Nikita has come up with some sort of hoof problem related to an old shoeing job. The last farrier put a clip on too tight, and now that her foot has grown, the clip has put too much pressure on the hoof, and the hoof has started to split dangerously.
This is one of those things that happens because I know nothing of farrier work, and couldn't tell if a clip was on too tight or generally if there's a clip on at all. I almost never blame anything on the farrier, but this time, baby, it's definitely the farrier, and now I've been waiting 2 days for Farrier Extraordinare Mike to fix it, and given the heat, everyone, horse included, is cranky. So, the mare and I have been benched until at least tomorrow (when it's supposed to be 105*). Hopefully losing part of her foot hasn't lamed her.
Of course, Nikita being Nikita, she hasn't lost her sense of humor, and had a great time playing practical jokes on the farrier. At one point, she managed to get her foot wedged nice and tight on one of his hoof stands just to test his patience and ingenuity in freeing her foot. I suppose a mare has to get her jollies somehow.
This actually hasn't been that big of a hassle since I've been at the SRS clinic the past 3 days and have had other horses to ride. More on that at a different time, since I'm still processing everything I saw and learned. However, since Nikita is still my prime horse, I'd like to be able to keep riding her, you know?
