Category Archives: Handy Tips

SOFT RIDE BOOTS: MamaTess got herself a new pair!






One of the protocols for MamaTess’ laminitis was to get her some Soft Ride Boots.

(The vet has no affiliation; he just likes the way they work.)

I had never looked into Soft Ride Boots because no one around here has ever been this sick except Norma and I didn’t think about them then – and the vet didn’t suggest them.

Anyway, THERE INLIES THE MISCONCEPTION – to only use them when a horse is sick….

These boots are good for so many things! 

Not just laminitis.

…Trailering distances, walking on hard show grounds, older horses…

I totally missed the boat!  I shouldda, coudda, wouldda on these, for sure!

Tess in her Soft Ride Boots... see the airholes on the sides.  They slipped right on easily and have stayed on!

Tess in her Soft Ride Boots… see the airholes on the sides. They slipped right on easily and have stayed on!

This is from the website.  You can see the sole, the boot and the insert.

This is from the website. You can see the sole, the boot and the insert.

Except the velcro straps are now diagonal.  Really easy.

Except the velcro straps are now diagonal. Really easy to put on a sore horse.

FIRST, THE LAMINITIS USAGE.

The reason I am using these boots for Tess is because the insoles cushion and support her.  It is an easier way to apply the purple pads.  Much easier than duct tape booties.

I have never had a boot go on a sore horse so easily and stay on so well.  You spread open the boot and they stay open – nice.  The horse puts their toe inside and you help them put the foot down evenly.  Then just zip zip on the diagonal velcro and you’re done!

Another nice benefit are the air holes on the sides.  Air is good.

This gives a nice description

This gives a nice description

 

SEVERAL DIFFERENT TYPES OF INSOLES

You should go to the website and check out all the possibilities…

Here is a chart that explains all the different uses for the different colored inserts.

There are many different types of insoles

There are many different types of insoles

THE MAN ON THE OTHER END OF THE LINE

When I called Soft Ride to make sure I was measuring her correctly; on the other end was ‘Jerry’.

He couldn’t have been nicer to me.

We discussed sizing and we were not sure which would be perfect so he said, “Let me send you both pair but only charge you for one.  Then just send back what didn’t work.”

Nice.

We did exactly that.

HISTORY

The history, in brief, was that two guys, around 17 years ago, started making a new stall flooring material.  It was purple and many of the large farms were flooring their stables in it.

But then… someone thought, why not put the product inside of boots and make it more cost effective?

And, the journey began!

Both men who developered the Soft Ride Boots are horse owners themselves.  So, they knew what would work and what wouldn’t or – they could test on their own horses.

I was told that Tess might benefit from Gold Bond Powder inside the boot, or lambswool from Home Depot.  But, so far, so good.  She has no rubbing or chaffing.  (I was going to use some llama fiber in there in case she needed it.)

OTHER USES

Trailering/Hard Ground:  I wish I had these when I was showing my horses!  To think that those loooooong trailer rides to far away places could have been more cushioned…

As it was, we would have to make sure the horses arrived a week early, just to recover from the journey.  Then, they would stand on mats with shavings on top of CONCRETE.

And, all show grounds are concrete… sheesh.

Now, with these boots, the horses arrive fine – I’m told.  And if they wear the boots while walking around, even betta!

In fact, there are many stories on the Soft Ride Boot FB page.

Geriatric:  How Smart!  Duh.  So much easier to help out the feet of the older horses.  Especially on new hard Spring/Summer ground…

Tendon injuries, navicular, cushings… ringbone, sidebone…  Of course!

Screen Shot 2013-05-04 at 11.14.46 AM

 

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Storm, our May Bucket Fund mare who needs our help to get a lifesaving surgery!  Click image to read more...

Storm, our May Bucket Fund mare who needs our help to get a lifesaving surgery! Click image to read more…

 




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PLLL gets A HAIRCUT!






Today was the day for PLLL to have her shearing.

I know nothing about this stuff – being new to llamas and all… but clearly, PLLL had too much hair for this hot weather so…

I called the people who bred her and raised her.  As all good llama people, they offered to come over and sheer her themselves.

Nice!

I agreed and met them over at Fran’s place – where PLLL now lives with Stella and Gus, the donkeys.

We arrived.  PLLL with her heavy coat.  (Notice how her lip has healed!)

We arrived. PLLL with her heavy coat. (Notice how her lip has healed!)

