A show barn request that tested my farrier ethics

Got asked to add pads for height on a sound horse. It felt WRONG because the hoof was perfect. I argued against it but the owner pushed hard. Saying no was tough but the horse's health came first. That moment showed me how gray our choices can be.

4 comments

4 Comments

beth_hernandez1mo ago

Honestly, how do you deal with owners putting looks before health?

viola711mo ago

It's selfish and hurts the animal.

caseyhart1mo ago

I had a client with a pug who refused to stop using a tight harness that made it harder for him to breathe. I sat down with them after a session and just showed them a video of their dog panting normally versus struggling with that gear. I explained it like, this isn't about winning a ribbon next week, it's about him still being able to play ball when he's ten. They switched to a wider, padded harness the next day. Sometimes you have to connect the dots between today's choice and the dog's future.

emmay671mo ago

What about the silent pressure from other competitors seeing it? They might feel forced to do the same just to keep up.