‘Squish (Bishop)
15.2hh 9 yr old TB, Devon
Squish is an ex-racehorse, shod since she was a yearling and raced as a 2 yr old.
She had a number of physical and behavioural problems when she left racing, and her owner has worked hard to turn her into the relaxed mare she is today.
She had a setback shortly aftwards, a spell of lameness, possibly mild laminitis, during March but was back in work soon after.
Her soundness on hard surfaces was slow to improve initially, not helped by the fact that it is a struggle to find boots that suit her. However, she is now competent on hard ground, which is just as well - she is competing at dressage competitions that require an hour’s roadwork each way!
She had problems while shod (right): she had a coronet to floor crack (off-hind), under-run/collapsed heels with flared hoof wall and like many TBs, flat feet and long toes. She sometimes pulled shoes every few days.
Her hind shoes were taken off in Nov ‘04, and she was fully barefoot by Jan ‘05. She was immediately sound on grass, and by March was sound on tarmac.
Squish is getting very good marks for her dressage, despite finding competitions quite nerve-wracking!
Her back problems have also improved, and her physiotherapist has been impressed by the changes since she went barefoot.
Updated to show the photo (left) of Squish out hunting at the beginning of the season, October 2005, and looking magnificent.
She behaved like an old pro, as you can see, and made everyone very proud...
