Hoof Care For Other Animals...

During my travels, I have had the opportunity to provide hoof care to other farm animals, besides horses!

The first animal rescue I provided hoof care for was Forgotten Friends in Sharon Springs NY, in 2008, which is no longer there. Ponies, donkey’s, horses, chickens, goats and….pot belly pigs! For me, pigs were not an issue as I had two pot belly pigs many years ago. It was a family affair when it was hoof trimming day for Cassie and Siqua. Cassie was named after Mama Cass and Siqua is “pig” in Cherokee. My husband sat on a tree stump, and we got Cass up on his lap with the front legs hanging down on one side and the hinds on the other. Our son Carson, who was in grade school at the time, held the bucket with the goodies in front of her while I nipped and filed her hooves. Then it was Siqua’s turn. Because we got them both when they were very young, it wasn’t a big issue. BUT… the ones at the rescue, well… that was a very different story. When a pig says “no” it is an ear splitting NO! Even when it was going, what I would consider OK, it was totally undoable without ear plugs for all involved. It got better as time went on. Our saving grace was food, timing, ear protection and working at the same pace as the food was disappearing from the bowl. Sometimes they didn’t want to eat. They are amazingly smart, and can be trained much quicker than dogs.

Siqua above when she was pretty old. Cass had already passed. I don’t recall the name of the one that belonged to a client below, but he always greeted me when I arrived.

Because I also had goats, I was able to trim my clients goats too. A stanchion with food was always the best. Sometimes just treats worked. Sheep are a different story altogether. There is a special tool for trimming sheep, which I had. Seasoned sheep owners generally trim their own sheep. Sitting them on their rear end and their back against your legs is the best way to do it, but when there isn’t regular handling, it’s not quite that easy when you can’t get near them. Same goes for all animals that need hoof/foot care.

Below is Jim’s young Nubian goat. I was able to handle him fine as Jim took the time to prepare him for the experience right after he was born. A 5 star+ owner!!

One of my clients and her husband also had two oxen that they took to shows and reenacting events. Costumes and all. One day when I was there, her husband, Stan, asked if I could take a look at one of the Oxen’s hooves, as he was favoring it. There was a sensitive area with a little heat perhaps from a rock. No cuts or bad smell. He was ok in a couple of days.

I have also been welcomed to the farm/barn by scores of dogs and cats

Above- Melanie’s puppy. Below- Leisha’s cat who became very friendly with me after I did an Emotion Code session with him.

Colettes gray cat in the snow above wanted to be rescued from the chill and tried to jump in my car when I went to take out my tools. The hairless cats belonged to Michele, who lived in New Jersey. I stayed at her house for a night every trim cycle while working down in that area. She lined up a lot of other people to get me down there. That adventure is yet another story.

Here’s a unique one…

Spoiler…I didn’t trim the camel. While I was there trimming others, I kept hearing strange sounds coming from the barn. I had to ask, what is that. Beto, who worked there and has also trimmed with me and on his own now for many years, brought him out for me to see. I couldn’t resist having my picture taken with him! The feet above are not his, I just wanted you to see what Camel feet look like.

The last one I’ll put here was a Zedonk, named Zeus. A cross between a donkey and a zebra is known as a zonkey (or zedonk). This hybrid is classified as a zebroid and is generally sterile due to the mismatch in chromosome numbers between the two parent species. Similar to mules. Only humans would do this. I will more than likely write his very special story, that he gave me, in a separate post. It was a profound encounter with one of the most intelligent equids I have ever worked with.

The last experience I’ll share here was my own personal Black Swan Event. What is a Black swan event? It is defined as an event that is unexpected and therefore difficult to prepare for or a metaphor that describes an event that comes as a surprise that has a major effect.

I had two goats to trim after I trimmed a small donkey named Bridget. I was there alone, and that was not unusual as the owner was at work. It was a quiet afternoon and I was trimming the last goat. She was a little squirrelly and was moving around while I was on the last hind foot, so I wasn’t standing where I started. Just before I put the foot down something came out from under the door I was standing by and grabbed the bottom of my pant leg! You are not going to believe this… it was a black swan! I kid you not! I knew she had two of them and they were usually out in the pond, so I never saw them up close, especially this close. I think my blood pressure was just about normal by the time I got home. Now, I laugh about it.

Do you have a unique animal story to share? Let me know…

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