Should a farrier hit a horse?

amandap said:
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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we have ALL got to put up with so called 'unpleasant' things. Utter cods wallop but is the 'in' way of thinking. The ruin of many a good horse. Lets just get on with things.
 
No way! not unless the horse is being completley unruly and that he's being naughty due to something other than fear of the farrier. My 7 month colt has needed the farrier since day 1 really as he had a upright foot (All looking good now after some excellent farriery) and foal is a idiot each time but Farrier said from the start that its my job to tell him off, and that if he needs to he'll have a firm word but the last thing anyone/horse needs is fear of the farrier.
 
When I was 8, I found a dead horse in our field. This chestnut mare was owned by my late grandmother (so she was allowed in our field!). It was very sad, she was a nice horse. (I do remember). The day before she had the farrier. A PM revealed that she died of a ruptured intestine. A little while later one of the girl grooms told us that she saw the farrier prodding her under her belly with his rasp because she was being 'difficult'. Putting 2 + 2 together, we got the picture. For this reason alone, I would never say a farrier should 'hit' a horse. They can growl at them, shout at them and tell them to 'stand up', but hitting only exagerates the tension, so thus in turn becoming a visious cycle. I am a true believer in being there when your horse is seen by the farrier (I understand not everybody can do this mind). I would like to make sure everyone behaves!
 
No they shouldn't! I thought my old farrier was always very good with my mare until one day I couldn't attend and my friend held my horse for me and she told me that he jabbed her in the ribs with his rasp :eek:!
She is not naughty at all for shoeing just a little stiff in the hind legs I was devastated and obviously changed farriers!
 
My previous horse used to be a real pain when shoeing - would walk all over farrier, who didnt want to hit him.

At an event, horse lost a shoe and the event farrier was putting it on again, and so horse started to walk all over him. That farrier gave him a quick well timed thump just about where the girth goes - horse was so surprised he stood still!

Since then he has been an angel to shoe and stud ;)
 
IF the farrier feels the horse is endangering him, or taking the mick- then yes he should be allowed to.
Sadly in this day and age far too many owners have forgotten to teach horses any manners, treat them as they would,say, a pet hamster and forget that infact they are near on a tonne of sometimes unpredicable,easily spooked, animal at the end of the rope.
It's abit like the "untouchable" idiots in society generally- I can do what I like as you can't touch me. Sadly this culture has transferred itself to the horseworld, and people do not want to take responsibility for how badly their animal behaves. Many do not even realise their ill mannered horse is being ill mannered,and sometimes dangerous!
The farrier needs his back/life/self intact to carry on working, and for all of us, self preservation should come first if the situation merits it.
 
Spottyappy said:
IF the farrier feels the horse is endangering him, or taking the mick- then yes he should be allowed to.
Sadly in this day and age far too many owners have forgotten to teach horses any manners, treat them as they would,say, a pet hamster and forget that infact they are near on a tonne of sometimes unpredicable,easily spooked, animal at the end of the rope.
It's abit like the "untouchable" idiots in society generally- I can do what I like as you can't touch me. Sadly this culture has transferred itself to the horseworld, and people do not want to take responsibility for how badly their animal behaves. Many do not even realise their ill mannered horse is being ill mannered,and sometimes dangerous!
The farrier needs his back/life/self intact to carry on working, and for all of us, self preservation should come first if the situation merits it.
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Oh Gawd, at last,someone who talks sense. I agree 100 per cent! xxx
 
My previous farrier hit my horse rather punched him on the back my youngster prev had back issue last year my boy is no problems usually but had issues with this one, iit was last time he shod my hosre new farrier is great )
 
Fairynuff said:
we have ALL got to put up with so called 'unpleasant' things. Utter cods wallop but is the 'in' way of thinking. The ruin of many a good horse. Lets just get on with things.
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I shall take your 'in' comment as a compliment at my age and ignore the rest of your post. :eek:
 
Spottyappy said:
IF the farrier feels the horse is endangering him, or taking the mick- then yes he should be allowed to.
Sadly in this day and age far too many owners have forgotten to teach horses any manners, treat them as they would,say, a pet hamster and forget that infact they are near on a tonne of sometimes unpredicable,easily spooked, animal at the end of the rope.
It's abit like the "untouchable" idiots in society generally- I can do what I like as you can't touch me. Sadly this culture has transferred itself to the horseworld, and people do not want to take responsibility for how badly their animal behaves. Many do not even realise their ill mannered horse is being ill mannered,and sometimes dangerous!
The farrier needs his back/life/self intact to carry on working, and for all of us, self preservation should come first if the situation merits it.
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^^^^^^^^^

This !!
 
