Can I legally take the shoes off my horse?

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charterline

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My horse is a toad with the farrier. Trying to get a farrier out at a time that I can fit it around work is nigh on impossible (I have horses in a field, so no help available.)

Current shoes have been on since the end of January, and I keep on hoping, but they haven't dropped off yet. Horse is generally good for me to handle, and experience horse owner that's seen plenty of shoes being removed, so I'm confident that I could do it.
 
i dont think its illegal but its not easy and you need to be careful that he doesnt snatch his foot away when you are halfway through and put it down so a nail goes into the foot.. cant you take some time off work or get a farrier to come early....i used to go in to work a couple of hours later every 6 weeks just to accomodate my horse and my farrier did him first. i had to take it as holiday...
 
so your horse has had shoes on for 14 weeks and you are hoping they drop off?? I find that unacceptable. You haven't been able to find time to get a farrier out in all that time? �� You must go down to your horses once per day so just get on the phone to the farrier and arrange for them to met you there.
 
Ruby's Mum said:
so your horse has had shoes on for 14 weeks and you are hoping they drop off?? I find that unacceptable. You haven't been able to find time to get a farrier out in all that time? �� You must go down to your horses once per day so just get on the phone to the farrier and arrange for them to met you there.
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Ditto this. Even if you did remove the shoes yourself those feet are going to need some attention. 14 weeks though, seriously?!
 
And how would you suggest that I get a farrier to take them off when the horse tried trampling the last farrier that went near her?

Sedation is not an overly viable option as the horse also hates vets and needles...
 
charterline said:
And how would you suggest that I get a farrier to take them off when the horse tried trampling the last farrier that went near her?

Sedation is not an overly viable option as the horse also hates vets and needles...
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Sedalin or domosedan.
Pretty poor on the excuse front!
 
sedalin, domosedan, then a needle if needed.

But if horse is ok with you doing it without trying to kill you then just take them off, if you are unsure get a farrier to show you what to do away from this horse.
 
Ruby's Mum said:
so your horse has had shoes on for 14 weeks and you are hoping they drop off?? I find that unacceptable. You haven't been able to find time to get a farrier out in all that time? �� You must go down to your horses once per day so just get on the phone to the farrier and arrange for them to met you there.
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I'm shocked too !

Sorry OP, but you need to sort these farrier issues with your horse.

I've got a youngster, and by god did we have some issues with the farrier to start with! As you'd expect with any youngster, and a lot of horses have got "issues". But you know what, you have GOT to sort this.

I spent a whole week at Christmas, getting my youngster sorted. I went out and decided that we were gonna sort it! And we did. I started off by running my hands all over her, then down her legs, into her heels, encouraging her and telling her she was a good girl for standing.

Then progressed to pressing her heels, asking for "foot up" (verbal command plus reiterated with the movement). And rewarding, not titbits, but something like a wither scratch or a bum-scratch.

She got the idea, then I started picking her feet out, then progressed to tapping her feet with a hammer.

No it wasn't easy, yes it was a PITA to have to do it repeatedly, time and again, I'm talking about getting them bored sick with it here!! But the last two times she has stood like a dream for the farrier. That means that he is SAFE when he's doing his job, and that reassures me, that I don't have to have the worry of my farrier getting injured (and therefore unable to do his job) when he is shoeing my horse.

It IS possible to sort this: I've never had a youngster before, this is my first - and it wasn't easy to sort, it needed firmness, kindness, commitment, and time. Repeating the process again and again, rewarding and encouraging. Now I've got a little mare that I can ask any farrier to shoe, or the vet to sort a problem with, and can be as sure as I can be that she is safe to work around. That is vital IMO.

I am respectfully suggesting that there is a serious welfare issue here with a horse that has still got the shoes on for such a long time! My concern would be that here could be all sorts of issues brewing with the foot i.e. thrush, corns, etc etc. and you have no idea! Do you ever feel the feet for heat? Pick out the feet?? Picking out, or even picking UP feet to start with, would be a start. FFS I am shocked and just gobsmacked TBH. God knows what state this poor horse's feet are in.

IF this horse's feet cannot be touched, period, then you may need to get the vet and/or sedate, but PLEASE, FFS, DO SOMETHING! Get a professional would be one suggestion, who can work with you and your horse and get this issue sorted.

Totally shocked by this - truly unbelievable. Can't help wondering whether the Trolls are back in town............ ??
 
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charterline said:
And how would you suggest that I get a farrier to take them off when the horse tried trampling the last farrier that went near her?

Sedation is not an overly viable option as the horse also hates vets and needles...
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I really think that you have to consider if your set up is suitable for this horse, given the amount of compromise, of the mares welfare, you are making. If a farrier managed to get a set of shoes on in January, surely the same one can get the shoes off?
That is of course if this post is not a wind up
 
charterline said:
And its not as easy as just go into work later... I cant. Nor can I take any day's holiday until August at least...
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which is why freelancers were invented, unless you are very remote? and some farriers/vets/trimmers (quite happy to take off shoes) work saturdays too. Though if you go for sedalin/domo you won't need a vet there.
 
Yes, legally you can pull them yourself.

How did you manage to get the shoes on the last time? Or is she new to you?
 
DabDab said:
Yes, legally you can pull them yourself.

How did you manage to get the shoes on the last time? Or is she new to you?
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Has previously been fine to trim, and told by previous owner had been good too shoe. Not had shoes on for a couple of years, got first set on ok. Came to putting second set on, wasn't having any of it...
 
