Farrier smacked my horse....

SatansLittleHelper

SatansLittleHelper

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Ive been stewing this for a few days now. Its winding me up but Im not sure if Im overreacting.
My 3 year old was being a prat to have his feet trimmed as he was being plagued by flies plus his friend wad calling for him from the other field. Anyway he was throwing his hind feet about, Im not really sure what happened but farrier said he kicked out and she suddenly walloped him on his side and shouted at him. I was a bit shocked to be honest at the time but Im feeling more cross. He has taken a long time to get right due to trust issues but by the same token he can be quite full of himself.
I dont know what to do about using her in the future now...but am I just being a bit over protective???
 
He was being a prat, throwing his weight around and could easily do a lot of damage. Imagine how much pain she would go through, plus loss of earnings and business if he'd caught her?
I'm sorry but any horse risking kicking me in the face would be getting a smack and a shout (at the very least!)
 
Well horses gain trust from strong leadership, not just from having lots of cuddles. It's hard to say without seeing what's gone on, but it doesn't sound like the farrier laid into him or hit him unnecessarily. In my experience farriers are usually pretty fair and will put up with an awful lot. It's up to you as to whether you feel comfortable with this farrier going forwards, but from your description I think a lot of farriers would have done the same.
 
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Did he behave afterwards? To be honest I can see it from both sides. I had a mare once who mucked around, if the farrier was quiet with her she would stand almost perfectly. However, if she snatched a foot back and the farrier smacked her she would then proceed to attempt to finish him off. With yours I think it depends on the situation. If the farrier nearly got her head kicked off she may have whacked him one out of fear and the shock of it, and it might have focused his attention on behaving afterwards. I have a lot of sympathy with farriers as their job is very dangerous really.
 
I'd trust her word and accept that if she felt his behaviour was dangerous to her, he needed to be told to stop...

If you're feeling very upset by it, next time maybe say he has had trust issues and explain how you deal with him if he behaves like that with you. But tbh, she can't afford to get hurt by a misbehaving horse so I wholly appreciate why she did as she did.
 
I think it's a bit hard to juge and pass comment without being there and seeing the situation.
Question is, did he stand quiet after?

Youngsters have to learn and farriers need to keep themselves safe, there's a difference between a heavy handed farrier with no patience and one that is being firm but fair.
 
if my horse flys his legs at me he gets growled at and slapped on the belly, sorry to all those politically correct folks but a horse swinging it's legs at you is a no no, it need to be told it's not acceptable. I know for sure if he tried it in the field with his mates he'd get a much bigger boot.
 
I would of been a bit shocked but then having thought about it, been ok. Your horse was being misbehaved and could of quickly escalated into something more had she not nipped it in the bud quick.
As long as it wasn't a 'beating' I wouldn't worry too much about it. Or else show her a way you deal with bad behaviour then she can use your technique next time.
 
If she used her hand, then I wouldn't even give it two seconds thought - it will have hurt her more than your horse, and by the sounds of it he needs a little bit of a firm hand on occasions. If she used a rasp or something then yes I would be furious if it was my horse.
 
Thats fair enough when you put it like that. I was just shocked really and in all fairness he isnt any worse off for it. I didnt see him kick so not really sure what went on and she is a good farrier.
I dont actually spend all my time cuddling or babying him..!! He has firm but fair handling..but I dont hit him.
I think maybe Im just being a wimp :o :o :o
 
I would give her the benefit of the doubt on this occasion. Youngsters need firm boundaries and sometimes a short, sharp shock does then the power of good. See what he is like next time to have his feet done, if he prats about then look at ways to give him the opportunity to behave rather than struggling on in less than ideal circumstances. I wouldn't lose any sleep over it at this stage.
 
FfionWinnie said:
Did he behave afterwards? To be honest I can see it from both sides. I had a mare once who mucked around, if the farrier was quiet with her she would stand almost perfectly. However, if she snatched a foot back and the farrier smacked her she would then proceed to attempt to finish him off. With yours I think it depends on the situation. If the farrier nearly got her head kicked off she may have whacked him one out of fear and the shock of it, and it might have focused his attention on behaving afterwards. I have a lot of sympathy with farriers as their job is very dangerous really.
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I have seen worst including farrier hitting my horse with a hammer.

A farrier is at high risk of being kicked while shoeing, if it was kicking out at flies that's one thing but lashing out at a farrier is wrong. I have seen many farriers who will not shoe horses who lash out, if they get badly kicked, that is their lively hood gone till they are able to work again.
You say you don't know what happened!! why? were you not there?

I would have stayed with a youngster while shoeing and maybe have sprayed fly repellant before he started.