Just to say that I wholeheartedly agree that it is my responsibility to train my horses for the Farrier, Vet or Dentist etc.
If one of my horses were objecting I'd rather put off the trim than risk anyone getting hurt including the horse.
 
He should not hit your horse.
My farrier uses his voice and his way off thinking is " if I hit your horse or any horse I'm the one who has to still shoe it" will get me no where
 
No farriers should not hit a horse.

Many years ago I had a farrier come to shoe a pony and my youngster was watching she put her nose over the partition and the farrier hit the youngster. He finished shoeing the pony and was politely asked to leave and never come back.

A few years ago one of the horses I had in for rehab had to have special shoes on so the owner asked her farrier to come and do the job (have to admit I was not happy) The horses had had an operation on his fetlock joint and was very sensitive, the farrier was very impatient and hit the horse again this farrier was asked to leave my yard and not to come back. I got my own farrier in and the horse was as good as gold.

It is just like having a vet that is not kind and patient. I will not have a vet that is rough and not kind and thoughtful
 
paulineh said:
No farriers should not hit a horse.

Many years ago I had a farrier come to shoe a pony and my youngster was watching she put her nose over the partition and the farrier hit the youngster.
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A Farrier did this to one of my Sisters horses but happened to have a rasp in his hand and cracked her one over the nose when she put her head over the fence! He left immediately. :mad:
 
yes i defanatly would if my horse was playing up i now that she is used to being shod and theres no excuse ive seen a farriers finger ripped down to the ligerments by a horse messing about whilst being clenched up
 
The way I look at it,if my horses play up when farrier trimming or shoeing, it's usually him in the fireing region, so if he gives them a wack, they stand up and take notice and they look on him with respect. Lets face it if you have a good farrier, you keep them and treat tham as the professionals they are and if you can afford to keep changing Farriers at whim, you could find yourself with out one.:):):)
 
Fairynuff said:
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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Amen to this. Im sick of having to help out people who are being bullied by their own horses. Horses use body language all the time to educate each other.. You dont see horses feeding each other titbits and its not uncommon to see them jostling, kicking and biting each other to make their views heard.

My farrier is superb with horses and he has my full authority to put my horses in line if he feels the need. He doesnt use excessive force and takes some pushing to raise an elbow in self defense. But in doing so they understand they must behave in his presence and, once bumped, generally a growl is enough.
 
No. I work with horses every day. Sometimes, I come across one that will kick, others rear, some try to do both at the same time. All of them have got better with appropriate training and sometimes addressing medical and/or dietary issues. Sometimes all that is needed is to ask the owner to give the horse some space.

Rather than hitting or being aggressive it is more productive and safer to stand back and assess what is going on.

No farrier should be expected to shoe a horse which is unable to stand still and in comfort for the process, but hitting the horse is not acceptable either.

And yes I have had my fair share of kicks, once again the 80/20 rule applies.
 
No. Nobody has my consent to hit my husband, friends, child, dog, cat or horse. I am the one who disciplines them, and no, I do not find it necessary to hit them! And they all know not to push their luck.:D
 
I have one that has absolutely no concept of personal space or manners (she came this way and its been a hell of a slog with her).
There have been times when she has tried to push her luck with the farrier, and he has been told by me give her a wallop and growl for all you are worth. Thats the only way she will behave for anyone. I dont give permission to have her beaten, just reprimanded if needed.
My farrier has a job to do, and he cannot do that job if my horse has injured him in any way. With a mortgage, a wife and a new baby, being off sick is not something he can afford.
But I also trust my farrier totally, and while she might get a wallop across the chest, she would not be walloped with a rasp/hammer/tongs etc.
 
