would you be annoyed?

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tinycharlie

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Charlie is away for schooling at the moment, I received a picture of him today showing his 'new look ' the lady who has him has shaved off his beard and whiskers.........
Part of me thinks he looks cute but at the same time I didn't give her permission to do this and I don't agree with trimming off whiskers, I feel a bit uncomfortable and almost upset about this although I probably won't say anything as i like to keep the peace lol.
She's very good with him otherwise and thinks he's great, I just would have liked to be asked
Would you be annoyed? Sorry, bit of a pointless post!
 
I probably would be annoyed but the deed is done and his hair will grow back. At least you sort of like it !
 
a lot of yards who ‘produce’ horses will give them a makeover so to speak so if it is a yard like this then maybe they just assumed it was ok.
 
I'd be annoyed. I used to show non native coloured's and regardless of how it looks, I would never shave a horses whiskers off, they're there for a reason!
 
I wouldn't be overly impressed, I don't like their whiskers being touched.

Saying something to them doesn't have to be confrontational, mentioning you'd like to know before any make overs are given isn't a lot to ask for. Especially if part of the make over (whisker trimming) makes you uncomfortable.

He's your horse at the end of the day.
 
You must tell them (in a completely matter of fact manner) that you would have liked to have been asked first and that you would have asked them to leave his whiskers.
 
When mine first went for some training they pulled his mane without permission, I was annoyed because they took too much out too quickly (very thick mane) and it left him sore. I appreciated they wanted to tidy him up as a surprise for me and it also crossed off another little query off the list (never had mane pulled before and went for training as he was a psychopath) but it would have been nice to be asked.

I let it go because no long term harm was done and they did it with good intentions. The next time he went I asked them just to leave him as he was as I enjoy doing the tidying/trimming myself. Exactly what they did and no ill feelings.
 
If he was on loan, i would not mind. A loan to me is do what you would to your own as long as they don't suffer/die etc. If he was sent for schooling only and only there to learn the trade then yeah i would be because it was not necessary. But i would not bother saying anything, cause frankly they will grow back. I shave my horses regularly so i can't say i am against the whiskers coming off. None of mine seem to suffer in any negative way.
 
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I will let it go as I don't want any bad feeling and they did it with good intentions and thought I would like it, they're very fond of him
 
If everyone just lets it go, then they'll never know that people would actually like to be asked before their horses are trimmed.

I'm beginning to realise that if I ever sent a horse away for training, or loaned it, that I'd have to have strict rules about trimming, mane pulling, bridle path cutting etc...
 
Faracat said:
If everyone just lets it go, then they'll never know that people would actually like to be asked before their horses are trimmed.

I'm beginning to realise that if I ever sent a horse away for training, or loaned it, that I'd have to have strict rules about trimming, mane pulling, bridle path cutting etc...
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Not being rude, but i would not loan from you in this instance. I love a good bridle path. Makes fitting so much easier/more accurate. lol
 
Faracat said:
If everyone just lets it go, then they'll never know that people would actually like to be asked before their horses are trimmed.

I'm beginning to realise that if I ever sent a horse away for training, or loaned it, that I'd have to have strict rules about trimming, mane pulling, bridle path cutting etc...
Click to expand...

I think that if Trainers trim/pull a horse without permission, note that the owner doesn't give the 'that's brilliant, thank you' response and asked in future to leave the horse as it is, they get the message.......hopefully!

However I learnt a lesson. I need to be more specific with instructions so that well meaning but unwanted grooming tasks are not done in the first place. After all, other owners must be pleased that the trainers have paid extra attention to their horse FOC otherwise it would never happen in the first place.

It's a case of not being able to please all of the people all of the time but a subtle response can often be the most effective.
 
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Faracat said:
If everyone just lets it go, then they'll never know that people would actually like to be asked before their horses are trimmed.

I'm beginning to realise that if I ever sent a horse away for training, or loaned it, that I'd have to have strict rules about trimming, mane pulling, bridle path cutting etc...
Click to expand...

Never sending mine away ever. Trimming whiskers is simply wrong!
 
Faracat said:
Seriously? Wow.
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Yes seriously. If you like the natural look thats great. Your prerogative. I full clip and give bridle paths as per my clubs showing methods, so we would not click :) No point me loaning from ya. Nothing personal.
 
I would be annoyed! I don't agree with cutting whiskers off but at least they will grow back. When I sent my horse away the man was amazing but he cut my horse fetlock length tail to hock height!!
 
Faracat said:
If everyone just lets it go, then they'll never know that people would actually like to be asked before their horses are trimmed.

I'm beginning to realise that if I ever sent a horse away for training, or loaned it, that I'd have to have strict rules about trimming, mane pulling, bridle path cutting etc...
Click to expand...

Totally agree with you I can't stand whisker trimming in particular and believe it is actually a welfare issue even if a minor and rectifiable one. A friend of mine "helpfully" trimmed my horses whiskers when I'd not long had him and he was actually quite traumatised by it. He wouldn't eat his hay or feed because when he went to touch it he didn't have his whiskers to judge the distance and it was like something had zapped him with an electric prod as he leapt backwards when his muzzle touched anything. He also got little cuts all over his nose and face. He did adjust and they obviously grew back but it was totally clear how much he relied upon them to sense things.

Nothing wrong with politely telling people that there is something you would prefer them not to do loaner or trainer.
 
In my experience, people who would do something like this wouldn't understand a subtle response. You'd need to let them know in black and white terms.
 
I'd be annoyed. A similar thing happened to me, when I had a traditional cob years ago, I adored his traditionalness! He had gorgeous hair; long mane, tail and feather.
One day after the farrier had been (bear in mind he wasn't even shod) I was furious to find his feather had been completely trimmed off!!
The yard owner told me the farrier had just trimmed it right off to make it easier to trim his hooves. As a 14 year old hair pony lover I burst into tears!! Of course hair grows back but the point is it's not what you'd have done, it's your horse and you pay for him and their services so why should they be trimming things willy nilly!
 
I would speak to them, I bet they have upset clients before in the past and don't know. I always ask before trimming ar changing anything-they are sent to me for a specific reason and nothing else
 
No head would roll, and I wouldn't be 'having words'. I would just say "Beard looks fab, but please could you leave his whiskers on next time?"
 
equi said:
Yes seriously. If you like the natural look thats great. Your prerogative. I full clip and give bridle paths as per my clubs showing methods, so we would not click :) No point me loaning from ya. Nothing personal.
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It's quite an inflexible point of view though when you don't actually own the horse. I would take on a loan where the owner wanted me to trim/pull/clip the horse in a certain way (that i wouldn't do on my own horse) as it's still their horse, so they have the right to request such things. I wouldn't pass on a fab loan horse over something like that anyway, you would. C'est la vie.
 
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