Do You Love Horses?

A horseman I respect told me something to the effect of ""most 'horse people' think they love horses, but they really just love riding horses. I would add there are many that also just love having horses.  If you love your horses, don't measure their value by their utility.  Horses are living symbols of freedom and strength.  You don't need to deprive them of what they are in order to share in their freedom, and you don't need to exercise control over them to enjoy their strength.  The age and health of a horse can rob it of its freedom and strength, and even though it can't share these things anymore, if you love horses you'll share its pain too, and still love that horse.

AA

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Draft Cross Gets A Trim

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Mustang Trim Progress

This mustang mare had severely overgrown hooves due to her fear of people.  A great trainer started working with her last year, and I got to join him in January.  Her bars had grown forward enough to surpass her (extra-long) toes in some places, completely covering her soles.  I gradually reduced the overall height of her hooves – a little less gradually toward the heels.  Over the course of the last two months, the excess bar flaked off in some spots, and I was able to cut out the rest.  On one hoof I release a stone from inside that “sandwich” of bar and sole.  The visibly present thrust from January is gone now that the collateral grooves aren’t quite so deep and trapping tons of manure and mud.  Despite all that, her natural genetics allowed her to remain sound.  I think a bred horse’s hooves would be far worse-off if they were in her “shoes” the past few years; curled and what-not.  (Although, she’s had a lot of freedom and really likes to move, so these things have been to her benefit.)  She has a ways to go before her hooves would be considered ideal, but she’s well on her way!

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The Greatest Thing You Can Do For Your Horse

A lot of folks agree that leadership is key to the relationship between a horse and their person.  And everyone tends to agree that the relationship works out better when the leadership comes from the person.  When it comes to defining what leadership is however, there is less consensus.

Every horse, and every person needs something different from their leader.  Those needs change over time and with each situation.  A good leader is sensitive and accommodating to the needs of every member of his herd.

But what do horses need the most?  What makes them accept the leadership of another horse or a person?  I believe that for a healthy minded horse, what they need most is a feeling; the feeling of safety.  Therefore, it is a leader’s responsibility to provide safe situations and true protection for his horses. 

With respect to the relationships between a horse and his person, the feeling of safety is more significant than the reality.  If you truly make a horse feel safe; what a wonderful thing for the horse and for you.  The greatest thing you can do for your horse, and your relationship with him, is to make him feel safe.

 

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Long Toe

Very long-toe

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Friendship Trumps Dominance

Beyond the straightforward work of shaping the hoof, the farrier’s job, and the job of any professional that works with horses, includes taking responsibility for the care for the entire horse; body and mind.  If you outwit or overpower a horse to get his hooves in order, he may be sound on his feet but will not be sound in the mind.  Trickery destroys trust which sets the horse up for trouble with you, the next farrier or people in general.

It is easy to see how tricking or mechanically overpowering a horse sets it on the wrong path, but there are other less obvious things you can do to perpetuate distrust in humans and trouble a horses mind.  In fact, there are many training techniques that are widely used and accepted that force a horse to perform tasks for human masters.  Luckily, there is growing interest in and value placed upon the mental well-being of horses.  The value and innate goodness of building relationships and willing cooperation with horses, versus exercising dominance over their minds and bodies, is today more readily accepted.

For a farrier, building a relationship with clients’ horses is the only way to go.  A horse will most likely be respectful and willing to allow you to care for it, and increasingly so, if you are consistently respectful, willing to be patient, willing to learn the horse’s language, and if you perform sound work that improves the comfort of the horse.  Be a horse’s friend.

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Abscess Eruption

Abscesses can exist invisibly and without symptoms, but they can also be painful.  Mysterious lameness may be attributed to an invisible abscess.  On white hooves or soles, an abscess may be visible sooner.  Abscesses work their way out of the hoof capsule; through the sole, over the coronary band and sometimes right out the side of the wall.  (shown in picture)  As they work their way out, pressure builds and pain may increase.

Movement of the horse promotes movement and eventual eruption of an abscess.  Movement may be difficult for the horse, and you want to be sure there isn't something else to blame for the lameness before encouraging too much.  Once an abscess erupts, it is important to keep the opening clean and allow it to completely drain so there is not secondary infection.

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