Should a farrier hit a horse?

Really depends on why and what you call a hit.

It's easy to say well the horse should of of learnt to stand and have manors before the farrier comes but in the real world there animals, they don't think 'well the farrier is here now I'll stand and behave like I normally do every time he comes' farriers should not have to put up with rude horses, however even ones that can normally be like a dope on a rope will have the odd mess around if something sparks them off, a reminder by the person who is handling them at that specific time ie the farrier holding his foot up or busy trying to line his nails up is a good thing.

Of course I don't believe any horse should be heavily handled or beaten, course not, but if the horse knows better and is acting up then yes I would have no problem with my farrier telling him off and giving him a jab with his elbow, but I know my farrier doesn't go over board, once had a farrier strike a pony (many years ago) just because he was in a rush and didn't have much patience and was just plain bad tempered, we never him again and made dam sure people knew what he was like...he was known for it, horrible man.

So really depends on the situation, farries should not have to hit a horse no, but a gentle reminder when the horse knows better can be forgiven in my book.
 
The said horse also had more holes in its foot than a junkie it was shod so often so it was used to it, but this day it decided it was going to pull its foot back, maybe the foot/leg was being held too far forward by the farrier to be comfortable for the horse, in that case who was at fault certainly not the horse. Of course the farrier didnt thump the horse hoping for an injury to take place.
 
No that is my job if my horse needs to be disciplined.

My farrier may grumble "stand up you silly moo" (replace silly moo with what you think you farrier might say :D )

But he has never smacked her.


I had one that hit/dug rasper on my HW cobs side and he said oh he wont care hes a ignorant cob, I told him not to bother finishing the rasping (hes barefoot) and I put my horse back in the field. I am so I im glad he just packed up and went because I was a bit scared!!!
 
I wouldn't say "hit" but it depends completely on the extremity of the power he uses.
I have to hold my younger horse for the farrier because depending what mood he's in, he can be a complete and utter prat! For this reason, i'm not adverse to my farrier giving him a slap on the shoulder or hindquarters.
At the end of the day, my horse needs to respect the farrier and it's his living at stake so if my horse puts him out of action for a week or so i'd feel personally liable for that.
 
Depends on the "hit" really

A smack with the hand to get attention and say "Stand still and remember I'm here" or a dig with the elbow or rasp handle to say "Stop leaning on me and stand up, if I let go of this you fall down and I'm underneath"

I do it with my horses when I'm trimming, I'd expect the same of anyoine else. That's just managing the horse you are working on.

But smacking as punishment, temper and using tools as weapons - no, that is not on. Seen too much of that from certain farriers.
 
I think it depends on the context of 'hit'. My last blacksmith had an air about him, like 'Im the big man', wanted my horse held, (which Im happy to do) and was a bit urmmm tetchy and aggressive natured. My then 4 year old on his 2nd or 3rd set of shoes was fidgety and he got hold of the skin on his neck and twisted it, constantly raised his voice, hit him (not batter!) and was just a bit over the top. Needless to say I got a new blacksmith who is calm, relaxed and has never ever had a problem with my horse who I tie up and leave him to it. Funny my horse has never been fidgety with him. He takes no messing either but never seems to have an issue. If he hit my horse and I dont mean batter with a rasp or anything then it would be for good reason and I trust his judgement.
I dont think any blacksmith should be expected to shoe a horse thats jumping about or dangerous. The best blacksmiths dont need the work and IMO totally within there rights to walk away and refuse to shoe.
 
Depends on the situation and the horse's personality but if my farrier hit mine when he was playing up and putting him in a dangerous situation I would trust his initiative to do so.
 
Maybe I'm coming at this from a different angle, working on a large yard with a number of horses including bolshy youngsters but I think YES a farrier should be allowed to hit a horse if necessary.
A severe beating because the farrier has had a bad day and the horse is getting a little restless is not acceptable but the horse should have a reminder to behave itself. A bolshy or naughty horse should be told to sort itself out and I wouldn't expect the farrier to come and find me to rprimand a horse.
 
