~ Testimonials ~
- My 15 year old quarter horse gelding, Sweet Pea, is the horse on Lynette’s site under 'Navicular.' After having retired from 35 years of teaching school I was very excited to renew my interest in horseback riding. Not long after I started on my adventure Sweet Pea went mysteriously lame in his right front foot. I contacted my vet who put him on Bute thinking maybe he had pulled something playing around in the field. He improved for a short time until we took him off of the bute. Seeking the advice from a 2nd vet I was advised that I should put Sweet Pea in shoes with pads. After doing this, he became even lamer. He was in such pain that we pulled the shoes and pads off 2 days later. Now on to vet #3 who took x-rays of the right front hoof and determined that a coffin joint injection was in order which we did. She also recommended that I use a farrier who she works with and that he put bar shoes on Sweet Pea to the tune of $150/month and that Sweet Pea take Previcox daily for the pain and inflammation. After doing all of this the lameness went away for about 3 weeks and then it came back. I kept him in the bar shoes and on the Previcox but didn’t notice much improvement. So, I took him off the Previcox after about 6 months and this vet called in another vet/#4 who specializes in lameness issues and we got yet another diagnosis. This diagnosis was that Sweet Pea had an inflamed navicular bursa. So, this 4th vet then injected the navicular bursa and we changed to some kind of aluminum shoes and put him back on the Previcox. After 4-6 weeks the lameness reappeared. A friend recommended trying a new farrier and by the grace of God we found Lynette on the internet. She came to Aiken in Nov. 2010. After spending much time analyzing Sweet Pea’s hoof conformation, walking and trotting him around she diagnosed him with Navicular. She then pulled the shoes, trimmed him and I took him off of Previcox. She has been trimming him ever since. Each trim has brought us closer and closer to soundness. She trimmed him again today, July 11, 2011. As far as I can see he looks completely sound. Lynette still sees little hoof issues that she would like to see improve. As far as his lameness is concerned we both agree that you would never know that he had been so lame for so long. I am constantly amazed at how much time Lynette spends analyzing the each horse’s hoof conformation and then trims accordingly, instead of driving up, trimming, rasping and then leaving using the one size fits all method of trimming. The entire time that Lynette is on my farm she is teaching me about what a healthy hoof looks like and what it takes to get and keep it healthy. Needless to say I am thrilled with Lynette’s work and hope to have her taking care of my horses’ feet FOREVER!!!
Kay Preston
Aiken, SC
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My husband’s paint gelding, Hershey, caught his front left foot on a low strand of barbed wire fence 4 years ago. His coronary band and heel were damaged. After the cut area healed the farrier my husband used at the time put a bar shoe on him and let the heel grow out trying to get rid of the hoof crack that grew from the damaged coronary band. Hershey was lame most of the time during the next 2 years and by the 3rd year he had become completely lame. Even walking in the pasture was painful for him. My horse, Sydney (see his feet under the healthy hooves section), had always been barefoot and I finally convinced my husband to pull Hershey’s shoes and let Lynette trim him natural. After all, what did he have to lose? Hershey had the flattest feet I’ve ever seen on a horse. With long toes and high contracted heels (still with a deep crack) Lynette started working on Hershey’s feet. Within a month Hershey’s lameness went away. Within 6 months the crack in his hoof wall had closed up, growing out and he has nice concavity to his hooves. We ride him regularly and his feet are getting tough enough to go most anywhere without boots. Thanks to Lynette and her expertise.
Joyce and Billy Hensley
& Hershey
Fort Mill, SC
Hershey one month after pulling the shoes... (more photos to come!)
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My horse "Bozo" is a 17 year old AQHA gelding that I use for barrel racing and rodeos, for the past year Bozo has been had on an off again lameness, particularly in the front right foot. He has been through 3 different vets all with different opinions and all 3 unable to pinpoint the issue. Since you have been trimming my horse over the past few months I have noticed a significant change, his feet are now balanced, he moves so much better and he is no longer lame. I was told I may never be able to do anything except "walk" again...I have recently been able to put Bozo back into work and haven't had any issues out of him. He still has some progress to make but I TRUELY believe that your dedication to him and willingness to work for him and with him is why I am able to do this! Thank you so much for ultimately giving me my horse back! I highly recommend your services to anyone looking for a GOOD ...RELIABLE farrier! Thank you so much for all you've done for me and Bozo! -
Amanda W. Sites
Windy Wood Farms (Manager)
Lexington, SC
Lucky Scotty aka "Bozo" -2005 Youth IBRA 3-D State Champion