Attitude of professionals

MrsD123 said:
I went down to look after five stallion show jumpers , the previous groom had been threatening them with the fork, it was very obvious from all their behaviours.
I was not allowed to muck out the youngest one because he had "savaged" said groom, it took me three days to get on his side, and I thought he was the sweetest of the lot. But when the vet came to jab him, the vet said "I 'll give him a right belting if he plays up, I said, "well that'll be after you've laid me out!"
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nice one mrs d:D
 
skydancer, do you think slapping somebody's face or kicking his a** would change anything? One day that person will have no customers because of his attitude - that will be a punishment
 
Ikarina said:
skydancer, do you think slapping somebody's face or kicking his a** would change anything? One day that person will have no customers because of his attitude - that will be a punishment
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yeah i agree but it would make me feel better and might make them think twice in the meantime:D
 
The worst is, that many people reading this thread think "naaaah it's not me, I'm not an "evil" proffesional" but I bet all my money, that many of us had some "sins" while working with horses and don't even realise this.

By the way - I've noticed that as somebody got more knowledge and is more experienced, becomes calmer, more patient, gives horses more time and respects them more. Most of horrible behaviour I can see with the people who think they are "world champions", they've got high expectations, but in the end of the day their skills are rubbish. They blame the horses, they get rid of their frustration on the poor animals and they explain that this is the way you HAVE TO treat the horse (simply they don't know how to do it the other, more proper way) I can see them very, very often unfortunately :(
 
This is a point I was trying to get over in another thread a while back. My lad was badly and systematically abused by a well known equestrian professional. So much so that his groom reported it and when I bought him, and showed him on here the groom and others who had witnessed the abuse got in touch with me,to tell me what had happened. Apparently, although I can't say for sure, that professional was repeatedly reported but nothing was done.

One law for one, another for the rest. As it has always been.

FDC
 
jeeve said:
every now and then this kind of treatment results in the horse responding namely,
1 dressage ride who regularly beat her horse fell off, and the horse took the opportunity to give her a good kicking,

and another where a fellow laid into a horse with a shovel, met the horse three years later, with a different owner, the horse recognised him and when the man walked into his yard killed him.
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Yes, absolutely. My lad did not become at all cowed but very aggressive towards people he did not know. He certainly showed he remembered someone from a previous yard when said person barged into his stable, he tried rearing, biting and striking out all at the same time.That person had treated him badly.

But when Elizabeth fell off jumping, he did absolutely everything he could to avoid standing on her. Good or bad, they never forget!

FDC
 
I dont know about anyone else but i did stuff to horses when i was younger that i am not proud of but as i have gotten older and wiser (?) i realise this was not the best way to go about the situation i was in and have worked away from it.

Everyone makes mistakes but it think that part of being a "professional" horse person is to always look to ways of getting the horse to do what you want it to it the calmest, kindest way possible.
 
I will throw this in aswell, one of our top SJs indoor arena is commonly known in the trade as the "torture chamber". People still send their horses to this nasty thug. :mad:
 
Gosh, some of these stories are heart wrenching!

I was once a livery at a yard run by a "professional" showjumper and it was the most disturbing experience I've ever had.

Youngsters being bitted for the first time left with bits in for 2 days straight cos they weren't accepting it?!?

A horse cross tied in the wash bay for a whole day under the solarium lights as punishment for not standing still to be bathed.

A young horse whipped until it bled for refusing to load, (first ever time being loaded).

A mare covered by a stallion who suffered a massive tear to her vulva, left untreated which became infected, pus dripping out but being used for lessons!!!

Youngster coming back from a show with deep gouges out of his sides caused by the spurs.

The list goes on and on and on. It was a sickening place run by bullies who frightened me half to death. When I left, they followed me in their car to find out where I was moving too.

Thing is, people still send their horses there for training! So so scary :(
 
I have seen horses thrashed at shows (big and small) and kids thrashed at shows but NO ONE has ever seen a thing. Think most people are just terrified of them.
 
tsk tsk...