My farrier has full permission to reprimand my horses as he does them for me when i am not there as I have to work and cant be there.

I regard his safety as much as my own and it would be VERY hypocritcal of me to tell him NOT to hit my horses to reprimand them when i do it.

I mean there is a limit but the way i look at it is if my horse injures himthrough acting up he cant work therefore no mney he could also refuse to show my horses leaving me in a pickle as there isnt anyone else in my area who will coe out to two horses on a farm to put on two sets of fronts unless they charge me a fortune.

So yes my farrier can give mine a belt to tell them to behave.
 
My farrier is a bit too quick to hit IMO. He hits everything with the rasp just for moving or putting their foot down (not joking or overexaggerating) which makes many horses much more nervous and more fidgety. Unfortunatley hes a very good farrier and the only half decent one in my area so until i can find a better one for my warmblood with awful feet im not switching and will put up with it
 
No way. Would you let someone else hit your dog/cat?

If you keep hitting it to make it behave, it will be anxious and expect it everytime the farrier's van arrives so will behave worse next time. What's wrong with teaching horses to be calm and tolerable through kindness?

I also grew up on a big yard and none of the horses ever needed to be hit for the farrier or vet etc... they shouldn't be taught to fear anything.
 
NO i threw a farrier off my yard many years ago, my old mare goes to sleep when having her hooves done and she leant on him him wacked her in the stomach with the rasp, i told him in no uncertain terms that if he ever wanted to reproduce he would not do that to my horse ever again, i let him carry on as at this point she was wearing 3 shoes, horse started to go to sleep again and he lifted the hammer to her head when he thought i was not looking, promptly threw him off the yard, with the most amount of abuse following him, had to then take off 3 shoes that had just been fitted.
I found out later he is scared of horses and has done that sort of thing tomany horses before.
I dont mind a slap on the hind quarters if they are being an idiot, i am not that precious that i think my horses are perfect, yes they have manners but now and again need reminding of them and if a shout or a small slap on the hindquarters does the job so be it
 
I have no problem with a farrier reprimanding a horse, usually by voice with my Farrier and it works instantly, he has that way with them. Twice in my life I have fallen out with a Farrier, once when I was seventeen (many years ago now) and six years ago. I have had the Farrier I am with now since then. First situation was a TB 4 year old I had just bought who was okay but a bit of a pain for trying to pull a leg when she got fed up, a quick growl with her and she was fine but the Farrier who came out to replace a lost shoe decided to boot her in the ribs and start effing and blinding at the top of his lungs because she tried to pull a foreleg away, cue youngster at the end of the leadrope trying to go in the opposite direction to him which made him worse and when he went for her a second time I called a halt, told him what I thought and got someone else in. Second incident was a Farrier who decided to give my newly bought headshy and nervous Irish gelding a hiding before he had got the first shoe off, kicked, punched and backed into a corner then whacked several times with a file.

Neither of these horses were dangerous, they didn't kick or bite. One was young and a bit unused to her legs being up so long and the other was a horse who had just been imported and needed time and patience not a lesson in how to be terrified of a Farrier and making his worries worse.

I have to say though my Farrier I have now is a lovely man, he has time and patience for each animal, he knows when to reprimand and when not to and I have never seen a flicker of him losing his temper. He is brilliant and I am lucky to have him.

I don't think a Farrier has a right to subject a horse to thumps or kicks through temper which is what I witnessed on two occasions, however, I do think a Farrier has every right to protect himself should the situation arise.
 
I would be wary or affaid of someone who smacked me! I certainly would not respect them! :confused: I don't think horses are that much different from us. A horse 'behaves' because of fear of being hit not because he wants to cooperate and imo certainly not through respect!
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by tallyho! View Post

"If you keep hitting it to make it behave, it will be anxious and expect it everytime the farrier's van arrives so will behave worse next time."

CanadianGirl said:
IME this isn't true though. My farrier will give my girl a slap and she'll smarten right up. She doesn't fear him, but she will respect him after a little 'reminder'.
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I agree with CanadianGirl. T will sometimes get bolshy and go to kick - she has had several smacks and anyone can tell you that she is in no way anxious. I trust my farrier and he has my permission to give her a smack - although he has only had to do so once or twice.

