Posted by Gary on July 01, 2003 at 12:26:10:
In Reply to: Re: Use of Ace??? posted by Lynn on July 01, 2003 at 03:09:54:
: : : I'm new to this board, as well as new to being a farrier(ess)! so please bear with me. I recently started working primarily on call in an equine clinic in Southern California -- primarily rather flighty performance horses with special needs. Most of the time, they're pretty well behaved (as are the owners) but there are several times I have feared for my life....I guess that't pretty typical when you're bent over in front a stallion fresh off the track :) The vets I work with have supplied me with acepromezine AND I have taken the appropriate classes to give IV, IM and SubQ injections -- they see no reason to attempt to force a horse into compliance and truthfully I CAN'T force them. I'm fairly small and they're fairly large. So we sedate them a little and everybody is happy. In addition, I ONLY use the ace on animals pre-approved by the vets and I ALWAYS make one last call prior to the injection to confirm dosage, etc.
: : : Here's my question -- a few weeks ago I was at a client's stable. They are regular clients at the clinic and have decided to use me more regularly. With one horse I suggested the use of ace, and was promptly fired. They claimed no "respectable, responsible" farrier would dope a horse and threated to call the humane authorities, my employers, etc.... total smear campain which I can't really fathom as necessary.
: : : AM I WRONG???? If so, I will glady hand over my syringe!
: : : Feel free to lash into me, I need the input desperately!
: : : Thanks
: : : Lynn Dague
: : I do not think you are wrong, but as you can see, some people have very strong opinions when it comes to something as controversal as sedating their poorly behaving horse. It is the owner/trainer responsibility to make sure that horse is capable of being worked on in the first place. I would back away from a client that wants you to work on a dangerous animal without the vet present.
: : However, I am surprized that the vet would actually suggest using "ace" to relax a horse for farrier work. Horses kicking response is very much heightened on "ace". Dormosedan is a much safer bet. The only drawback is that it does not last very long and is VERY expensive. Ace is cheap. I personally would not work on a horse that has been given only ace.
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: I think I misspoke! In this particular case, there was no kicking or otherwise typically dangerous behavior of that sort. He was flighty and distracted, pulling his feet away at the slightest provocation -- not necessarily kicking. (and yes, my insurance is wonderful and I CAN administer the medication legally. It's a wonderful thing that comes from being technically employed by great vets who allow me to use it by proxy.) When a gigantic thing such as this is dancing around like madonna in tokyo, it can make you nervous. And I agree that it's their horse, they can do what they want. Same goes if they WANT drugs and I might object. It's their animal to make the decision about! I can either make a living being a farrier or not.... but ultimately it's their horse, and frankly if they want to sedated or crippled that's their business not mine. I may not like it, but their's nothing I can do about it. Vets have far more freedom to pass judgement and far more reason to do so (Hipp. Oath). So, while nothing is going to stop a dangerous horse from being dangerous, I personally think ace is a good way to take the edge off a nervous animal and make the experience a pleasant one. I would rather have one sedated slightly then twitched and chained and whacked... or worse....also it have been my experience that if the shoeing is pleasant once, it's easier then next time and even easier the time after that and eventually you can quit with the drugs altogether while most horses are never the same after a good beating.... just my thoughts...
Being a new farrier, means that for one thing you have to hone up some of your horsemanship skills. New farriers seem to get the dinks because established farriers have learned to pass on the bad ones. One question? Are you shoeing these horses at the vet clinic? If so, the horses can be a tad bit nervous because of fear of the vet and the surroundings. Call it paying your dues but we have all been there and learn to say "NO" to these type of horses. Your career and your body will last a lot longer when you learn that! Good Luck! Gary