could certainly see the pain in my face and still to this day ask "How is Laz doing?" and genuinely care to know.  To me, that says a lot about community and the care people still have in this world.  It's awesome.  

All from supporting someone's passion.  

Their child's passion to play basketball.  Their passion to watch and support it.  Supporting my Husband's passion to coach.  Supporting his wife's passion of horses. It's all full circle.

Being I know some of you out there, are Bball nuts too...enjoy this little video from Thursday night.

Go Trojans! 

(we are the team in dark blue/yellow) at an away game and are 4-1 so far!

And look who else is a Bball fan aside from being a Daddy's boy...

 "Working on my free throws Dad!"

2011 Goals

November 2008

July 2010

our xc course ;)

In just looking at those pictures, there were many unwritten goals that I met with Laz.
(being able to handle ground work with him, bath him, pick his feet, groom successfully, ride without a saddle and live to talk about it, etc.  Seems small? It's not, it's HUGE for us)

I'm very proud of us and our growth as we learn together

Being both green (he being my first horse and he being HOT off the track) we have survived and are still building a strong foundation.  We have exceptional days and days where I want to cry with frustration

But overall, I'd say, I'm very proud of our team building and trust with one another.

We have a ways to go as partnerships do, but we are making great forward steps.

So, that being said, I do want to list some goals and strive for them for this upcoming year.

2011 Goals:

1.  I want to take him trail riding and have both he and I enjoy it.  

Our one and only trail ride, see that post here, in September 2009 was a little wonky so I hope for at least 3 trail rides this coming summer.  I want to make sure Laz is strong enough to handle a 20-30 minute trailer ride,  an hour trail ride (probably at walk, with little trot only), and trailer back to be comfortable and not make him feel weak, so I'll be working on his endurance for that.

2.  I want to take him swimming.  

It may be on a trail ride, or just a destination, but I think he will love it!!!

3.  I want to continue on our great path of hoof health and learn more about it so I feel more confident in what I see and what to look for.  As much as I pay attention now, it still evades me and is such a mystery and really, it shouldn't be.

4. I want to work on Laz's body health-muscular and skeletal to make sure he feels as strong as he can while his feet heal.  

5.  I want to continue to ride confidently and work with some more Parelli techniques for when we need a place of training, I'll have some knowledge of what to ask for from Laz.  I want to continue our relationship so Laz feels more confident in me as well. He shows me signs of trust but also times where he isn't looking to me for help and his strong flight kicks in.

6.  Be able to casually road ride on Laz alone with confidence.
Meaning hop on his back and ride down the dirt road and not fear that he'll freak out and loose his mind every time something rustles in the weeds.  We have a ways to go with this and it will start with hand walking him down the road :) Confidence, Confidence. See a pattern here?

7.  Continue to speak for my horse and follow my gut.
That pertains to so much but overall, I am his voice and I need to continue to research, learn, and do what I feel is best for my horse's life, health and happiness.  It can be so easy to only rely on others, but sometimes that is clearly not enough.  Determination, scrambling and clawing at the last second, fighting for what you feel is right, can sometimes be the best goal to meet.

**Note-these are dream goals and would only be considered if Vet/Trimmer/Laz says it's OK**

1. Canter again and work on correct leads and while I'm dreaming...flying lead changes!

2. Do a local show of showing in hand or a trail class!!! MAYBE!! This is more for me than Laz but I think we would both benefit from it. I used to show a lot in High School, where I took lessons on lease horses and never did very well and would get so nervous that it took all the fun away.  I would like to replace some of those memories with fun ones with Laz and I and maybe even get a ribbon?!  This sounds like a goal for a 9 year old but this 33 yr old wants it! Also, I'm curious to see how Laz would do. I'm thinking he could be A. anxious because he would equate it to his past racing career which when there are triggers of that, he freaks. or B. He would enjoy it if I can keep calm and give him ample exposure and time to adjust.

3.  Have an xray that screams "This horse had laminitis???? Are you sure? He looks perfect now!"  I'm debating about taking him into Dr. Bowker with Cliff and my BO to view what is going on and what our future holds.  I'm always so nervous about xrays because basically in my eyes, I pay a lot of money to just cry over them....so we'll see.  I also want to know what is going on though.  Spring is my timing on this one.

4.  Jump a X rail or a small cavalleti...please note, I would ONLY do this once I get ok from trimmer/vet/myself/Laz. It may never happen and that is just fine too.  I just wanted to put as a dream goal!!! Perhaps for year 2015 but if you think it, sometimes great things come true so I'm putting it out there :)

Us a month before laminitis...this is a great visual to keep for when Laz is ready again

And if not...that is A OK too

The start of 2011

Happy 2011 Readers!!!

I hope this year has gotten off to a great start

For us, how can the start of a year be bad, when I still have my sweet WonderPony Laz! 