F on the other hand is very nervy (and it's nothing to do with the farrier). They simply take as long as it takes for her to settle and they work very calmly and quietly with her.

I actually get compliments for T's behaviour as I was told on last visit that a lot of horse that they have no manners whatsoever. They will tolerate a lot from a horse so if they do reprimand, it's because it's required.
 
amandap said:
I would be wary or affaid of someone who smacked me! I certainly would not respect them! :confused: I don't think horses are that much different from us. A horse 'behaves' because of fear of being hit not because he wants to cooperate and imo certainly not through respect!
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What if it is the horse being disrepectful in the first place? T knows what is expected of her and if a growl does not stop her unwanted behaviour, then she will get a smack. She certainly has no fear and within seconds of being reprimanded, she then took the cap from farrier's apprentice.

It all depends on HOW/WHY/WHEN they are smacked.
 
i have had my farrier for over 20 years. yes he has slapped a few and squared a few up, they all behaved better for him and didnt push their luck. usually i am around so can see the situation, and the farrier has never been inappropriate in his actions. i have one at the moment who will always prat around til it has had a slap and then once slapped stands and goes to sleep!!! i dont see anything wrong with a farrier giving an appropriate slap, if req. shoeing is a hard job at the best of times. shoeing something that is being bolshy or rude is even harder. my farrier is very patient, and is never inappropriate but does expect the horses to behave.
 
mishaspey said:
What if it is the horse being disrepectful in the first place? T knows what is expected of her .
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Why is not wanting your feet done disrespectful though? No one accuses me of being disrespectful if I refuse to do what I'm told or asked. I'm usually asked why!

What if the Farrier is seething underneath or has BO or smells of fear or smells from other horses or he just nipped a sore bit in the hoof or hammered too hard????
 
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itsmylife said:
Would you allow a farrier to hit your horse if it was playing up?
I had words with mine recently about it but am I being soft?
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depends, if he was being a **** fpr the pleasure of it , them yes. If he was gen freightened, then NO! Ive given mine a good 'kick up the arse' when it was required and thats the beauty of it. Too many botty plooks with animals these days imho.
 
It all depends on the circumstances. I wouldn't mind a quick slap and a growl to remind the horse to behave but I would never allow a farrier to "hit" my horse. I would never hit them and so he can't. It's the noise the slap makes that disciplines my horses, not the strength of the hit so there is no need to be aggressive with them. I'm always there anyway if things ever got really bad.

I got rid of one farrier for hitting my dog however. Luckily for him I wasn't there but my livery was (who I trust implicitly). My westie is the sweetest dog but has a habit of hiding under cars. As he was packing up, she crawled under his van. According to my livery, he leaned under, dragged her out by the scruff of her neck, hit her and booted her twice. It really isn't hard to get her out from under a van, and it's not like she was doing anything wrong so it was so unnecessary. As I said, lucky I wasn't there. Unfortunately he was a superb farrier and I have struggled to find a really good one since.
 
I'm not a farrier, I'm a sharer and helper at some yards so regularly handle other people's horses. Even in the days when I used to use the odd smack I would never hit a horse without explicit permission from the owner.

The only exception would be if myself, the horse or another person or animal was in immediate danger and I thought a smack would prevent a serious incident/accident.

I'd expect a farrier or any other professional to behave in the same way.
 
ruth83 said:
Maybe I'm coming at this from a different angle, working on a large yard with a number of horses including bolshy youngsters but I think YES a farrier should be allowed to hit a horse if necessary.
A severe beating because the farrier has had a bad day and the horse is getting a little restless is not acceptable but the horse should have a reminder to behave itself. A bolshy or naughty horse should be told to sort itself out and I wouldn't expect the farrier to come and find me to rprimand a horse.
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At last, someone with a bit of 'horsesense'. Never read so much drivel in all of my life. Horses should be educated to 'stand up', and 'move over'. I really cant get my head round the 'new age' owner. Worst thing that ever happen to the 'horse'.
 
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