Happy 2018
Sabots Libres wishes you, your horses and your families a peaceful and healthy 2018.
500km : Above Mérens-les-Vals
A glance back at 2017...
The year began full of good intentions
which lasted a mere 18 days...
On the 18th of January, I was diagnosed with a heart valve anomaly and an aneurysm of the aorta - result : major open-heart surgery on 28 March.
With a ban on any strenuous activity for at least 8 weeks post-op and the warning of major fatigue during at least the first six months and probably longer, most of my equine-oriented activities had to be put on hold until further notice. Despite this, I did take my place on the team for the Spring 2017 Transhumance and -at just 7 weeks post-op- I was back in the saddle. In time, I was back trimming horses.
September is usually the month when we organize a Locomotion and Hoof-Care course but with all that had gone before earlier in the year, we decided to enact one of our dreams: to follow the course of the river Garonne to her source(s) in Spain.
500km →
(my apologies, most of the text is still in French - I am still writing up the English summary).
It was a successful expedition from which we learnt a lot, both in terms of planning and logistics, and the capabilities of (our) horses. We have come away with some fantastic memories and a desire to re-enact the adventure, albeit elsewhere to see how the horses react to other types of terrain.
Looking forward...
As always, locomotion and hoof-care remains the cornerstone of Sabots Libres' activities. We are currently planning our next (English language) Locomotion and Hoof-Care Course in Porta for the weekend of 9-10 June. A mailing with more details will be going out later this week.

We are also accepting requests for clinics, workshops and courses where you are (in English, Dutch or French). If you are interested in organizing an activity, please don't hesitate to get in touch: info@sabotslibres.eu

Our online-learning site has been sitting on the back-burner for quite sometime now; early 2018 should see the full launch of the site with the first courses. Naturally these courses cannot take the place of a hands-on experience, but they will give more insight into the theory presented during our two-day courses and give the chance to expand the two-day course into a more complete experience.

Also on the back-burner is 'Project Engagement'. There is a Golden Thread (to paraphrase Horace Rumpole, one of my favourite literary characters) running through equine welfare that is presented to all our students and that we try to explain to all our clients. This golden thread includes the general interaction between us and our horses. Engagement has its roots in the era that I was working in the Netherlands and Belgium - time to bring it back out of the fridge...watch this space!

And 'Expedition 500km : Edition 2018'?
Not so long this year (we can't have six weeks off every year!) and not in the Pyrenees (although we do want to finish the route Porta - Banyuls-sur-Mer).
Where? Well, there is a lot of interesting France on our doorstep...


So, may we once again wish you

all the very best for 2018.
Sabots Libres
31150 Fenouillet, France
©mmxvi Sabots Libres all content.
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