I think there is a time and a place for a farrier to discipline a horse. If a horse is being boulchy and rude then yes I think so, for their own safety and within reason to let them get on with their job.
If a horse is being nervous then no, but if a horse is known to be naughty or scared then IMHO there should be someone with them.
Sorry if this has been said before
 
I haven't read the rest of the replies but I know that most people I know would say no way!

Me, well I see it slightly differently. I dont think its acceptable for a farrier to be put in danger, and I have seen this at times. The emphasis is always on the horses rights not to be hit rather than the farriers rights not to be seriously injured.

The fact is a horse can do a 1000 times more damage to the farrier than a slap can to a horse, so I am more than happy for mine to give one of mine a slap if they are playing up.
I certainly dont expect him to risk being injured, they do not get paid enough money for that. They are there to do a job and rightly so expect the owner to have taught the horse adequate manners to be able to do their job safely.

A farriers assistant around my way took a blow to the face that knocked 9 of his teeth out and smashed his jaw...........so weigh that up against a slap to the neck or chest when your horse is playing up buggery for the farrier!!
 
If my horse was being an idiot and could cause injury to the farrier I would expect him to reprimand him - a slap and a grrrrr normally works with him when hes having a Kevin moment. Hes generally a good boy though and behaves for the farrier other than trying to nibble his bottom :D

On my last yard I saw a horse get walloped with a rasp for prancing - he hit the mare really hard too - was the last time he did my horse.
 
NO!!!!

I had a young farrier come out to shoe one of my horses a couple of years ago, it was one of the hottest days that year, flys were everywhere irritating all of the horses. We put Ebony in the barn out of the sun but the flies just wouldn't leave her alone = fidgety horse! He whacked her as hard as he could with his RASP!!!! Not his hand, his rasp!!!! across her ribs. I was fuming but as we'd struggled to get any farrier out to shoe them (my pony had seen off pretty much all of them as she was terrified) I had to stitch my mouth shut as he had two shoes off and two on :( if she could have been left unshod, or I knew of another farrier I would have told him where to go!

Needless to say we never saw him again, and now have a lovely elderly chap take care of their feet who has quite happily taken his time with the horses, is very calm and quiet but yet firm when he needs to be and has no problem whatsoever shoeing my pony :D
 
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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NO NEVER.
I sacked 2 farriers for smacking my old horse (24) with a rasp because he was arthritic and couldnt hold his legs in the positions they wanted him in. He went there and then and i managed to find the one i have now the same day who came and sorted the horse out on that day.
the farrier i have is wonderful, he gets down on the floor to kneel allowing the older one to place his hoof on his leg so as not to hurt him. He talks to them and is a very caring soul. I would never change him xxxx
 
It depends !

If the horse is playing up, not scared, but being rude and a telling off doesnt put it in its place then yes my farrier is quite right to give it a smack as appropriate. I have had my farrier for years, he is sympathetic & a good horseman, he knows my horses well - and me - and knows they normally behave as expected, but as they are youngsters who are fairly big in comparison to myself they must have manners and behave safely at all times - well thats the idea anyway! Sometimes they disagree!

I have however been on a yard and seen a farrier belt a horse hard which i thought was a bit OTT and it made me quite cross.

People that say no under any circumstance make me wonder how well behaved their horses are or maybe they are just lucky to have ones who never step over the line. All the people I know who never smack their horses have brutes that I certainly would not wish to hold for a farrier !
 
Fairynuff said:
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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Agree with you and spotty appy about EDUCATION wholeheartedly. It's definitely in the education - why it should get to the situation where the farrier has to deal with a hard-to-handle horse by hitting it in the first place.

However, I do think the education should be calm and not involve violence and this has nothing to do with "new age" - it's mentioned in the oldest books known and the "new age" is actually the german methods of harsh treatments thought of as "old age" which are so revered today.

Also, if people are breeding complete loonies well, that's a whole other problem that needs addressing.
 
If my horse was behaving in a way that was putting my farrier at risk then I would expect him to get a smack. I trust my farrier and I know if he smacks its because it was deserved. Saying that I can't think that he has ever had to smack him - maybe once but usually a telling off will do.
I would much rather my horse had a smack than my farrier was injured.
 
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