Re: RC: what now?

["Leah Peasley" <leahpeasley@hotmail.com>]

Hey ya -

Did you explain to the farrier WHY you didn't want the sole and frog cut out 
as much?  Most farriers have more experience than the owners, so some tend 
to stop listening and do what they believe is best for the horse.  Deep 
frogs cause heavy thrush (and therefore lameness).  Plus, if the farrier is 
used to shoeing horses that ride in an arena all the time, he might not 
appreciate the need for extra sole padding (which I assume is why you want 
to keep the frog and sole thicker than normal) since he's used to horses 
that don't travel on rough ground.

Obviously, the fact that your mare is lame isn't very good.  My first 
instinct was "bad farrier!".  But then I considered.  A horse with a thicker 
sole develops problems much like a pad dependent horse does - which is to 
say that after the sole is cut down thinner (or the pad removed), the horse 
experiences increased sensitivity from their newly exposed sole.

It does sound like your farrier admitted that he cut a bit too much off the 
sole.  Hopefully, all you are dealing with is a bit of bruising from the too 
thin sole.

I'm not saying that the farrier was in the right ... he definitely made 
several communication errors in not listening and not telling you abut the 
job.  Honestly, I see lots of owners who don't know squat about their 
horse's shoes and don't care at all.  If they actually talk to their 
farrier, it's often to parrot something that they were told or read 
somewhere, not often understanding what they are talking about.  I try to 
have extensive discussions with my farrier - first, so I know he is informed 
about the demands I put on my horse and second, so that in talking he 
realizes I am an informed owner who knows her stuff, respects his opinion, 
and wants what is best for her horse.

Best of luck!  Communication is the key.

Leah
& Pagan

P.S. If he "nicked her" as he said, that is often from shoeing when the nail 
goes in too close to the sensitive tissues of the hoof.  If that IS what 
happened, she should be fine in a few days (unless he nicked her REALLY bad, 
but she'd be dead lame with that, plus she'd have kicked him HARD).  Nicking 
is something that just happens ... it happens less with a good farrier, but 
it happens to the best of them.  A farrier should mention it .... but they 
often don't since lameness doesn't always result.  As for soaking the foot 
... that won't do much except make her sole even more sensitive, which you 
don't want if the sole indeed is too thin as you believe, since it will make 
her more prone to bruising.


>From: "ckellerfarm" <ckellerfarm@stellarnet.com>
>
>Hi all,
>I've got another problem with my mare.  And here I tought I'd found a new
>farrier.
>Yesterday I have a new farrier come out (highly recommend by several
>friends) He seemed to do a good job. Other then the fact that he didn't
>listen very well when I told him not to trim the souls or frogs of my
>horses. He went right ahead like I hadn't said a word about it . Right then
>I decided he's not the one for me. Any way this morning my husband asked 
>why
>is your mare limping? I run out to look hoping she had not cut herself. No
>cuts , no swelling , not a mark. But a defiant limp on her right . I pick 
>up
>her front right hoof and HALF the frog is gone. Need less to say I called
>him(the farrier) and asked him what happen. He said I Nicked her alittle. 
>It
>will heal in a few days.
>Now I'm I over reacting? Will this really heal up so easy? What do I do 
>now?
>Other then look for another farrier. Again!  Soak it?
>Tami  ( maybe I should go to farrier school?)
>Annie (ouch)
_________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.

Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at 
http://profiles.msn.com.