SHEARING PREP

Well, I didn’t ask and they didn’t tell me what they needed for the shearing.  So, when we both arrived at Fran’s place at exactly 11 am, I jumped out of my car and pointed to PLLL.

“There she is”, I said…

“We need power”, they said.

Oy.

Here I was at a neighbor’s house, and neither Fran or Adam were at home to direct me, so I found myself trying to channel their spirits as I searched for outlets – or any nearby power – that might get the clippers anywhere close to PLLL’s enclosure.

“If I were Adam, where would I have put the outlet…”

I found plenty of power cords, but no actual power.

Finally, I decided to find the hideakey, enter their house and call them – my cell phone had no reception  – to ask if there was any way to get power to the barn.

In the meantime, Mom and Dad previous PLLL owners asked if they should just put PLLL in their van and take her to my house nearby…?

The ordeal of bringing PLLL out through the DonkeyGuard (Stella and Gus), then loading her into the passenger van and then to my house – and back again – seemed daunting.

NO!  I will find a way!…!

Once inside Fradam’s house (I felt like a cat burglar), I called Fran’s husband, Adam,  using their house phone.

Adam answered and was confused.

A:  “How are you calling me on our house phone…?”

Me:  “Long story… anyway, do you have power anywhere near PLLL’s area?”

A:  Why?

Me:  “Today is PLLL’s haircut day!”

“Brilliant !!(they are from the UK) … be sure to take lot of photos…” and he proceeded to walk me through their property until I was able to locate a power box.

Once I found the outlet, I was excited!  “I can take it from here!”

I then found 10,000,000 foot extension cord and we were in business!

We had power to the LLAMA BARBER SHOP!

The initial blowing of the excess dirt and stuff.  Note the dust in the air.

The initial blowing of the excess dirt and stuff. Note the dust in the air.

LLAMA SUPERCUTS!

There is quite the procedure to shearing a llama.

I had no idea.

Luckily, PLLL remembered her birth family and was very relaxed around them.  Her human Dad kept scritching her and she loooooooved it.

The good fiber area

The good fiber area

pllll5

She loooved her Dad holding her and petting her.

pllll6

They leave the tail head for protection

plll7

More Dad love. I couldn’t get over how much she loved him.

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This is Gus. He was watching intently from next door.

pllll8

Nope. You won’t do my belly!

I really was warmed to see how PLLL remembered her breeders.  It must have been very sweet for her to be in the presence of those she knew from babyhood.

OK, so … the procedure…

First, you have to blow off all the excess dust and leaves, etc.

(PLLL wasn’t too happy about that part.)

Then, you have to start the shearing.

Next time, I will know to totally clean the floor so the fiber won’t get dirty… but the idea is to shear the good fiber first (shoulder, belly, barrel and thighs) then get the secondary fiber which is good for a number of uses and then the excess.

The cleaner you keep it all – the better.

Once bagged, you take the fiber to people who clean it and spin it.

(I hope to get yarn for my mother’s birthday present.  She likes to knit.)

PLLL loved her haircut!  I’m sure she was relieved, having all that fiber – gone.

However, her belly was another story…

She laid down as soon as they tried to do her belly.

PLLL:  That tickles!  Uh un, no!

But, her birth breeder tricked her via some odd brushing tactic that distracted PLLL.  And, the tummy was done!

Then, a final blow dry with a dusting of sunscreen, and she was done!

plll9

All done!

Sunscreen to protect her until the hairs grow a bit more.

Sunscreen to protect her until the hairs grow a bit more.

 

AFTER

PLLL looked like half the llama she once was!

Tiny!

I had three bags of fiber.

One bag was the fantastic fiber that I need to have someone wash and spin into yarn.

The secondary fiber was good but not as good.  That went into a second bag that I don’t know what I will do with it yet.

The third bag was nice fiber that got dirty when it fell to the ground.  I think I will use that to stuff MamaTess’ new boots.

I wish I could make a saddle pad out of the stuff.  Nice felting material.  I wonder if anyone had ever made a saddle pad out of llama wool?…

Ya learn something new every day!!

They told me she would be itchy at first as this all feels so breezy and new.  And, the new hairs can feel prickly.  But, I know she was much more comfortable in this heat.  She seemed very happy and relaxed afterwards.

They told me she would be itchy at first as this all feels so breezy and new. And, the new hairs can feel prickly. But, I know she was much more comfortable in this heat. She seemed very happy and relaxed afterwards.

 

 




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