Evil Farriers!

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MizElz

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I posted this on the 'Whats the worst thing you've seen done to a horse?' thread, and then thought it might make an interesting subject in itself...

my dad was a farrier - i say 'was' because as far as i know, he has jacked in everything now, including his family..... but i can remember going on his rounds with him, and being sickened by what he would do to a 'naughty' horse. iv witnessed him twitching them with the lead rope, backing them into a corner and then kicking them with his steel toe caps, i've also seen him hit them in the stomach with his hammer. When i was about 8, my 30 year old pony (who was perfect in every way except she never liked her ears being touched at all) was refusing to have her head clipped out; my mum was going to leave her be, but no, my dad grabbed hold of her and punched her in the mouth, dislodging one tooth and making her bleed. perfect way to cure a headshy pony, im sure. there are many things i will never forgive him for, and all i can say is that even if he was still around, there's no way on earth he would be shoeing my horse, even if it did mean free shoes!
 
Thankfully they are not all like that. My OH is a farrier and has a good reputation for being sympathetic with the horses. However, he was called to a horse once who had been beaten by the previous farrier and had marks on his body from the rasp SIX WEEKs later
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I feel very lucky with the farrier that we have. My old pony hadn't been shod for over 6 years, and had obviously been beaten by a farrier. When he came to do her feet the first time she was snorting and backing off, he wasn't even doing her feet but he took the time to talk to her and to reasure her that he wasn't going to hurt her. then next time he came he trimed her feet and although she wasn't happy, she trusted him and he just went at a really slow pace and didn't rush anything. When it came to putting shoes on, she was ok when he put a front one on, good as gold, but he went to put her back one on anbd she kicked him. He went to her head and reasured her that he wasn't going to hurt her and didn't rush her. She hated men, she was definatly beaten by a man (her old owner was sectioned....need i say more!!)!! But when she was sold on she was 100% with our farrier and actually like seeing him, he always had a treat in his pocket for her!!

One thing he doesn't like is when Hemir nuzzles his back, but all he says is that he would appreciate it if i stood at his head and kept him away!!! He doesn't get cross, even when something goes bad!
 
my farrier is a star! bracken dont like men an awful lot yet he takes his time reasurring her and never rushs. bracken does not like it when the shoes are pulled off she will rear yet he will take his time removing each nail before pulling the shoe to help her.she lets him do that no probs and will go to sleep whilst he is shoeing her. she also likes to nuzzle his hat but he doesnt move quickly justs asks her not to incase she bits!! to think the first time i had her shod i had the vet there to sedate incase!! as she had not been shod with me before and had brusied soles at the time as well! i was about to use another farrier when i first got bracken for a trim but when i went down to speak to him about doing bracken i seen him smack the horse one because it moved (the horse was a baby) he got a mouthfull and was never used by me. every time i saw him after he got a mouthfull!! and when i explianed to the person who used him she quickly changed farriers to mine! he will come out whenever i phone him he also fits his hours around me! (i work full time) and will replace a shoe thats come off free of charge even if its been on 3-4 weeks!
 
cant complain about my farrier either, got up the yard at silly oclock tuesday morning ready to go to area SJ to find otto had trodden on his shoe again, called J on the offchance ,he was there within the hour. he tends to growl at the horses if they mess him about and ive never seen him do more than tap them and only then if they really deserve it.
 
I have to say, my farrier is a truly lovely and gentle person. I could never imagine him ever shouting at a horse, let alone hit it.

Top marks for my guy!
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My farrier's like them mentioned above, he is so kind and gentle with my horses and fab at his job!! He spent hours with my youngster trying to coax him into having his feet done, he used to drop his shoulder and lie down! He's now fab! and only had 2 sets of shoes on!!

I have come accross some very bad behaviour as described in the top post by a farrier who used to come and shoe where i used to ride. He would never give a time he was coming just said he'd get them out of the field and shoe them. I know why now though, I went up when he wasnt expecting it and caught him with the youngster tied to the fence belting him with the rasp in the belly!! i could have belted him one!! when he'd finished the youngsters feet were bleeding where he'd cut into them!!

Safe to say he never came back!! couldnt believe it when i took my lads to the new yard and found out he was the farrier there!!! i was told we had to use him but told them to get stuffed, i'd rather move the horses!! i havnt told them the reason, just said i didnt like the way he did things, i dont want to get involved in the argument that would def follow!!!

Some people dont deserve to be around horses!!!
 
We are very lucky with our farrier. He's trimmed two of our awkward unbroken ponies with the phrase "I'm a uman and you're a bloody orse. use ur brain and we'll both be safe". No hitting because I wouldn't tolerate it, just very firm.
 
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