Comments on: Question of the Week: Discipline or Abuse?

By: Alisa

Alisa — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 06:24:47 +0000

I have seen some very abusive farriers, and some very good-natured ones, and some who’ve become agitated and verbally abusive. However, it would be difficult to comment based on the information provided regarding the abusive farrier in this question. Was it a smack or a hammer to the gut or head? I once told a farrier point blank to leave in the middle of shoeing my gelding. My horse was older at the time, and his feet were sore, and the farrier grabbed his halter and hit him in his side for leaning on him. I told him my horse had never been treated that way and no one was going to start now and to pack up his things and leave.
If the horse and farrier in question was not mine, I would still have gone over to them and asked him if he was okay and if they needed any help, and then I would have asked him if his behavior was typical when dealing with a difficult horse. If the abuse was indeed extreme, I would have probably reported him to the humane society.

By: turnandburn

turnandburn — Sat, 30 Jun 2012 08:30:29 +0000

haha Sounds like I was dating the farrier when I said I dumped him… I wasn’t, I mean I didn’t have him trim her hooves anymore. 🙂

By: turnandburn

turnandburn — Sat, 30 Jun 2012 08:28:21 +0000

My farrier was kind of a show off and liked to manhandle horses. He hit my horse in the leg with the side of his rasp for no reason and I totally dumped him! He never did her hooves after that!

By: Gus' mom

Gus' mom — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 19:35:21 +0000

I had a farrier discipline my horse, my horse freaked out and broke away from him 3 times, and then was injured for 4 weeks , my horse was afraid of the steam on a cold winter day the hot shoting created…after 3 other shoers and friends who witnesses the abuse told him to stop…When I found out , I didn’ t pay the farrier and never did business with him again, as my horse was in training and I lost 4 weeks due to injuries.

By: :

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 18:32:56 +0000

Honestly, unless it’s obviously abuse, I would say mind your own business. Everyone’s idea of “abuse” is different and unless the horse is clearly being mistreated, just keep walking. As a horse owner, I would find it annoying for a random person to come up to me and tell me to quit being mean to my horse.

By: Cindy and ~Luna~

Cindy and ~Luna~ — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 15:17:35 +0000

It can be a really tough call to intervene on a horse’s behalf, because owners don’t always react well to your “meddling”. But the horse’s welfare should always be the primary focus.

By: Maureen

Maureen — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 07:28:20 +0000

I had a horse boarder that had an anger issue which he took out on his horses. I was out watching him work on one of his horse’s hooves and, because she (and all his other horses) was afraid of him, she pulled away from him. He took the hoof rasp and hit her as hard as he could on her side, not using the flat of the rasp, which would have been bad enough, but the edge of the rasp. I yelled at him to stop and he did, but his wife stood up for him. Needless to say, I gave them their walking papers soon after. You need to stand up to people who are abusive, whether to animals or children or yourself. If your gut tells you it is wrong, then it is so don’t hesitate to take action.

By: kygal

kygal — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 08:32:15 +0000

liked the advice and the comment from PKL what could have set the mare off was it green or just contrary I have a mare before the farrier came I discovered she was not happy about her right hind leg so recommended he do that side first because if he didn’t she acts up have had a number of farriers the majority listened and she behaved and of course theres always one who has to be difficult Fortunately have the best farrier in the state who treats my horses great

By: PKL

PKL — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 06:24:25 +0000

Punishment should away be the “smallest” amount, to get a result. Punish that is harsh, usually only brings fear, and more reactions from the horse. Every horse owner/farrier/trainer should know horses can be dangerous, and they do react out to pain, so if this farrier had cause the mare pain, she will react out of fear. This article, should not have said “rank” mare, when it may or maynot been the case.