Ryan’s story.

A year ago I had a horse who, it was discovered, had abscesses in all four of his rather flat, TB-type feet. Try poulticing that lot for a fortnight!

There then followed six months of remedial shoeing which did not suit the horse and he was still pottery and miserable, totally unable to follow the showing and dressage career for which he was destined.

Towards the end of this period I had been discussing with my farrier the possibility of trying Imprint shoeing and we agreed that Andrew Poynton should be asked to assess the horse.  On each of his visits Andrew was scrupulous in working on the balance of the front feet, discussing his findings and recommendations with my own farrier, who joined him at each visit, and who was experienced in carrying out Imprint shoeing for customers when warranted.When the first pair of shoes were glued on, I should imagine Ryan would have thought he was wearing bedroom slippers and, by completion of the second visit, he was already so much more comfortable in his feet.  I was hacking him out and he was beginning to show a lovely length of stride in walk, the like of which I had forgotten he possessed!  Within weeks I was able to try a flatwork lesson, and my instructor and others who saw him working could not believe the lovely stride, the forwardness, and the lack of spookiness and arguing, which we now realise were ways of trying to get out of working on his painful feet.

After five shoeing’s I now have my lovely young horse doing the things I had always thought he was capable of.  He is competing successfully in showing and dressage, and is a delight to ride and handle, bright and cheerful with enthusiasm written all over his face.

As a bonus, the shoes never show signs of wearing out and would probably stay on for longer than the five week intervals that Ryan has been shod, and I have absolutely no doubt that Imprint shoes and the expertise behind them have been the saving of him.

To use a favourite expression of Andrew’s…  Very much a “Happy Horse”.

Penny

Romsey, Hampshire.