I thought I'd seen some bad things but not compared to stories on here... *sob*
 
The problem is that there is soo much of it going on, as a groom it is sometimes excruciating to see what these animals suffer and the worst thing is that you know there is really nothing you can do to prevent it either at the time or in the future. I remember one groom saying to me that allthough her boss (olympic gold medalist) is a complete nasty b****** to the horses at least she knows she is giving them the best care she can and helping them get at least a bit of love and care. Its heartbreaking.

If i am ever in that situation again i hope i have the chance to get my phone out and video it, at least then the authorities cant ingore it.
 
Every Farrier I have had (and I've had afew) has not been afraid of whacking horses whilst shoeing. One full on punched a horse on his muzzle with a closed fist. Another hit the horses cannon bone with the handle of his hammer, horse jumped and held leg up off the ground in pain and farrier said "now you will hold your *********g leg up won't you"

There seems to be an attitude with some professionals that anyone who isn't prepared to give a horse a thrashing is laughed at as a 'pet owner' and 'fluffy bunny hugger' etc.
 
foxy1 said:
There seems to be an attitude with some professionals that anyone who isn't prepared to give a horse a thrashing is laughed at as a 'pet owner' and 'fluffy bunny hugger' etc.
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Yes, cause the way they're thinking is like "I'm professional and I know what I'm doing! You've got no clue, you can only stroke fluffy ponies, so ***** up" :(
 
Ikarina said:
Yes, cause the way they're thinking is like "I'm professional and I know what I'm doing! You've got no clue, you can only stroke fluffy ponies, so ***** up" :(
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I have come to the conclusion, from observing the same farriers/vets that I use who have never raised a hand to any of mine, that some of these professionals take cues from the owners. If they think you have no clue then they will take matters into their own hands (quite literally!). If they believe you do know what you are doing then they leave you to handle any misdemeanors.
 
Some awful stories...
Got to add though there are some fantastic professionals - our farrier has been shoeing our girl since she got diagnosed with Cushings and as she's being shod its quite obviously uncomfortable for her but she rarely ever fidgets or fusses - however this one particular morning as he began, she reared up and he just moved back waited for her to stop said "ooh did that hurt sweetheart" picked up her foot and carried on as though nothing had happened.
K x
 
That's so nice of him! I also was very lucky with all "my" farriers - they were very gentle and treated horses very kindly.
 
OP - if anyone had done to to any of my horses, nobody would have had chance to intervene - the mucking out fork would have been used for something it was not intended to be used for!!

As for farriers - I have just found myself a dream of a farrier - watched the horses move, was very quiet and sympathetic with them and my gelding , who quite simply is a 5h!t to shoe was done by him for the first time yesterday and apart from trying to nibble farrier's back was a gem. I won't be letting this farrier go in a hurry - and all I know is that he's called Jason! When my horse, who is quite arthritic couldn't hold his foot up on the stand, he just put the hoof between his legs, so the hoof was much lower and did it that way, so there was no panicking by the horse. He does remedial farriery and nothing is too much trouble for him. Jealous??
 
You can't beat a good farrier, I have the best one around (I think so anyway) he is far more expensive than any of the others but as I have 1 horse, I can afford the best. He is an experienced horseman so has mo need to beat horses up, actually I have NEVER heard of him losing his temper. I do supply him with cups of T and his favorite biscuits when he comes to shoe!!
 
I'm one of those people who can't keep their mouth shut! So when I see 'abuse' going on I have to say something! Sometimes it's along the -can I help- line but more often it's not! I hate to see any animal being treated like an insensitive machine.
 
jeeve said:
every now and then this kind of treatment results in the horse responding namely,
1 dressage ride who regularly beat her horse fell off, and the horse took the opportunity to give her a good kicking,

and another where a fellow laid into a horse with a shovel, met the horse three years later, with a different owner, the horse recognised him and when the man walked into his yard killed him.
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I once got a farrier out because my usual farrier was sick and I needed them done for a competition. He grabbed the horses leg and yanked it up without checking that he was actually standing correctly so the horse pulled his leg down to stand square. He then grabbed his leg again and hit him with his hammer. I didnt get "what the" out of my mouth, before the horse took off across the yard with the farrier still attached to one leg. The farrier ended up on his face, and after I caught the horse stood grinning as the farrier drove away - he got what he deserved as the horse was in no way being awkward, ill mannered or naughty.
 