Again, glorious pictures from my hobby photographer sister...who as of Dec 27th, got ENGAGED!!!

So, let the wedding planning begin.........wedding in South Africa may be coming in the next year!

The newly engaged cutie pies! xo

Over the weekend, we had some crazy warm weather

I loved it. It was a balmy 45 (and maybe even higher) and all the snow melted.  It got wet and sloppy and rainy for a few days but it has mostly hardened up a bit and is now back to regularly normal scheduled cold.  Not bitter cold, just cold.  Still do-able being outside.

Laz continues to be a sweet boy and for the past couple weeks, I haven't ridden him but just done ground work/Parelli with him in the round pen or large arena (if footing is ok).  My goal is to keep him moving and exercising all winter to head into Spring with better muscle tone.

He is definitely sore and stiff.  He loosens up after about 10-15 minutes but his trot his less than desirable. I may have to seek out another massage treatment for him as what I'm doing for him, isn't doing much seemingly....we'll see.  When trotting, his right rear (the most laminitic) just looks odd.  I'm not sure if it's the shape that makes it look like way, but he seems to bobble on it as it it's not connected correctly. I'll try to get a video of what I'm talking about.  His walk is sound though and that is still a big achievement

Here he is with the BO's herd.  In a month or so, we are going to do some rearranging and home schooled Laz will finally have friends to play with..he will be so happy, I'm sure!

 Eeyuck...rain sucks.  Also driving an hour to work out your horse and within two minutes of arrival...RAIN.  Boo.  Grooming session, beet pulp slurpee and love.

My next post....I would like to list goals for us this year to strive for!

Lots of thinking to do!

Merry Xmas!

MuurRee ChRizmez!

LoV, LaZ

Riding the Winter Solstice

Although the pictures seem grey, it was actually really beautiful and calm today on the Winter Solstice.

I was determined to ride Laz today and the weather cooperated.

It's been a few weeks since I've used the large arena, so I checked the footing (me running around in it) and it seemed great.  

I free lunged Laz in the round pen sans blanket being the weather felt a bit warmer.  I wish he would roll in the snow, but he didn't.  He was a bit fresh and came in and out of concentration today.  

One minute he was following me and listening to my every ask, the next he would canter around and tilt his head and zone out race horse style and got very defiant and pissy.  Odd.  I worry about when he does that because in the past, when he zones out and starts running, running, running, he builds up more energy and attempts to test the fence as if wanting to bust through.  Lately, he's been great and calm but today he showed signs of that behavior is not yet completely gone.

In the end, he came back, calmed down and I decided it was time to ride.  

It was a great ride. 

We saw two Cardinals! Spring??? lol

The snow gave Laz a good workout and we just walked and he was great.  Light, spook free and ears pricked forward but relaxed body language, lots of licking and sighing.

 Then, there was an ODD noise from the neighbors (the ones with the TB eating Colt) farm that not only got Laz's FULL attention, but all the other horses too.

It ruined our beautiful ride.  I felt Laz literally amp up to full tilt and start shaking. I thought he was going to blow out right beneath me.  He became obsessed with that noise (sounded like squealing machinery?) and then very frightened.  He wouldn't bend.  He got VERY heavy in the bridle as if nothing would stop him if he was ready to bolt.  He wouldn't stop staring over at the neighbors and shaking. He was breathing very hard and inhaling deeply and blew that ALERT snort. 

Eeeks.  

Somehow, I kept it together and remained calm and sat heavy on him. I decided to stay on him and move him back to the round pen to see if that offered any security. It did a little. We did our serpentines for about 10 minutes and that helped, but truly very little.  I walked him around and just talked to him but every time he heard that noise (every few minutes) he got so scared! Poor guy. 

When I finally got him to relax a little more, I took him back to the big arena to see how he would react.  He was scared again.  I just simply asked for a circle and didn't push our luck.  I didn't want him to bolt which I was feeling could be the next step.  I had a sense he just wanted back with his herd.  I listened.  I dismounted him, patted him for remaining calm and not bolting/bucking.  He was so tense that I even decided to untack and re-blanket him in his paddock vs out in the open like I usually do.  I just sensed that there could be too much room for him to freak out and hurt himself, so again, why chance it.

I have to say, even though it turned from a bit of heaven to scary..I was proud of Laz.  He was very scared and didn't melt down completely.  Although we had a major communication gap and I felt him tuning me out several times, he never completely lost it and left.

 Scary noises make for great head shots, lol!

 Once out in his paddock, he ran to the Alpha Mare, Jessie and spun around facing the scary noise.  It was cute. Was he protecting her? Or was he going to her for protection? Whatever it was-it had all the horses tuned in.

Sweet Mason cut his foot probably when doing his sliding stops to fetch as his body races to the toy.  The snow/ice combo does that to him.  I try to make him take it easy but he just won't.

