Horse Handling

I went to a clinic recently (names will be withheld due to professional courtesy) given by a horseshoeing school instructor. While viewing his presentation slides he commented about running into many horses that had been neglected. Not just neglected feet but also left on halters that were actually embedded in the horses face.

A ripple of remarks could have very quickly become a tidal wave of "dissension among the ranks" but I think we all handled it rather well.

The remarks made ranged from "Did you tell the horseowner how to improve his horse care techniques?" to " Did you turn the horse owner in to the authorities?"

The clinician said he wouldn't report such neglect cases mainly because he felt his "small town" community would refuse to bring horses to his school which would ruin his business.

Another shoeing instructor (who was there as an observer - NOT as a clinician) disagreed and remarked that it is our duty as horse care professionals to look out for the horse.

Several other farriers said that he should have at least said something to the horse owner and inform them of the proper way to care for the horse.

One farrier mentioned that maintaining a "Don't say anything" response will only encourage his students to do the same and horses will still suffer because the horse owner won't see the error of his ways.

The instructor I apprenticed with once said to me "You can't save them all." along with:" You will see a lot of things that you disagree with in this job." I doubt that when he said "you can't save 'em all" he meant that a farrier should turn a blind eye to what is happening to the horse.

No, I don't agree with many things that are being done with and to horses in the name of competition or breeding and I can choose to disassociate myself from those factions of our many faceted horse world. But out and out abused or neglected horses should have a voice! They should NOT be left to suffer in silence! I'd like to think that the majority of farriers out there are doing this hard job because at least some part of them loves and appreciates the horse.

I do not think that all horses should live in posh straw filled stables, fed until they are fat and plump or be kept from from wind, rain and snow. But I do believe that the horse did not CHOOSE to be kept - WE chose to keep the horse; and in so doing it is upon us to provide proper adequate shelter, care and maintenance.

There will undoubtedly always be the cruel person that just refuses to care but I'd venture a guess that most neglected/abused horses are the result of ignorance.

I firmly believe that what used to be "common knowledge" regarding horse care has been lost since the advent of the motor vehicle. And the new horse owner of today just really doesn't have a clue as to what it takes to correctly maintain a horse

As a full time farrier I make a definite effort to inform and educate my clients as to the proper care of their animals. The most common response I get to this new information is "WOW! I never knew that!"

Over the years I have personally reported 3 cases to local animal protection societies and was called as an expert witness to another. I have helped several neglected horses get better care just from talking with their owners.

I realize that most of the clients at the shoeing schools are bringing their horses there because they can get the footwork done CHEAP. A full time farrier doesn't work CHEAP (and shouldn't)so the horseowners only bring the horses in when they can't walk.

Apparently it is common that a lot of horses are only brought to shoeing schools once a year! Wouldn't it behoove a school's instructor to encourage horse owners to be more regular in their hoof manitainance?

If the schools could encourage the locals (like say through seminars or cooperative extensions and show clinics) to take better care of their horses wouldn't the entire agricultural community benefit?

Education is a wonderful key!

This is NOT a direct bash against any ONE particular clinician what I am asking from the forum is what do you do? Or what have you done in cases like this? I wish this forum had a way to do a poll so that way people could just vote their response.

Well, had a new customer the other night. He owns an American Mustang, Good looking Chestnut Gelding. He handles great, rides fantastic. He has NO ground manners at all, when you pick up a foot, well the game is on! Took 6 hours to put 2 shoes on the front feet-which were very bad and chipped up to the point of the horse going lame. When I went to do the rear feet I had to "Lay the horse over" a technique which I had learned many years ago-and showed a new farrier along with instructions on how to perform so that he would know that no medicine has to be used-hopefully the new owner also learned what it takes to own an animal and how to care for them or that maybe this one is too much for him!

Well Ross, I have been following that lead for a while, only now and then I'll tame one just for ole' times sake (I'm 55) but not many any more, ground got too hard!