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Every once in a while, someone comes into your life and makes a pivotal difference in how you perceive things.
However, for you to understand my opening statement, I need to take you back a ways before that “moment” happened.
I was brought up on a dairy farm and at that time there was not much money in that arena. My father decided my older brother and I had to learn to ride so that we could be his unpaid hired help. At 4 & 5 years of age, we were walked outside one day and told, “Right, today you learn to ride”. I was so excited. Finally I was going to be allowed near one of these magnificent creatures. Obviously Dad did not have a nice wee riding pony to hand, nope, we were each hurled up on one of his rather large stock horses. We were told to grip with our knees………. (how the hell I was going to do that as my knees were now just about out of their sockets, as were my hip joints – a 4 year old on a 16hh solid Stationbred does not have much grip ability……….) so, trying to grip, and being told to have a firm grasp of the reins along with a substantial amount of mane, we were ready. Gulp. With a resounding thwack on the horses rumps, we were off………..hearing Dad yelling at us not to fall off or we would be getting a hiding (the done thing back then you know). I don’t know what was more fearful – the though of falling such a great height, or a sore bum from Dad’s heavy hand. Yes, we did fall and no, no hidings were administered. We were just hurled back on those jolly horses until we could do a length of the paddock without falling off. I am pleased to say we also suffered no broken bones.
Therein started my total passion for riding and horses. Every opportunity was spent riding around the paddocks, grooming, and sharing all my secrets with these creatures of such power and gentleness. In amongst all this, our horses were never shod. Dad could never afford it, and if their feet were getting a bit long on it, run them up race Dad would say.
So my background with horses was one without shoes. Essentially they were unshod.
Now, much later, and in a position to finally have a horse or two of my own to poodle around on I was in heaven. But alas, no farm races to ride on, and as my riding boy was a rehome and of quite a nervy disposition, I figured I had best get a farrier out see him.
Whilst living in the Waikato 4 years ago, I happened upon a lady at a dinner party who was also quite horsey. This was fortunate as it would have been a very boring dinner party otherwise. Whilst conversing on the merits of horses, and our mutual sharing of childhood memories concerning horses, I made mention that I was going to need a farrier to come trim my fellow. Oh no that just will not do, this woman advised. You need Jenny Lomas, she’s a barefoot trimmer. Right, whatever, does she come over Tahuna way I asked? Oh she will go anywhere, I will email you her contact details.
So, I phoned Jenny and made an appointment for her to come trim my boy. Like most horse owners/handlers with no idea of what a farrier or a trimmer does, we have our horse somewhat ready for said person to come do their thing. Well, at the very least we will have a halter on. I didn’t really pay any attention to what Jenny did on the first couple of visits. I know she was super quick, and didn’t seem to mind answering some minor questions that I had. I did notice that my boy seemed to be more comfortable in his walk etc,. Hmmm, I better pay more attention to this I thought.
So, when Jenny came out one day and I now had a couple of new horses for her to trim, I actually started asking what is was she was doing, why she was doing it, and what could I expect to notice with these horses that I starting to accumulate (I’m a rescuer from way back).
That became my pivotal point of difference. Jenny explained things to me in such a way that it was more than a light bulb moment – it was like every lightbulb in NZ went on. WOW, this is amazing – this just makes so much sense.
Jenny’s knowledge, skill, compassion, is simply……well, incredible. Here is someone that is out there truly making a difference – enriching not only our horses lives, but also those of the owners/handlers (as long as they LISTEN to what she has to say). There will always be the “others” out there who will malign, misrepresent, and possibly even sabotage the good works of gifted individuals. But those “others” operate from either ignorance or ego, or both.
For those of you who have a genuine desire to have your horse live as close to a natural existence in this unnatural domestication, and who really listen to what Jenny has to say along with putting into practice her recommendations, I guarantee you have will a more balanced, enriched, happier equine. I am not here to profess that Jenny knows everything (because she doesn’t) BUT, again I say her depth of experience and knowledge has proven to me several times she does know what she’s doing, and she does know what she’s talking about.
I recommend her. Why? Because she’s worth it.
Katie Sloane
Waiuku
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