I have a client that has been in the habit of putting horses out after they pull a shoe. I have made a few curt comments lately about how bad of an idea that is and how it hurts her pocket book and mine, but this time she assured me that the horse hadn't been let out.
Putting horses out after they pull a shoe is a bad idea because they typically tear up their hooves all the more while they are outside and then when I finally get there; there is nothing left to work with. Many of my more seasoned owners will wrap the horse's hooves and leave the horses in their stalls until I can get there.
So, here the thing...
I had no reason to not believe her, unless maybe she was just confused or had forgotten, but I was absolutely convinced of two things:
- The horse had absolutely been out since the shoe had come off. As someone that has been shoeing horses for going on 30 years now, I know what a horse's hoof looks like when it has been out.
- There were no nail holes! I was also completely convinced that this horse hadn't had shoes on in a considerable amount of time.
I still don't know what the reality is. One of both of us is just crazy.
The reality is that one of you is definitely crazy and it's not you....
I have a similar problem with my mother in law who still has 4 horses left over from her eralier days of trail riding, hunting and breeding, but everything she knows is either self-taught or was taught to her by her friend who is self taught. Combine this with a fragile ego and inability to take the advice of others, I often find myself resisting the urge to pull out my own hair with frustration.
Some people just can't handle admiting the truth, even when the opposite only incriminates them further.
lol. Yup, good points.
This is a great person and client, but we have been having some "educational" moments lately.
I'm too old and tired to just hush and let stuff that matters not be said.
I know the feeling, to not speak up feels like we are betraying our own values. In general it's widely agreed upon that to stand idly by knowing something wrong is occurring makes you just as guilty as the wrong-doer.
All we can do stick to our guns, practice what we preach and remember the most important thing - the horse couldn't care less about our pride or opinions, he only cares that his feet don't hurt!