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Re: [RC] When to call animal control? - heidiFor example, our horses (even the one that is retired) never go more than 8 weeks without farrier care. Some people think 12 weeks is OK (IMHO, this is borderline OK), others go to twice a year (bad, but is it abuse?). Where do you draw the line? When should animal control be involved? Sorry, David, but I nearly rolled on the floor in laughter when I read this one. My broodmares and younger geldings live "out". They are on a rocky hillside part of the year, and on hayfields part of the year. The ground is hard in summer with the exception of some irrigation time, and it is frozen in winter. Several of the mares have received NO farrier care since they moved here over three years ago. The farrier is here regularly to do the endurance horses--being shod during the months that we ride, they DO need regular attention. When somebody else has a problem that NEEDS farrier care, they are run into the lineup. One of the younger geldings got a crack started and needed it fixed before it progressed, and then needed trimming again as the repair grew out. Occasionally we get a broodmare with some flare or that doesn't wear evenly, and so needs trimmed. But most of the herd has not been touched by nippers or rasp since we came, and they have lovely feet. The stallions up in paddocks need attention a bit more often, but they are active and move around a lot, so with some, it would be a challenge to trim them every 12 weeks. Some of them do need it that often, and a couple of them more often. My broken-legged colt needs trimmed every 4-6 weeks, on the other hand, because he grows funny, due to the leg having healed with a bit of a twist to it. Thank heavens I can trim him myself on an as-needed basis, and need not wait for a farrier visit, since he never seems to coincide with when the farrier is here. Is this lack of farrier care abusive or neglectful? Heck, no--the bottom line is healthy feet. I do have one mare who has a propensity for breaking off heels. When she does that, she gets immediate farrier care. But the trigger for care should be need--not a calendar. I know that you probably intuitively "know" this, David. But I couldn't resist enlarging on this theme... Deworming is a bit the same sort of thing. I still have a need to deworm here because I have youngsters and a bit of a concentration in feeding areas in winter. But if I only had a couple of horses on this size of a place, the need for regular deworming would be doubtful as well. Heidi =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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