Bad shoeing was a disaster for my mare - blog post

[tantallon]

Thought some of you might be interested in my latest blog post 'No foot no horse'. It is about how not listening to my gut instinct was a complete disaster for one of my horses.
I would love to hear your thoughts, especially from anyone else affected by anything similar.

http://cavalla-horsesinmyblood.blogspot.com/

Also in CR

 

[TigerTail]

Its far too common a tale - the owner is intimidated or subdued by the 'professionals' superior knowledge.

I only realised my mare was being overtrimmed when she 'shouted' at me by refusing to even let me pick up her hooves, nevermind the trimmer.

The saving grace there was that trimming isnt so invasive as farrier if its going badly wrong

 

[Jesstickle]

What a shame. She was beautiful. And I love your blog, it's so well written. I'm a nosey parker and had a nose about. Hope you don't mind

 

[tantallon]

What a shame. She was beautiful. And I love your blog, it's so well written. I'm a nosey parker and had a nose about. Hope you don't mind

Thanks Jesstinsel - nose about as much as you like - that's what it's there for.

TigerTail - how right you are - that was many years ago - I'm a bit older and I hope (though friends may disagree ) wiser now

 

[dressagelove]

Very interesting and enlightening. Thank you. Going through something similar at the moment, but it hasnt got that far yet, and want to do something about it before it might. Thank you for posting and trying to spread the word.

 

[marlyclay]

I sympathise so much with this post.Infact today i have just parted company with my farrier of 16 years for exactly the same reasons.I havn't been happy for some time with the way he shod my horses but the final straw was his flipant and arrogant attitude towards any requests and concerns that i aired about the foot balance of my 4 year old who's feet had dramatically changed shape and who now dishes like a pig since being shod . He used to move well bare foot and was a straight mover until his first set of shoes.Now after just three shoeings he is pigeon toed,balance completely out. It's left me feeling gutted that my farrier cannot or does not want to see it. Got told that it was the horses conformation....bullshit. This horse had up until being shod good front feet and straight movement..he was placed second in good company at a county show as a three year old.I just don't understand some farriers ,it seems so many of them get to a point where they just don't give a dam anymore. It was hard to part company with someone whom i have know and got on well with for so long but in the end as the OP said you have to follow your gut instinct and looking at this young horses feet ,this was a no brainer.

 

[somethingorother]

Great blog, I loved the words about your poor mare when you lost her. Those were the words of someone who truly appreciates the horse for what it is and what it's capible of.

I have been scoffed at many a time for disputing the actions or words of a 'professional', but as you have shown, people would sometimes do well to have their own knowledge and opinions on things without just trusting blindly people who are supposed 'experts'. I guess the lesson is that the world is full of 'experts', so you should choose those you use carefully. And anyway, what harm can a few questions really cause?

Thanks for sharing, i will continue to mooch around your blog when i have time

 

[jaysh]

Im off to read your blog now, im having problems too. my horse's chiro is saying her feet are causing problems with her movements, my farrier says she is talking crap and wont listen to her suggestions, im taking her to a remedial expert for a second opinion on her feet next week now.

 

[tantallon]

I sympathise so much with this post.Infact today i have just parted company with my farrier of 16 years for exactly the same reasons.I havn't been happy for some time with the way he shod my horses but the final straw was his flipant and arrogant attitude towards any requests and concerns that i aired about the foot balance of my 4 year old who's feet had dramatically changed shape and who now dishes like a pig since being shod . He used to move well bare foot and was a straight mover until his first set of shoes.Now after just three shoeings he is pigeon toed,balance completely out. It's left me feeling gutted that my farrier cannot or does not want to see it. Got told that it was the horses conformation....bullshit. This horse had up until being shod good front feet and straight movement..he was placed second in good company at a county show as a three year old.I just don't understand some farriers ,it seems so many of them get to a point where they just don't give a dam anymore. It was hard to part company with someone whom i have know and got on well with for so long but in the end as the OP said you have to follow your gut instinct and looking at this young horses feet ,this was a no brainer.

Good luck with your youngster - sounds like you have nipped this in the bud good and early - I wish I had been better informed all those years ago.