Percheron with long feet at Shaker Village outside Lexington

[Watermark_Farm]

I visited the wonderful Shaker Village outside Lex (highly recommended!) on Monday and was dismayed to see how neglected their horses’ hooves are. They are quite long and screaming “quarter crack ahead!”

I spoke with someone at the village and have the contact info of the farm manager, who oversees the Percherons. Am going to call him and get to the bottom of things.

I was wondering if anyone on this board lives close enough to Shaker Village that they might be able to swing by there at some point in the future ---- I will likely write a letter to the Board of Directors and make a little fuss. It’s shameful to see a horse’s feet so obviously neglected. I’d love if it a local could follow up in person down the road and just make sure the feet have been trimmed. Thanks. Feel free to PM me your email or contact info.

[Ponyplusaninch]

I live less than a half hour away and will actually probably go out hiking at Shakertown next week. I could see about taking a look. That is odd, though. They typically take good care of their horses (from what I’ve seen) and are very much “let them be horses” in their care. I haven’t ever seen anything worrisome with the horses or other livestock. Now, some of the neighboring “farms”–debatable.

[spirithorse]

Have not seen them, but I can tell you this; it became standard practice a several years ago to dish the draft horse feet…let them spread out like a dinner platter. This is not good for the internal workings of the hooves, but it is still done. If I remember correctly when I have seen the Budwiser Clydesdales, their feet are dishes.