Re: Re: My Broken Jaw & Arabian Stereotypes

["Cora" <bandc@teknett.com>]

Get rid of this farrier FAST!!! can't even begin to consider him a
"farrier"....ass**** fits better....Cora
----- Original Message -----
From: S.N. <nikstai@qis.net>
To: <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Sent: Saturday, June 16, 2001 8:12 AM
Subject: RC: Re: My Broken Jaw & Arabian Stereotypes


> Had a run-in with the ol' stereotype monster today. I don't think I was as
> polite as you :)
>
> My colt is 3 years old and was due for his second-ever set of shoes today.
> He's in a new barn with a new farrier, after a recent move.
>
> Now, this colt is probably the kindest thing you've ever to see. One or
two
> of the folks on the list know him. Anyhow, he's neither scared (maybe a
bit
> nervous) nor aggressive, he's just a bit fidgety. Easy to keep under
> control, doesn't "lose it" - just fidgets...after all, this is only the
> second time he's to get shod. In short, one of the best damn 3 year old -
> second-time-stand-for-farrier Arabs I've seen.
>
> So he pulls his foot away. Tries to walk forward, tries to walk back -
each
> time, he's moved back to the right spot and work resumes, with a slight
> reprimand to stay put. Farrier begins conversation about how he shod a few
> Arabs "back when he started", and swore never to do it again.
>
> Colt fidgets a few more times....nothing more than having to retrieve a
foot
> . Farrier suggests a chain over nose. I ask him if he's trying to get the
> colt to *really* object to the proceedings.
>
> Colt removes foot again from farrier's grasp. Farrier socks colt hard on
the
> barrel, colt rears and becomes bug-eyed. I frown. Farrier insists on
putting
> chain on colt. Wants it to go across his GUMS. Takes horse out of my hands
> and puts the chain on - colt is getting more bug-eyed.
>
> I flip. Now, I don't get mad too easily. But I was furious. I didn't just
> lose my temper, I gave it all to this guy.  Had the colt been behaving
> dangerously, kicking, rearing, biting, or otherwise being extremely
stupid,
> I would have settled for a chain (but not on the GUMS!) and agreed that
the
> colt needed a lesson in who's running the show. But he was fidgeting.
> Nothing more - and really on the "low-end" of the fidget scale. Having had
a
> few "good farriers" in the past, who work through the youngsters, and have
> what I guess could be called "firm patience", maybe I'm spoiled.
>
> He made the excuse that if he or I got hurt while shoeing, it'd be his
fault
> and that's why he wanted a chain, to "protect us and others in the barn".
> I'd have spit at him if there weren't others present, at that.... I kinda
> figured that a chain is gonna increase the risks of injury, as horses do
> tend to react a bit strongly to a chain if they aren't used to it.
>
> He proceeds to tell me that this is how he handles all his young horses or
> any that give him problems - he puts a chain over their gums, and has
> someone hold it TIGHT at all times. Maybe I'm confused, but the idea of
> training seems to me to be that pressure of any sort is to be removed when
> the horse is doing "right". Guess the constant pain is how he gets'em to
> stand still...they're too busy concerned with the pain in their mouths to
> fidget.
>
> At that point I figured I'd best just call up some other farrier to finish
> the job. He was half done, and his rear hooves have been bare for some
time
> now - I figure they'll just stay that way for awhile longer. At least till
I
> can find someone who isn't terrified of "those damn Arabs". *sigh*
>
> Of course, this "damn Arab" has taught my nieces (who'd never been around
> horses before) to longe, lead, they clean his hooves, and can generally do
> any ground work with him. They fuss over his mane, brush him, and
sometimes
> do silly things, as kids will do, none of which fazes him.
>
> Ahh well. Anyone know a good farrier in Maryland, near Frederick/Mt
> Airy/Carroll County?  Seems I'm in need of one :)
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Cheryl <mskit@utec.net>
> To: <Ridecamp@endurance.net>; <horseman@orednet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, June 16, 2001 4:07 AM
> Subject: RC: My Broken Jaw & Arabian Stereotypes
>
>
> Hi All -
>
> I had a slight mishap on Dani Thursday morning. She spooked, I fell off
and
> broke my jaw, loosened a couple teeth, and hurt a few ribs. Thankfully we
> were only a quarter mile out, and I was able to walk back.  Even more
> thankfully, I was wearing my helmet (which now must be replaced). BTW,
best
> $50 five year insurance policy I've ever purchased.
>
> Anyway, went to the hospital, got patched up, etc. Then went to the
> drugstore to fill my scrip. As I waited, I struck up a conversation (if
> that's what it could be called) with a lady there who used to ride. First
> thing she said was "was it an Arabian?". She then launched into a diatribe
> about how she had heard that they're unreliable, wild and maybe I should
> have a Quarter Horse, as they're safer.  She was a bit taken aback to hear
> that Dani is a Quarter Horse, and that when I was giving lessons to little
> kids, I used all Arabians and Half-Arabians, and I also nonchalantly
> mentioned that I ride my Arabian (Bobby) in a rope halter, and that he
> hasn't worn a bit for four years, now.
>
> In closing, I in a roundabout way stated that I have found over the years
> that people who show breed predjudice like that that are usually poor
> horsemen to begin with (which I very firmly believe, anyway), no matter
what
> the breed. But I waited 'till she had handed me my meds, first!
>
> Oh well, no riding or work for me this weekend, so I'm going to the Myler
> bitting clinic at my favorite tackstore, and buying my new helmet. I'll be
> the one holding the icepack, hiding my hideously swelled-up black and blue
> face, enviously watching people eat hamburgers...
>
>
> Ride Safe (safer than me, anyway!) -
>
> Cheryl in WNY
> Horse kids Kit, Bobby & Dani
>
>
>
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