No problem, I put some DermaGel on it, padded it with a cotton ball and vetwrapped it and he played another hour with no care.

So far, riding and playing in this snow has not been too bad! 

I think it could offer some nice conditioning overall.

Enjoying the winter

It's nice to be able to say that. 

I can enjoy this winter.

Last Oct-March was such HELL for us. I'm just enjoying Laz being able to be a horse and feeling more normal and comfortable.

Now, that being said. It's COLD. Yuck. 

Pudgie has it right below.

 HORRID picture below, Laz looks like he has puncture wounds in his neck and above his eye. Rest assured they were just odd reflections because when I took this photo and looked at it, I ran my hands over those spots, like wtf? But they were just fur laying oddly.

But..yea, he drinks! LOTS. Laz LOVES warm, like bath water, warm water!

The BO's also put these discs in his water to help it from forming ice on top (not that they would really allow that) and I think Laz likes them. He licks it, plays with it and pushes it down to slurp.  

Remember his barrel obsession? 

I think these discs provide the same pleasure 

 I had literally an hour and a half to be at the farm before we needed to head out to Part 1 of 4 Family Xmas, so being cold, I didn't even yank his blanket.  I just had him move, free lunge style, while his beet pulp slurpee soaked.

What a smart boy!!! 

Mom is slacking on reading/watching for more games, etc but for now, I'm so happy with his progress!

What I didn't catch on tape was the funniest spook and bolting around the round pen.

It's funny, when he amps up, he tunes me OUT and I just had to wait until he stopped and remembered that I was still there.  Silly boy!

I'm  hoping to steal a ride this week...but we'll see what the weather brings!

Equine Xmas Tree and barefoot trim

Oh Christmas Tree!

First off, I'm NOT a huge Christmas fan. I like getting together with family and what not, but I think Christmas presents, the pressure, etc takes away from the holiday. I LOVE Thanksgiving and Easter the best personally.  Family gathering, no pressure, not a whole lot of travel, etc.  This Christmas, we will celebrate it 4 different times. 4 times the fun? Not really. ;)

But..that being said, I'm not a Scrooge either. I do love our family, the dinners, etc and the decorating.

Our little Home Depot tree-REAL-thank you!

She smells great and has a nice body to her with not a lot of height which I wanted.

Here are some of my horse ornaments!

This beautiful white horse reminds me of Gem Twist

Who can resit a Ropin' Frosty?

A rearing wooden Palomino

My new ornament that I got at the Horse Expo...who does this handsome TB look like?!

Love a draft!

Another Palie

Everyone loves a Donkey and Eeyore too!

This one is from my Childhood, so it's pretty old (not TOO old!) and the horse's mane is rabbit fur..I used to love to rub it when I was little

Today was barefoot trim.  Laz had 6 or 7 weeks since the last trim.

I decided to yank his blanket to allow him a chance to roll if he wanted (he didn't) and to free lunge him.

Look at how long his tail is getting! Hoorah! Gogo, watch out! ;) Haha, yea right

 The snow was plush and so beautiful as it glittered in the bright sun. Still COLD though..I think it was 24 today? I didn't check..I didn't want to know but it was bearable actually and the sun was sooooooo great!

 So free lunging got boring so I decide to run and play and have Laz run and play with me.  He did a whole lot of this while I ran around him.  I beat him twice around the round pen.  Not a very fast OTTB today ;)

But sweet and kissable for sure. I threw his blanket back on as our trimmer pulled up.

 Today, he took some clippers to the right hind foot....ugh.  

I kept saying, "Oh god." and "how do you know it won't just start gushing blood?!" 

Cliff is very patient with me and said come Spring he can show me how to do some rasping myself and will come and check on me so I learn by doing. How cool!!! (and scary) but cool! I would love to know more about the feet and I'm a visual learner, so a hand's on approach may be the trick, along with other aids of course.  

Anyway, the clipping exposed some thrush that had been hiding inside.  Cliff said the cold should kill it.  I'll keep an eye on it and if it seems to stay, I'll bust out the White Lightening and finally give that a try. Seems I need a soaking boot for that??

Look at this poor, poor hoof.  So stretched and thick and bulbous and ugly.

So ugly

And scary

Reminds me of my YiaYia's (grandma) toenail that as a child was stuck by a porcupine's quill in Greece and never grew back the same.  Thick and lumpy.  Could Laz have the same? 

I hope it comes back normal.  Cliff said his growth at the top looks good.

 His other rear is looking so great and normal. Both feet had laminitis in it but the right rear was the worse of the two.  I just hope we are still progressing.  Laz continues to walk the same and trot the same so that has to be a good sign?  Seeing his hoof is just an everyday reminder that we are not out of the woods yet...on our way but slowly.  Barefoot trimming started end of March 2010.