Sorry you are having issues shoeing your horse. Your horses balance and its spinal health could become compromised by leaving shoes on too long. Not only that but it will become lame. My horse is shod 6 weekly in the winter and 5 weekly in the summer due to the horn growing quicker in the summer months.

This is very basic stuff. Get some sedalin from your vet.
 
Leaving shoes on this long is utterly unacceptable. If you can't be there for routi e farrier/vet appointments then you need to have alternative provision, such as being on a yard where you can pay the groom/manager to attend on your behalf, a friend or relative who will trade a favour or a freelance groom.

Anyway in terms of getting the shoes off now, if you can't sedate how about a twitch?
 
charterline said:
And how would you suggest that I get a farrier to take them off when the horse tried trampling the last farrier that went near her?
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This bit of information was missing from your original post; it read as though it was simply a matter of your farrier not being able to come out at a time when you could be at the field or yard...

Now you tell us that your horse has a reputation for trying to kill farriers, and so non want to come out for you. And that your horse can't be sedated because he hates needles.

Are there oral sedatives that you or a vet could administer?
 
I have to wonder if you have time for a horse. What would happen if your horse injured itself in the field? Or you had a call to say the horse had escaped? Would you be too busy to call a vet? Or would it be ok as long as it was out of working hours?

Most Farriers round here work Saturdays or early mornings so as to accommodate working owners.
 
charterline said:
Has previously been fine to trim, and told by previous owner had been good too shoe. Not had shoes on for a couple of years, got first set on ok. Came to putting second set on, wasn't having any of it...
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So is in first set of shoes for a while (possibly ever if the previous owner wasn't honest with you)... It is possible that shoes might have made the horse uncomfortable I suppose....

So your plan now is to pull the shoes and leave barefoot?
 
Didn't you post in a previous thread about a month ago that you were working part time?
Money also seemed to be an issue so I hope it is not money that is stopping you getting the farrier and/or vet as the angle of the horses tendons will be affected with shoes left on that long and your horse will be in discomfort if not daily pain.
As someone posted previously you can re-train the horse to accept the farrier and you can also train a horse not to be needle shy. Some Irish and Welsh horses are shod for the first time to go to the sales, and they do take a bit of work before they trust the farrier to take the shoes off again but it is just patience and perserverence. It is usually quicker to re-train a needle shy horse and you should be able to find the method online.
Please do get this horse's hooves seen to asap, before it leads to worse problems (that will also be more expensive to fix).
 
OP - are you saying that no farrier at all will visit you even for the welfare of the horse? Or that one farrier will not? Or that you don't fancy asking them because you feel a bit guilty about what happened before?

As others have said you really cannot leave the shoes on that long or hope they will drop off. Even if you go back to barefoot the horse will still need regular attention from a farrier / trimmer. You can't just leave them without anything.

You are only in Hampshire so you're not the back of beyond. Perhaps pick up the phone to the FRC and get some contact details for farriers specializing in complex behavioral issues. I would be utterly amazed if it were the case that no farrier would come out and work with you simply because of the behavior of the horse or the need to attend on a weekend. (If you were not paying bills that would be a different issue). But if that genuinely is the case then you are quite close to Liphook. Get them to sedate the horse and deal with the feet. But you do need a plan going forward. You can't just leave feet untended.
 
Are you just trying to wind people up???
This was posted by you on February 20th:

"Farrier been today, whilst paring out hind soles, has found old abscess holes."
Read more at http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/foru...ng-with-old-abscess-holes#hrsJELWmFSzfKWHy.99

So you have had a farrier out since January. You have also posted that you work part time, as well as other things that don't match. So something is not adding up big time !!!!!
 
I'm sure if you pay a farrier enough one would be there, they shouldn't have to risk themselves for badly behaved horses but some always will for the right price, and plenty to choose from in that area.

With all the previous comments about oral sedation etc still standing etc.
 
wkiwi said:
Are you just trying to wind people up???
This was posted by you on February 20th:

"Farrier been today, whilst paring out hind soles, has found old abscess holes."
Read more at http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/foru...ng-with-old-abscess-holes#hrsJELWmFSzfKWHy.99

So you have had a farrier out since January. You have also posted that you work part time, as well as other things that don't match. So something is not adding up big time !!!!!
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I thought this had to be a wind up!
 
Jan/feb it doesnt make much difference, that long ago people can forget when it was. 14weeks with shoes on is neglect, and you won't get any other opinion here. Being bad for the farrier (once might i add...maybe it was the FARRIER not the horse) and needing to work is NOT an acceptable excuse - do you think the RSPCA would go "oh yeah well i understand that totally"

Sort this out.
 
charterline said:
And its not as easy as just go into work later... I cant. Nor can I take any day's holiday until August at least...
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That is total and utter BS! No job can force you to work without taking holiday for the majority of the year! They can request that you take the bulk during certain quiet times but it is not compulsory. Farriers work weekends and evenings or are you saying you work 24/7/365 at which point how can you look after your horses?
 
charterline said:
And how would you suggest that I get a farrier to take them off when the horse tried trampling the last farrier that went near her?

Sedation is not an overly viable option as the horse also hates vets and needles...
Click to expand...

Sedate using a paste just ring the vet and arrange it .
Frankly it’s apalling to leave shoes on the long .
 
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