24/05/2026
Trimming day for Valkira 💅🐴. We've been working on leg handling and alternating choice vs. no-choice scenarios and it paid off today ✨.
Today's trimming was a no-choice scenario. This means, the horse is still free to express herself, and I do listen and advocate for her 💛 (ex. taking breaks, allowing for rest), but I will not take her "no" all together and not have her trimmed. Regular hoof trimming is extremely important for a horse's overall wellbeing 🦶🐎, and while I have her trims scheduled every 6 weeks now (which is the longest I'll go), I do correct her hooves little by little in-between trims.
And while she is allowed and encouraged to express her thoughts, feelings and emotions 💭, our boundary is that she can only express those in a way that is safe for everyone involved 🤝. Hear that? The lack of force and violence in our training does not mean that people are not safe around my horses, but rather the contraty ✨. That takes biting and kicking or turning her hip into people off the table 🙅♀️, but she is absolutely free to make all the faces she wants 😒, pin her ears, tell me, when she needs a break ect. That doesn't mean we ignore those faces, we hear her, and support her though it 🤍, so that we can get done what needs to be done safely and considerately.
So here's how it went: she did really, really well in the beginning 👏 (for her left hooves), but then it became harder for her. The trim took a little longer, because her hooves were rock solid (hot and dry weather here lately ☀️), so that required more attention and patience from her. When it became harder for her, I added food rewards🌿, to help keep her focused and open to cooperating a little longer, even though it was hard for her.
We finished well ✅, and she was very happy with all of us once the work was done 🥰. It does help, to have an openminded barefoot trimmer who you can communicate with well, of course 😊.
Thanks to our helper Kaja for the photo and helping keep Mr. Ink nearby for emotional support ❤️.