perplexing question (long)

["Maggie Mieske" <mmieske@netonecom.net>]

Dear Ridecampers,
I have a question to ask of you from a "client's" point of view.  I thought
about going to the farrier's website but thought actual clients might give
me a more objective point of view.  Nelson trimmed some horses for a lady
last week... (7, I think).  They were all unbalanced and some had lameness
issues.  One had been kicked and was swollen with a bandage on her leg. 
This is the problem...the vet came out to do a lameness evaluation or
something like that (X-rays, etc.) on one of the mares.  The client had
noticed that "some", not all of the horses had swelling in their legs.  The
vet pronounced that the farrier (Nelson) had trimmed them too short.  Did
not investigate any other possibilities. Now, Nelson trims 100s of horses
and 1000s over the years.  None of them have ever swollen up from being
trimmed...ouchy, yes.  Sore yes (sometimes a horse who is unbalanced and is
trimmed to be balanced may start using new muscles and experience some
soreness for a few days until those muscles are strengthened).  But never
SWOLLEN.  Obviously we are upset with the situation...this lady has the
potential to really hurt our business.  I recall that she told us she just
had chokecherry trees bulldozed from her pasture about a week ago (like 1-2
days before her horses were trimmed).  I think this sounds like the problem
we had when our horses swelled from that bale of hay full of pepper grass. 
I know chokecherries can be or are poisonous.  I think it is sounds like an
allergic reaction of some sort.  I watched Nelson do these horses and
except for some removing some bad flares he did not take them short at
all...he is careful to allow a series of trimmings when trying to get
excess hoof off of long ones.  The life needs to be allowed time to be
driven back.  Anyway, I am just wondering if any of you have ever had
horses swell (as in fetlock to hock) from just being trimmed and NOT what
you would have considered a hack job.)?  We are really distressed that the
vet did not investigate other possibilities.  This same vet has told our
clients that what we told them is laminae separation (not necessarily
founder) is just a thick white line.  I don't know what to do about the
situation.  Worst of all, we have all this information second hand from
another client whom the one called to complain...she has not called us
herself yet.  The person she called defended Nelson and his abilities.  Any
personal experiences that might help us approach this objectively are
appreciated.  You may reply privately so as not to clutter ridecamp unless
anyone else is interested.  Thanks folks!
Maggie
Michigan


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