Narrow Gate Horse Farm

08/05/2025

Stephen & Penny in their younger years.

07/31/2025

So, Rosie went right into the hauling trailer, and was off to her new home in Virginia.

07/30/2025

After several days of stepping- up -on- platform exercises in preparation for trailerloading and 18 days with 65 practice loads into trailer , 4yr.old Rosa went into the shipping trailer and was off to her new home in Virginia.

07/29/2025

Trying our best to supply electrolytes to our horses during the day -in addition to their baseline salt requirements-as they experience high sweat loss in this heat & humidity.

07/23/2025

Prepping white skin for the blazing sun

07/22/2025

Afternoon misting session

07/21/2025

Time for a touch up

04/10/2025

2 things that I have enjoyed over the years are:
1. having the Dressage arena marked
2. having a cabinet with useful tools, including an amplifier & MP3 player

03/13/2025

Navicular Rehab and Hoof Adaptability

Looking at these photos, which are of the SAME FOOT by the way, you think I’d be ecstatic with the change in the back half of the foot (and corresponding progress to soundness for this horse).

But to be honest, I almost get a little angry.

I get angry that so many navicular cases like this case are given up on or told to be euthanized just because they have such a weak foot, without attempting to strengthen it or take the time to grow in a healthier hoof.

I get angry that the navicular bone damage or DDFT/collateral ligament/other soft tissue damage is blamed for lameness, without the health of the frog or hoof capsule taken into account.

I get angry that people constantly blame genetics or conformation for things like low heels, long toes, thin soles.

I get angry that people say that the digital cushion and back half of the foot “can’t improve” once it has atrophied.

I look at these photos and see this beautiful gelding trotting by soundly, rehabbed back to ridden work last year walk/trot/canter after so many gave up on him, and want to scream it from the rooftops: diet and movement can mean the difference between crummy feet and rockcrunching feet, proper hoof rehab can mean the difference between, quite literally, life and death.

That’s my drama post for the day.

Photos both show the same untrimmed foot mid-cycle (first was after shoe pull, before hoof rehab), which was the previously lame foot on a navicular case with bone damage and corresponding soft tissue damage, as well as other body-wide compensations. Apologies for the dirty mud season foot 🙃

(If you want to learn more about how we rehab navicular cases, I have an entire ebook on it here - print copy is sold out and on backorder currently) - https://thehumblehoof.com/product/navigating-navicular-disease-an-optimistic-guide-for-a-pessimistic-diagnosis-ebook/

11/12/2024

Nancy riding Monte

11/12/2024

We offer BOARDING w/ riding facility.
Call/ text 985-335-6665 for info.
Located just north of Folsom, LA.
40248 Archie Wallace Rd., Franklinton,LA.

02/18/2024