A situation for you....

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harrihjc

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I've been stressing over a situation that has arisen twice with my farrier, and I just don't know what to do.

He's a strange man, and i'm ofen unsure whether to take him seriously or not as he often comes out with (in my opinion) a load of [****]. I have been told by another farrier (so I detect rivalry and takeit with a pinch of salt) that he is quite nervous around horses (odd job to choose then) and doesn't react well to any deviation from a horse standing completely still

So here is the situation....
I have a 4yr old, who is a playful little thing, and he is teething (sore little gums) and chews absolutely EVERYTHING! He's notn nasty with it in any way, but occasionally will catch you when chewing your clothing and nip. This is something I tell him off for as I don't want it to develop, but from my understanding it is what young geldings tend to do, so to a degree I understand it (teething toddlers chew everything!!)

On the last 2 occasions the farrier has been, he claims my horse has aggressively bitten him 3 times on each occasion, although we have not seen it despite standing holding him at the time, and there were no marks visible. The farrier then said 'if he ever does that again I'm going to f****** smash his teeth in' whilst picking up a tool and holding it in the air threateningly. I was absolutlely FURIOUS!!

What would you do in a situation like this??
Change farrier?
Tell him in no uncertain terms that behaviour like that is not acceptable?
I have a pretty sharp temper when provoked like this, and it was all I could do not to say that if did that to my horse I would do the same to him!! Would be interested to hear peoples opinions
 
He is obviously not suited to his position as farrier. Rather than sticking a rough file into his nether regions I would simply tell him that his services wont be needed from now on.

Get yourself another farrier hun
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Providing you have access to an alternative farrier I would change in a flash (no pun intended!).

Even if you confront the farrier, you are unlikely to get him to change his ways. The farrier is likely to either lose his temper and hit your horse anyway or bear a grudge against you which could also cause more trouble.

The last thing you want with a young horse is some impatient farrier to go and make him nervous of being shod!
 
Hi

I would certainly change farrier, my boy is just five and he is at the nibbling stage, if the farrier cannot understand this behviour in a youngster then he should not be doing the job he is. I would ask around and find a sympathetic farrier who doesnt mind taking his time with a baby.

I think you answered that yourself too. ........... mind you I would be tempted to smash his (farrier) teeth in!! ooops my laddish behaviour coming out.
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Good luck
Alma
 
there were 2 other people with me at the time, and we were all just stunned to silence! It didn't seem to be said in a jokey kind of way, and I really DO NOT think that my horse would ever agressively bite, and I don't think he even nipped him as he didn't jump or respond as if he had. It was like it came out of the blue. I'm still fuming now, my horse is my whole life and I'm so protective of him, it really worried me!
 
As you dident witness your horse taking chunks out of him (i think you might have seen some sort of reaction from the farrier if he was bitten).If he raised a hand to my horse and threatened to smash his f-ing teeth in it would be the farrier that would need a bowl for his teeth not the horse.
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.Get rid of him.He sounds a cowboy!.
 
As the others all say - change farrier. The last thing you want is for him to act agressive to your youngster and have him frightened of farriers.
 
Change farrier without a doubt

I had a farrier once, I was quite young and my pony was a little lazy picking his feet up but was NEVER naughty just slow to respond and you had to tug his feather alittle to get his foot up, my pony was slow to pick a foot up one day and the farrier turned round and smacked him across the spine with a rasp!! It was completely unprovoked and completely out of order... I never used the farrier again! I went to report him only to find out he was unregistered although he said he was a registered farrier...

Your farrier has already shown that he can't control his temper...I wouldn't risk him actually doing something physical to your horse.
 
O my god horsegroupie, if he did that to my boy I don't think he would be able to walk again himself!

Thanks for your responses everyone, I think I will take the day off work next time he comes in 2 weeks and watch him and my horse like a hawk to see what goes on, but I am thinking I will be changing farriers as this has really annoyed/upset me and I don't even want to risk it!! Even if my horse had bitten him, this is completely unacceptable
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My horse is in Kent - I recently changed farrier from one who sounds remarkably like yours for similar reasons as those you describe. PM me if you like & I'll be able to tell you if it's the same one!
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I always stand and hold him with the farrier so I don't see how he could have bitten him without me noticing. I agree that he shouldn't be allowed to bite, but even if he had I don't think this is any way to react to it.
 
[ QUOTE ]
O my god horsegroupie, if he did that to my boy I don't think he would be able to walk again himself!

Thanks for your responses everyone, I think I will take the day off work next time he comes in 2 weeks and watch him and my horse like a hawk to see what goes on, but I am thinking I will be changing farriers as this has really annoyed/upset me and I don't even want to risk it!! Even if my horse had bitten him, this is completely unacceptable
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[/ QUOTE ]

I'm sorry but there is no way that I would have him out to mine again if he did this to my mare. You pay him to provide a service to look after your horse, not to raise a hand to him. He is only a youngster and i would not want to risk him getting a wack and him then being nervous of the farrier. Farriers are a regular part of their lives and you want him to be relaxed and unfazed by them.

Personally I would cancel him and if he does ask why, tell him.

Just my opinion though
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Change!

Our farrier, who we changed to last year, is fantastic with Ivy the Terrible, she adores him! We joke that she keeps pulling shoes off the others so we have to get him out (not his farriery there, Asti's extended heels + deep sticky mud don't mix)

Last time he came out, I brought Asti in on her own and she was a total pig - she's nearly 15 she SHOULD know better - but she was a complete witch. He told her off a few times, not even raising his voice bless him, it was me that gave her a slap on the shoulder when she took her front foot off the stand for the third time...

He's really patient, and Ivy who was a sod to be trimmed with the last farrier, is no bother at all.

Best thing I ever did changing to him. Find someone with the attitude to match the skill!
 
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