Do you hold your horses for the farrier?

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teasle

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My farrier told me about another farrier friend of his who had been badly injured by a horse when the horse he was shoeing reacted to a horsefly.

The farrier will not be able to work for some time , and I asked if he was covered by any insurance for loss of earnings.

My farrier said that he would not get any money from his insurance company as the owner had not been holding the horse at the time, but had tied the horse up and gone to make a cup of tea. However, if the owner had been holding the horse, but still unable to prevent the horse injuring the farrier , the insurance company would pay out.

I did not know this, and comonly observe farriers shoeing horses that are tied up and not held , but now I will always hold the horse while the farrier is working.
 
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I didn't know that either. I am always with my horses although they stand happily tied to be shod so I don't have the rope in my hand. I always ask if he's happy for me to go and make tea rather than just leaving him with the horses.
 
At work we do, as they are mostly out in the field with foals wandering about. Most of my own horse time I have not even been there for shoeing. With my last horse as he was a nervous tit, I was there as he had to be held. With my current horse I am usually around but don't hold him as he gets silly, he is far better tied up.
 
My farrier is now happy to shoe my cob without me being there. He normally shoes with the horse tied up and we're in the vicinity making tea, finishing off the stable etc.

The first time he shod him after I bought him, we tried tied up but with me holding the rope on a slipknot just in case and Lego nearly sat on the farrier when he got the the hot shoeing part which I'd been told he was great with...

Had to hold him a few times after that and we worked up to almost hot shoeing with me holding the horse and a lick for distraction. Fortunatley my farrier is lovely and very patient, and we can now hot shoe tied up, just carefully if he starts to look a bit worried.
 
No, and I am rarely there when they are shod - but my farrier has done my work for thirty years and all bar 2 older bought in horses, have never known anyone but him.

I hold the babies whilst they get used to him and he has a wonderful way with the foals/yearlings, even if they don't need doing he makes a point of going to speak to and handle them when he is on the yard.

If I had one that was dangerous to do I would never let him handle it alone, regardless of insurance, I couldn't bear him to be hurt. I remember him telling me a lot of people think it is the farriers job to make the horses easy to handle for the farrier, and the owners didn't do any schooling or preparation with their horses before they need a farrier.
 
No but then my horse is an angel to be shod and handled and my farrier has shod him for nearly 3 years now. I am usually there though mucking out, sometimes i'm not there and leave my horse in with a headcoller outside but my farrier doesn't mind.
My old horse yes I always used to hold her and get her a feed to keep her busy but she didn't like being shod and could be difficult and pull back if tied up.
My farrier told me he was shoeing one old horse, a very good horse and it suddenly freaked out and died! Very sad.
 
Mine, no, even when she was shod instead of just trimmed, but on farriers say so. Daughters pony is tied up now, but stay near by incase as only 5 & inclined to bully the apprentices!
 
I've never owned a horse you could leave tied up for the farrier :rolleyes: it is my life's ambition to have one that doesn't muck around in any situation but even so I'd rather hold them I think.
 
I hold the ones who can be nervous or fidgety. My welsh cob just gets tied up as he is very well behaved. Sometimes I don't notice the farrier is there and he has already tied them up and started on them.
 
No, I tie her up and stand about talking to him as he shoes! Never needed to with my cob either as he'd just stand as well. Never thought it could affect their insurance though!
 
Except when I'm indoors making his bacon/two eggs/black pudding buttie! And his coffee..

Our present horses are very quiet to shoe, but a recent one had narcolepsy, and he liked being shod so much that he'd collapse, so with him you stood jiggling the headcollar rope and shouting "Wake Up! Wake up!"
 
Only ones I hold are the youngsters.

Seems that when the insurance claim was sent in that it was incorrectly filled in.

If the farrier had admitted negligence, in that he should have had the owner holding the horse, they would have paid. Deny negligence when dealing with animal claims and they will get out of paying.
 
I didn't know that and I'm guessing most farriers don't otherwise they would insist on horse being held. Why pay for insurance and then knowingly render it invalid. I will ask my farrier next time.
We hold youngsters and tie up others.
 
My youngster is actually better behaved when he is tied up. As he spends his time bullying and trying to mug the person holding him. It's so annoying but I'm working on that (the problem with people feeding treats to a bolshy horse)
 
I knew they weren't covered if they were on their own, but not if the horses were tied up - I'll hold if I've got time and fancy a natter, but will tie up to get on with jobs if in a rush.
 
im always there for the farrier and hold my horses because ive seen many farriers hit and kick the horses if they play up and the owners not present. i know i would be amused if a horse sat on me if i was trying to shoe it but i certainly wouldnt expect the farrier to whack the horse. so thats why im always holding my horse!:)
 
If you think for one moment your farrier would whack your horse if you were not there change your farrier! My farrier is very firm but he would not bully my horses, saying that the 4 of mine all stand very well for him and they have good manners.
 
dont be under any illusion of what ur farrier will do if ur not there! ive seen a farrier hit a horse with a hammer who wouldnt stand still (farrier very highly thought of) another who booted a horse full out in the stomach ( very highly thought of farrier) another who punched a horse in the face as it stood on his foot by accident (again very hightly thought of farrier) so i will always be there with my horse!
 
I have heard of farriers like that too but I know my farrier would not hit out at one of my horses. He has been my farrier for over 20 years and he insists that horses are well mannered and makes it clear that it is not his job to school horses to stand for him it is the owners job and if they are not prepared to work on their horses manners then they need a different farrier. I am happy with that arrangment and my horses are well mannered and are used to having their legs and feet handled and picked up. When I bought my cob he was not the best with having his legs touched so just worked with him a few times a day for months until he didn't flinch having his feet picked up. Owners have a resposibility to ensure their horses are safe for a farrier.
 
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