Also if he was nailing on and horse lashed out, the nails would have sliced farriers fingers.

Sorry I am with farrier with this one
 
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You admit your horse was being a prat and yet your pissed at the farrier as she reacted when she was kicked at?
Maybe she thought you werent going to do anything about it so took it into her own hands in the only way she knew?

If my horse was kicking out at my farrier, he wouldnt have chance to wallop him, id bloody well do it myself. Much less punishment than the lead mare of the field would do to him if he would ever dare to flick a hoof in her direction.
 
I was there, I was at his head end..!!! I never leave people to just deal with my horses. He was being trimmed, not shod...he is only 3. And he had been fly sprayed previous to the farrier getting there.
She only smacked him with her hand. After reading all the replies here Im not going to give it another thought, I certainly wouldn't want the farrier hurt..!!! To be fair he behaved well after, I think it was me that was more suprised :o
This is exactly why I asked was I overreacting...which clearly I am :o
 
Would not bother me for a farrier to give one of mine a smack on the side while "My 3 year old was being a prat " Sometimes they do need a slightly sharp reminder to behave.
One of mine years ago put a farrier in hospital for 2 weeks by kicking with a back leg and I don't think I could live with myself if it happened again.
But it does matter how the Farrier hits them, wouldn't want a kick or a rasp across the belly.
 
SatansLittleHelper said:
I was there, I was at his head end..!!! I never leave people to just deal with my horses. He was being trimmed, not shod...he is only 3. And he had been fly sprayed previous to the farrier getting there.
She only smacked him with her hand. After reading all the replies here Im not going to give it another thought, I certainly wouldn't want the farrier hurt..!!! To be fair he behaved well after, I think it was me that was more suprised :o
This is exactly why I asked was I overreacting...which clearly I am :o
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We are all guilty of worrying too much over our beloved beasties! ;-)

Honestly, I would be the very first person to tell you if I thought there was something untoward or harmful to your horse in that circumstance, but given your description, I don't think that it was unjustified, and if it was as you say just use of hand, then I really really wouldn't give it another thought, as you say you aren't! :-)
 
Holzdweaver said:
You admit your horse was being a prat and yet your pissed at the farrier as she reacted when she was kicked at?
Maybe she thought you werent going to do anything about it so took it into her own hands in the only way she knew?

If my horse was kicking out at my farrier, he wouldnt have chance to wallop him, id bloody well do it myself. Much less punishment than the lead mare of the field would do to him if he would ever dare to flick a hoof in her direction.
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I actually disagree with this. If your horse is pratting around, I think it is more beneficial for the farrier to correct the behaviour in an appropriate and acceptable manner, than the owner doing so.
 
Oh for gods sake get a grip of yourself! What in gods name is happening to this forum with idiotic threads like this. If you feel affronted that your farrier had to try and teach your horse some manners, you should seriously look at your horsemanship skills.
 
Thank you for the sensible replies. As I say, I did wonder if I just being a bit daft.
Moomin...as you said, its better that she be the one to correct him. Certainly made him stop and think..!!! He can be a bit sharp at times so he needs firm handling and I dont let him get away with throwing his weight about. Despite some of the replies that seem to believe I dont discipline him..I do but Im careful HOW I handle him because of his past :) xx
 
justabob said:
Oh for gods sake get a grip of yourself! What in gods name is happening to this forum with idiotic threads like this. If you feel affronted that your farrier had to try and teach your horse some manners, you should seriously look at your horsemanship skills.
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I think you're being too harsh Justabob. :(

The OP has already come back in and reconsidered her initial reaction. :)
 
I don't see your issue. He was being a prat he needed sorting, now rather than when he is bigger and stronger, farrier's risk life and limb and shoeing a pain in the arse is not fair on them.
 
VFS Lady Grey said:
I don't see your issue. He was being a prat he needed sorting, now rather than when he is bigger and stronger, farrier's risk life and limb and shoeing a pain in the arse is not fair on them.
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Why don't people read the whole thread? It's not even a long one. :rolleyes3:

The OP has changed her stance and accepted the farrier did nothing wrong.
 
To get back to the original topic

I think it was probably better that your farrier slapped the horse, than waiting for you to intervene. He knows now that retribution will be swift and certain. If she only slapped him with her hand, she certainly wasn't over-reacting and it doesn't sound as if the horse was upset by the incident.
 
justabob said:
Oh for gods sake get a grip of yourself! What in gods name is happening to this forum with idiotic threads like this. If you feel affronted that your farrier had to try and teach your horse some manners, you should seriously look at your horsemanship skills.
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Completely OTT.
 
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