Welcome to my page where I get to get on my soap box which I tend to do occasionally. I hope you enjoy and find this enligtening.
Richard Hansen
Gimmicks, Gadgets and Experts
In recent times we have seen an influx of gimmicks, gadgets and experts in the equine industry. This article addresses some of the things we come across regularly and gives an insight into some of these things which the farrier may face during their regular routines. This article is intended to make you the reader think about what is proposed as being the latest and greatest out there and hopefully will encourage you to question, research and avoid getting ripped off.
Why is it that the farrier is used as a scapegoat for all sort of conditions that are beyond their control. Farriers often get criticized by all sorts of so called specialists whose work at most times cannot be seen by the naked eye. In recent times we have seen an influx of various self- proclaimed experts in the horse industry. Chiropractors, physios, masseurs, riding instructors, horse communicators, the barefoot trimming specialist, the next door neighbour whose friends mothers grand father was a world class blacksmith, any thing with natural in the name and even some who call themselves farriers. And of course the load of information that can be found on the internet. If it’s on the internet it must be right!
I have been fortunate enough to travel all over Australia and overseas through my competing at and judging various farriers competitions and farriers often have the same problems wherever I go. It makes you wonder what's next to hit the horse industry and more specifically the hoof-care industry. Throughout the years and specifically in recent times there have been various products and experts promoted as being able to fix every thing from navicular to a nose bleed. I am not saying all these people are doing a disservice however I find some things highly questionable.
And don’t forget the horse-owners themselves who purchase horses with obvious conformational faults in the false belief that their farrier will fix the problem. When this does not happen another expert is called in.
I will give you some examples.
Recently a client of mine bought a horse with an obvious clubfoot and a deviation in the fetlock joint. I had shod the horse as I saw fit but the horse has now started bucking so the physio was called in. The explanation was that the horse had a sore back because of the way it was compensating for the way it had been shod and causing the horse to become fractious. She did not mention the clubfoot or the deviation nor did he tell the owner that the horse is probably too much for her to handle. It’s the farriers fault.
And of course we get castigated for not doing what the owner or trainer wants to try. I like some of my colleagues take a great deal of pride in our work and are sometimes uncomfortable with some of the ideas being suggested. I believe it is the farriers right to refuse to do work that he/she believes will compromise their reputation as a farrier.
Year ago I went to see a horse with bi-lateral clubfeet. The horse was standing on the toe of his hoof capsule and had an obvious convex sole. I suggested to the owner I could not help the horse without the aid of a veterinarian and possible surgery. I was abused for not having a go and she consequently found "a specialist" who fix the horse and applied toe extensions. It was only a matter of weeks and the horse had to be euthanased because of severe pedal bone rotation due to the extra leverage on the hoof capsule. Had I agreed to do what was requested I would have been placed in a position of responsibility for the outcome. Even though this is an extreme case it highlights some of the problems that conscientious farriers are faced with.
And what about the so-called barefoot trimming? It has only been in recent times that I have received phone calls from prospective clients asking if we trim horses to go barefoot. It had been always presumed rightly that the farrier would trim your horse to run barefoot or apply shoes if necessary. The well- trained and qualified farrier has the skills to provide both of these services and can be asked for advice on which is best for your horse for the circumstances at the time. To presume that you need a person that specializes in barefoot trimming whom generally charges a much higher price than the farrier probably would is in my book ludicrous. It is no skin off my nose if the horse runs barefoot, in fact we would trim more horses in my business than are shod. To also suggest that you can condition a horses foot to go barefoot in any circumstance is equally ludicrous. A horse will only condition his foot as much as conditions will allow. For example a horse grazed in a five acre soft paddock taken on the occasional trail ride cannot be expected to run an eighty kilometre ride on a hard surface without protection however a horse being raised in a large area with hard and abrasive conditions might possibly be able to perform the same task adequately. This is of course providing that the horse has the conformation and quality of foot to begin with. I believe the studies on the wild horse have very little relevance to the domestic horse of today. Remember nature is not always kind and the weak will not survive therefore only the strong and healthy are the subjects of these studies. The chance of healthy and robust foals born in nature is also increased, something we are not seeing in the domestic horse industry. The wild horse is also not confined and ridden or driven, as is the domestic horse.
Of course I have not mentioned the various gimmicks and gadgets on the market being marketed as being the ideal tool to find the elusive ideal balance of the equine digit in substitute for traditional skill. I have pictures taken from catalogues from as far back as the very early 1900’s proclaiming to do just that.
A horse viewed standing and moving on a flat surface by a farrier with a well trained eye and knowledge of anatomy will be sufficient if not far superior to any fixed object being placed on the foot.
The weekend clinic for horse owners to learn to trim and or shoe their own horses also has me baffled. Consider that the apprenticeship for a farrier runs for four years full time. During this time the apprentice is expected to learn anatomy, assess conformation and balance, learn to forge shoes, trim the feet and apply appropriate shoes. How someone can successfully expect to learn this in a weekend is beyond me. Some of these promoters are saying that we need to go back to traditional basics and in the same breath suggesting that there is no longer the need to learn to forge shoes is in my book slightly hypocritical. These clinics are often conducted by opportunists who generally sell products like trimming equipment and various gadgets for exorbitant prices to unsuspecting participants. It is unfortunate that these clinics are being charged at high prices and therefore do not attract those that would like to attend and ask the appropriate questions of those who are promoted as experts in the industry. They therefore avoid appropriate scrutiny.
Remember a person who also calls himself a farrier is presumed to be qualified with the appropriate trade certificates. This can be confusing as there are many persons trading as farriers who are not qualified. The unfortunate thing is that those that are trying to push some idea or product onto the horse owning public are putting good quality farriers into a group with unqualified persons. It is also unfortunate that the quality farriers do not market themselves as is been seen by others in recent times.
Below I have listed five criteria in which to evaluate these gimmicks and so called experts as published in Dr Doug Butlers book “Principles of Horse Shoeing III (P3)”.
It is called the CRAPS test.
1. Complete Congruency
a. Is the product congruent (aligned) with tested and proven principles?
b. Is the product promoted as a substitute for traditional skills?
2. Reliable Research
a. Have controlled and unbiased studies been conducted?
b. Are claims based on testimonials or scientific method?
3. A Sensible Solution
a. Does the product or technique provide a real and proven solution?
b. Is it positioned as the “only way” with everyone else “old fashioned”?
4. Promoter Has Credible Credentials
a. Does the promoters have documented credentials and experience?
b. Has the promoter paid the price to be a legitimate solution provider?
5. Supported by Consistent Claims
a. Does the product work consistently the way the promoter says it will?
b. Do the claims made hold up consistently under close scrutiny?
I am not suggesting that we do not keep our minds open to new ideas, as that is how we continue to learn in any situation. However it is also not right that we accept a new concept or idea without questioning the material being promoted, as that is also how we learn.
