Let’s Celebrate the Positive

Progressive Hoofcare

Over the last few weeks I have had lots of lovely comments from my clients. I am happy to say that this is the norm. I have however had a really lovely email from a new client thanking me for spending time with her horse. Allowing the horse time, and working with the horse, who has arthritis and finds things a little awkward.   Perhaps this sounds like I am boasting, blowing my own trumpet, but shouldn’t this be the norm. Shouldn’t we all treat horses in a positive way. Give them time, work with empathy. Shouldn’t we all learn to understand what we must give in order for a horse to give us what we want.

We should only ever accept positive attitudes towards our horses, whether from a vet, barefoot trimmer, farrier, physio or any other professional. We should not allow aggression, irritability, rudeness (to the horse), belligerence from any professional towards our horses.

I know my own horse handling skills are a work in progress and will take a lifetime to master. There is always more to learn, but positivity will always be the foundation.

Negativity to horses doesn’t stop at handling and understanding but finds its way into our culture, the way we think about horses, we often see them as weak/delicate. We have ingrained old wives’ tales about white feet being weaker than black feet. Phrases such as typical T.B – as in has flat feet (even though in won’t have been born with flat feet). We blame the horse.

We often see the equine foot as weak, when it most definitely is not. We worry about, chips and cracks although the vast majority are easily treated and grow out quickly. Thrush - horses have had thrush in their feet for at least 1.3 million years and in most cases, it just smells bad and is easily treated. Yes, it is natural to worry about our horses, but we should not do this to the point of obsession. We should celebrate them. Be positive about them they are a true wonder.

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