Yes, some of these are astounding!

Not as big as some of the others, but i was shocked when i saw (very nice tbh) instructor wack a horse round the face several times infront a lot of people. Don't know whether she was showing how "tough" she was or what?!
I have seen her doing similar things with a livery's horse too!

Obviously i didn't know the horses really as it was a few years back, but it was just a little bit of a shock.
Seemed to be inconsistancy as a "helper" there was thrown off the yard for giving a pony a slap when it tried to bite!

I think some people are so "high up" that some turn a blind eye.
 
Why aren't we naming and shaming people??? These are shameful stories and if you can't say it in RL then say who they are here!!!

It's not shocking... we all know it happens. They get caught sooner or later. Whether you are a bunny hugger or not, you can't just watch it happen and say nothing. Or can you? When you have your whole life to lose - it's better that the horse carries on suffering because it's helpless anyway and so are you...
 
That is unacceptable, a) for the level of the "misdemeanour", b) it was out of pure anger & more than needed & c) totally miss-timed in any case :mad:

I used to have a great farrier, although I will admit he smacked my horse on the nose once for biting. He did it at exactly the right moment literally was bite, "smack" & she never did it again (horse had developed biting after constantly being given treats not pain). The rest of the time he was always fair with the horses & was very calm. He once spent about 1/2 an hour patiently catching one of our ponies & would let the horses out once they were shod as well....

Don't think we'll ever find one quite like him again, was what I classed as a real horseman.. But we do have one that seems alright, now just got to keep an eye on my horses hooves. Took as about 2yrs to get them to the standard they are now & don't want them going down hill!
 
Completely unacceptable behaviour!

As for the FRC saying the cctv in not acceptable evidence is a muppet!!!! You need to speak to the senior registrar!

It IS worth making a complaint - its 8 odd pages long though!!!! And they *the discipline committee* meet in secret but you are usually told a date and can be 3 months later!

However, don't go for the obvious!!!!! Look at unprofessional behaviour of a member of the FRC bringing the FRC in disrepute, get also the sides of Redwings and WHW by showing them a video of the event as well as the RSPCA and asking for their professional opinions and ask for testimonials.

I doubt the farrier in question will lose his licence however, he could be put on 'probation for a set period of time'

Also on the part of the 'are you taking legal action against the farrier' part on the 8 page complaint form then put probably!!!!!!!

Good luck
 
hi had the same thing about 13 years ago ,i had a very elderly ex hunter who still thought he was a baby jumped a 5 bar metal gate and landed on corogated (sp)iron roofing ,sliced his leg from his fetlock to his coronet band,had a lovely vet did what she could,he was great for about 6 months,but i always said the day he didn't eat was his last day as the bugger would escape from any stable he was put in to find food,went out one morning not scoffed his feed,hay and beeding looking fed up so called the vet my lovely vet was away,got a partner,my poor horse couldn't walk far and had decided he was happy to go in his stable,the vet went in an decided he needed to pts outside when he wouldn't move proceeded to hit him,hate to say i hit him shouldn.t have i know,but told him to f off and had the hunt out.sorry a bit of a rant but it still upsets me he wouldn't listen to me
ps i hit the vet not the horse
 
I am lucky I have the time to ALWAYS be there when the horses are shod so that I can make sure my horses are well treated, though they do behave well perhaps because they know there is nothing to fear. My youngster needed some schooling which I thought a professional would be good for, NONE of them wanted him taken to them for a set hour on a regular basis to be schooled. They wanted him left with them, NO WAY, I wanted to be there so he wasn't bullied. I am not a mamby pamby person but I know hat some of these people can be like. Schooled him myself in the end, went very well.
I just can't bring myself to trust others to treat my boys well even though they probably would. Paranoid or what !!
 
wow iv always been lucky with the way profesionals treat my horses as they have always acted kindly and justified in there actions but dont get me wrong im totaly open for my farrier / vet or whoever to give my horse a slap if they need it.
some of the stories on here are horrific! i cant believe some profesionals would act in such a way!
 
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