When too much knowledge is a SAD thing.

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millreef

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My lovely husband got me a new iphone and installed a horsey game on it just for a laugh (bless), but I can't really play it. It's not because I'm not IT savvy but because they're just not correct. For example, you get more gems if you buy a "better saddle" for your horse - problem is that you have to do show jumping and I can't physically allow myself to buy the "better saddle" because it's a western one and therefore totally unsuitable for jumping. I also hate the feeding game because I should only feed twice a day maximum yet the game gives you credits every time you feed (unlimited times a day). Alas, I am afflicted with too much knowledge:(
 
I wasn't particularly impressed with 'Warhorse', even though I know it was originally a children's book.
IMO, in reality the horse would have needed to be shot and would have been in the barbed wire scene. I couldn't get past that.
 
Now that's getting freaky when you're getting possessive about it:D
I can't help mentally picking people to pieces on tele when they're handling horses.
One of the reasons why I didn't go see War Horse was cos I can't bear it when horses are supposed to be panicking and rearing up and people are shouting "Whoa - steady boy" and throwing their hands up in the air, like in the cowboy films (showing my age now:o)
On a serious note, some hoof students on here were talking about being saddo's cos they were studying every horses feet they see etc - that's me too.
I wonder how vets manage to keep quiet when they go to yards, they must see things - horses that need attention or lame horses when their owners have no idea.
I sometimes wonder if it is good to research about things yourself. I used to believe my vet and farrier implicitly but now I make my own decisions based on my own findings and using the vet's opinion too. This has sort of backfired on me because now I feel I am in no man's land because the vet doesn't believe me and I don't always believe the vet:eek:
At least my horse is here and still alive because I did my own research tho:)
 
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Ah, you've just discovered that vets, farriers, etc. are mere humans, tut tut. My best friend is a vet and tells me how little they know/are taught on some subjects, but of course they must project the aura of competance or no-one would believe or value their opinions. Not saying they know nothing, of course, just not EVERYTHING.
 
Cortez said:
Ah, you've just discovered that vets, farriers, etc. are mere humans, tut tut. My best friend is a vet and tells me how little they know/are taught on some subjects, but of course they must project the aura of competance or no-one would believe or value their opinions. Not saying they know nothing, of course, just not EVERYTHING.
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If only they could work with the owners tho to find solutions to non standard problems - but that's for another thread I think:)
 
Cortez said:
Ah, you've just discovered that vets, farriers, etc. are mere humans, tut tut. My best friend is a vet and tells me how little they know/are taught on some subjects, but of course they must project the aura of competance or no-one would believe or value their opinions. Not saying they know nothing, of course, just not EVERYTHING.
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Actually, that's exactly what experienced horse owners DON'T want. We would much rather the vet said, 'I don't know', or 'I'm not sure' or even, 'What do you think?'. And then 'I'll go and try to find out'. I'm afraid this 'aura of competence' in vets who don't know, usually comes across as arrogance.

Sorry OP to hijack your thread.
 
Cortez said:
Ah, you've just discovered that vets, farriers, etc. are mere humans, tut tut. My best friend is a vet and tells me how little they know/are taught on some subjects, but of course they must project the aura of competance or no-one would believe or value their opinions. Not saying they know nothing, of course, just not EVERYTHING.
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When i did work experience at a vets, the first thing the vet i was shadowing told me was that to be a vet you needed to think on your feet and learn the art of bull&%$£. Says it all for me so i remain slightly sceptical of anything a vet tells me!

Trina x
 
Pearlsasinger said:
Actually, that's exactly what experienced horse owners DON'T want. We would much rather the vet said, 'I don't know', or 'I'm not sure' or even, 'What do you think?'. And then 'I'll go and try to find out'. I'm afraid this 'aura of competence' in vets who don't know, usually comes across as arrogance.

Sorry OP to hijack your thread.
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Agree with this. I had a vet who I thought was the font of all horse knowledge. He talked the talk and when I took my horse to him as she was intermittently lame on both fronts, I asked him to x-ray her feet for any signs of navicular syndrome. He did so and announced that there was no navicular. Three weeks later I got a referral to a vet hospital where guess what? Navicular was found in both front feet!
This vet had also been treating her for bilateral spavin which hadn't improved with steroid injections. I asked him whether it could be her suspensory ligament. He duly did the relevant prodding and poking and said that it couldn't be as she didnt' respond to palpation. Guess what else they found at hospital? PSLD! There's a surprise. It cost me nearly £4000 with my own vet and the hospital to find out what any competent vet should have been able to find at the surgery for less than £1000......I have since changed vets....
 
Pearlsasinger said:
Actually, that's exactly what experienced horse owners DON'T want. We would much rather the vet said, 'I don't know', or 'I'm not sure' or even, 'What do you think?'. And then 'I'll go and try to find out'. I'm afraid this 'aura of competence' in vets who don't know, usually comes across as arrogance.
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Quoted for emphasis. Great post!

And I don't play computer games, but knowing horses sure spoils films and TV involving horses. A TV "panicking" horse invariably does nothing more than walk back a step while a loud "neeeeeeeeiiiiiggggghhhhh" is played a few times. :D
 
I have to say always taking the vets advice would have ended up in some not good situations, it depends on the vet.

The last situation that I posted about on this forum a filly yearling we bought in foal did not know at time of purchase, who foaled badly could not get up and the vet we got out from our practise said do not lift her it does not work we got fire brigades harness lifted it took two attempts.

Thankfully this little filly did not listen to the vet, I have to say our regular vet from this practise was very supportive even though the original vet tried to pressure us in to putting her down saying it was cruel.

She is now a strapping brute of a girl very forward a total pain in the bum and is the cutest little madam ever.

We also had tb who the vet said we must put down asap he had such severe navicular he was hunting many years after the vet commented on waht a nice fine horse he was.:eek: He later said it was a mistake.

I think vets do not go out to give wrong advice some it is human error,others think they are beyond reproach and some well just not up to the job.
I think we also need to realise horses especially are very hard animals to work out what is going on, the same as doctors they always get it right.

We just have to be thankful most of the time they do.
 
I don't do games either but am the same watching TV and films I normally get told off for muttering!
Vets aren't much better with farm animals in fact they seem to know very little, when we had cattle the very often rang my OH for advice!
 
Worst one for me was watching an episode of The Saddle Club (sad I know but I was ill!) :/
and a horse had colic - it was rolling like mad and laying down - they told everyone to just let him roll and he would be fine :rollseyes: :o
 
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