Win a Few Loose a Few

[tbloomer]

Back in July I picked up a new client who was referred to my by another farrier who was moving out of town. This person had two chronic/stable foundered Arab mares. Both mares diagnosed with insulin resistance. The previous farrier had been maintaining these horses pasture sound with plain front keg shoes. So I was comming in behind decent shoeing and not expecting to find any problems. One of the mares still had pretty severe rotation, so I switched her over to heart bars. The other mare had minimal separation at the toe so I kept her in Eventers with her breakover set way under.

The results were excellent. The client took both horse to shows this summer and her grandchildren won a bunch of ribbons. Today I am scheduled to reset these horses. This would be the third time I worked on these horses and I was really looking forward to seeing how those heart bars were doing. The results so far had been very encouraging. I had good phillangial alignment and the rads showed excellent sole depth on both horses.

When I called to confirm my appointment the owner told me that the white mare, the one in heart bars, had an intestinal blockage and hat to be put down Saturday. That news just ruined my day. Just when I thought I was making some real progress nature stepped in and humbled me. I guess I should be happy that I was able to help maintain a little quality of life for this horse.

When I started working on this account the owner told me that I should be careful 'cause the white mare had a habit of biting farriers. But, she bit me or showed me anything but affection. I'm going to miss her. She was a sweet ol' mare.

[Leslie Reinke]

Sorry to hear about the loss. It never seems to happen to the rank ones. Did you send the owner an equine sympathy card? Some owners appericate the thought.

[tbloomer]

Sorry to hear about the loss. It never seems to happen to the rank ones. Did you send the owner an equine sympathy card? Some owners appericate the thought.
No, I just gave her a other horse a good scratching on her neck . . . and a reset. :)

[calshoer]

Been there done that, so I know exactly how you feel. It sucks for a little while. You did the best you could ,gave her some good time and at least it wasnt the feet that got her.
Patty

[Phil Armitage]

Sorry to hear that Tom, totaly understand what your going through. Last week a owner called me and said I will only be doing two horses, her third horse that I have shod for years was found dead in the paddock. The owner and I are very good friends, she wanted to call and tell me sooner but it was hard for her to talk about it. The horse and I got along great and he had a very difficult time being shod, but trusted me. He had severe breathing problems and EPM. The only way I could trim his hind feet was to sqaut as low as I could and he would hold his hind feet up the best he could for me. It hit me hard and I miss him, also feel awfull for the owner and her daughter.

[Kaydence]

I often have a good cry when a client loses or even sells a horse that I was particularily fond of. It is hard not to get attached to some of them. Glad you were able to help this horse stay comfortable with the shoeing that you did, Tom.

Cheri

[BS-Horseshoeing]

Had a customer with a pony that was just short of 40 years old. Toby was a real trooper right up to the end. No matter how stiff or sore he was he'd find a way to lean up against something so I could do his feet. He just passed away from old age about a month ago. Thing is, that pony was my little boys favorite horse to go see because as a three year old, the pony that Elmo rode on Sesame Street was the greatest thing on earth. I have pictures of my boy on Toby to remember him with, even one of my boy holding up Toby's front foot and saying "Look daddy, I can do just like you" when he was about 2 years old. I miss Toby, but my boy cries every 6 weeks when he asks to go see Toby and I have to say he's gone. I hate loosing the good one's. :(

[beslagsmed]

Had a vet call me to a Fjord horse on Sat last week. It was a founder with a very flat foot. When I got there the horse was so sore I couldn't drive a nail in. Called the vet he came out. He determined P3 had sunk and was bad enough to put the horse down. Didn't get much of a chance on it. The owner really enjoyed the horse and rode it a lot. I stayed and helped the vet put it down - fun facter very low.

On the other hand, got another horse(also founder) which is doing very well. Owners have started some light exercise. The horse is very purkey and has some spirit now.

Mikel

[ray steele]

Tom,

as I'm assuming you know, we are in a business that will not be all happiness and light outcomes, because of this, in fatal cases like the one that you and others have referred to ,if given the chance,ie before they are put in the ground, I often ask if I can have the damaged hoof/hooves /legs to take home, disect and learn from with the idea that I might pick up something for the next critter/victim in need. I think I've gained some valuable info from this process, and I know I've lost a few human customers because they felt it was cruel. For the most part though, folks ,often times after thought,have been very helpful and offered me the parts. If I'm lucky the attending vet is there when I'm amputating and we have a great hands on conference.

Regards

Ray Steele

[tbloomer]

. . . .I often ask if I can have the damaged hoof/hooves /legs to take home, disect and learn from with the idea that I might pick up something for the next critter/victim in need. . .
Wish I could have gotten these, but the horse was already buried before I knew she was gone. :mad:

[Derin Foor]

Had a vet call me to a Fjord horse on Sat last week. It was a founder with a very flat foot. When I got there the horse was so sore I couldn't drive a nail in. Called the vet he came out. He determined P3 had sunk and was bad enough to put the horse down. Didn't get much of a chance on it. The owner really enjoyed the horse and rode it a lot. I stayed and helped the vet put it down -
Mikel

Mikel,

Is it safe to as-sume that the horse was standing since you were going to nail a shoe on him?

If so, it sure seems to be a rush to judgement to put this horse down from the little bit of information given. A sinker isn't a death sentence for every horse. What about x-rays?......(it sounds like there probably weren't any taken)

Derin

[beslagsmed]

Mikel,

Is it safe to as-sume that the horse was standing since you were going to nail a shoe on him?

If so, it sure seems to be a rush to judgement to put this horse down from the little bit of information given. A sinker isn't a death sentence for every horse. What about x-rays?......(it sounds like there probably weren't any taken)

Derin

Well I thought it was a little rush judgement. I was ready to put on a shoe, pad with frog support, but the vet who was with me said stop and talked the owner into putting it down. Maybe he saw more than I did, but he was the "official" in charge at that point. No there were no x-rays taken as we were over on an island. The horse probably would not do good on the ferry ride across. Don't know if this vet has a portable, but that day there was non there. Wasn't my call, but that's life.

Mikel