RE: [RC] You should (was: agressive kicker) - Susan E. Garlinghouse, DVM
> With this I cannot agree. With my
stallions (and other horses for that
> matter), the rule is, "I don't care HOW provoked you were, you are
NOT
> allowed to take pot shots with your hooves." At least not at a vet
> check at an endurance ride, or anytime the horse is being handled
> anywhere.
Forgive the “me too”
post, but I have to agree with Kat. Granted, I’m highly biased
because I’m spending a lot of my time at vet checks in close proximity of
potentially flying hooves, which on occasion have made contact with me to my
great regret, whether they were specifically aiming at me or not.
Usually, I can dodge, but not always successfully. Whenever I have had to
dodge (successfully or not), I often get to immediately hear why it was
essentially okay for the horse to be kicking---she’s in season, he doesn’t
like his butt being handled by strangers (probably shouldn’t be at an
endurance ride ‘til he learns better, then, huh?), he was feeling crowded
by another horse in line, whatever. Okay, it’s par for the course
being a vet, and at least I’m usually careful to be watching for it---but
a lot of the P&R crew aren’t used to it, are there on a voluntary and
under-thanked basis, and their duties shouldn’t have to include dodging
flying feet. Teach the horse manners or stay home ‘til you both
know better. I have to admit, consistently bad manners from the same
horses at vet checks is becoming a bit of a pet peeve of mine---I’ll tolerate
grumpiness to a certain extent, but if I see a horse take a shot anywhere near
a volunteer, be prepared to be promptly DQed for it with no apologies from me.
