Tess in Boots

[altivo]

Tess got her new boots on this morning, with no fuss. They are a little snug to get on, but that probably will help keep her from getting them off by herself. Like dogs when you first put snow boots on them, she obviously felt strange at first and picked all her feet up very high from the ground, but she got used to them quickly and doesn't seem to mind much, as you can see. Green would look nicer on her, but they only come in blue. ;p

Tess in Boots Here is Tess all decked out in her new Davis boots. The rubber boots buckle on below her fetlock to hold a medicated pad against the bottom of her hoof. This should help moisturize and soften her hooves, which were getting contracted and brittle.

Comments

[alaskawolf.livejournal.com]

what no blue suede shoes? :P

[altivo.livejournal.com]

*snerk* And have to clean the suede all the time to get mud off it?

[songdogmi.livejournal.com]

Snappy ... they almost match her blue eyes. Oh, wait, you used flash. Nemmine.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Yeah, her eyes are hazel colored. A flash can turn horses' eyes either blue or red, depending on the angle. Sheep, on the other hand, seem to always come out bright, glowing blue.

[ducktapeddonkey.livejournal.com]

Hopefully they'll help clear things up quickly.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Hooves crossed here. Actually, I'd be more inclined to use water-soaked sponges in the bottom of the booties rather than this goo the vet suggested. It's a mixture of pine tar, clay, and iodine. Very sticky, very smelly, and I'm not at all sure how it's going to moisturize. But we'll try it first, since it isn't really very expensive.

[dakhun.livejournal.com]

The tar sounds more like a moisture barrier (with Iodine for antiseptic) to keep any existing moisture in, rather than a moisturiser per se. Hope it works!

[altivo.livejournal.com]

That's what I thought too, but both vet and farrier think it will work, so I defer to those with greater experience than I have. :)

[dakhun.livejournal.com]

This is probably what a lot of city-dwelling kids imagine horse shoes look like before they see them. I think I might have thought the same thing at some point too. ;-) They actually look kinda nice.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Yes. Even cuter are the little running shoe looking ones they put on miniature horses that are used as leader or assistant animals by some folks with disabilities. The ones Tess got have a sort of patent leather dress-up look to them. I expect her to be carrying a little shiny handbag like Queen Elizabeth does, and have a string of pearls around her neck. ;p

[doc-moreau.livejournal.com]

So that's who that is in your icon! Not that it wouldn't have been an easy guess.
She's looking sharp. :) Hope that stuff works our for you (and her, more importantly. ;p)

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Well, if the glop doesn't seem to be working in a couple of weeks, I can always do the wet sponges in the bottom of the boots approach. I'll take the vet's advice first and if that doesn't work, then I'll use common sense. At least she doesn't seem to mind wearing them, and didn't complain about having them put on. :)

Yup, that icon is a photo of Tess. She's hard to photograph unless you're quick or have an assistant, because when she sees you with a camera she always comes to take a close up look at what you are doing. I had to have Gary distract her so I could get the longer shot in this post. At first she was right up facing me over the railing and I couldn't get a picture of her feet at all.

[doc-moreau.livejournal.com]

*chuckles* I figured someone was probably holding that wad of hay.

I've known horses who would turn and try to hide when they saw a camera, but then also the ones like Tess who would have a serious need to sniff the camera. :D

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Or even taste the camera or the cameraperson, yes.

Actually the hay is in a haynet, suspended on a rope from the ceiling rafters. Gary was standing at the other side of the pen, where you see the gate and the clock on the wall behind it. She went over to him, and he gave her a peppermint. Then he got out of the picture and the hay took her attention as she passed it on her way back to me. By the time I'd taken three or four shots, the flash made her decide to come investigate me again. The girl doesn't lack for curiosity. ;p

[doug-taron.livejournal.com]

Tess looks fetching in her patent leather Mary Janes. She's a natural fashion plate. I expect we'll see her on the catwalk any day now.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

They do look like patent leather, don't they? In fact, we were laughing here yesterday about how they look like shoes that Queen Elizabeth has worn at times. All she needs are the pearls and the little handbag. (Though I must say, the long face more resembles Princess Margaret...)

And just what does the Queen carry in her purse anyway? Surely not money, or ID cards, or anything ordinary like that.

[hellmutt.livejournal.com]

Oh so groovy, filly! Thanks for posting. That's just adorable.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Done because you asked. :D

See my question to Doug above.

[hellmutt.livejournal.com]

The Queen of England famously doesn't carry money. What she does carry, I'm not sure. You'd probably have room for half a brick in some of those things...

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Yes, I figured she didn't need money or a driver's license or anything of that sort. A hankie I suppose, and it's a place to put her gloves if/when she takes them off. ;p

This speculation reminded Gary of a reported incident between the famous pirate queen, Grace O'Malley, and Elizabeth I. When Granuaille visited the Queen of England, she found herself in want of a handkerchief and the Queen offered her one. O'Malley used it, and then flung it into the fire.

Elizabeth was affronted and said something like "Madam, in this country we do not discard things of value."

O'Malley's reply was "In my country, we don't save things that are soiled."

Apocryphal no doubt, but amusing.

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

Horse in boots? Pony n boots?

Us cats have a monopoly on that, I demand royalties ;)
I hope they help her out, is it hard to put them on?

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Well, she was patient and didn't fight it, so it wasn't too bad. Took about ten or fifteen minutes, but they were new and a little stiff too. I'm more worried about how hard it will be to take them off tonight or tomorrow morning. ;p

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

She might think you're trying to take her new shoes away, I can see her giving you a baleful stare when you try :)