I have been asked many times "how do I talk to my farrier/trimmer/EP about my horse's hooves?" This often happens after a online or in-person consult with me, or even a webinar, when a horse owner feels there might be improvements to be made to their horse's level of comfort, performance, balance, posture or welfare.
In reality, the most common feedback I have had typically involves fear of conflict and there is a desire to avoid this or owners have actually felt intimidated by their hoof care providers (HCP) attitude. This can be of special concern to women if their HCP is a man. Some have been threatened that they "will not be able to get another hoof care provider in the area" or have felt they simply feel comfortable addressing concerns.
As a horse carer and hoof care professional, I get it. I have experienced both sides of the same coin, and for myself, many years ago, when I spoke to my my farrier to advise him that I was trying a barefoot trimmer due to ongoing unresolved lameness issues in my youngsters, I was advised: "because you are a good customer, I will take you back, but I will have to charge DOUBLE to fix the mess they will make with your horses". I was deeply hurt for many reasons... but they improved and I never looked back...
But the irony is, looking back, in my opinion; their hoof care with this HCP was the major contributor to their poor welfare states at the time, which contributed to their lifelong health issues, and this started my long journey as a hoof care professional, and has been a major driving factor for me - to help prevent other horses owners and horses from experiencing the same or similar fate.
Skip forward 10 years or so, as a seasoned, experienced, full-time advanced equine podiatrist, (trimming very different to how I trim and work with horses now), I had a big conversation with a client. They asked if I would try a different trim. Initially, I resisted but the irony wasn't lost on me and I remembered being a horse owner myself in a similar position! I quickly understood that the different balance this aimed to achieve and the method used would improve the results I was already achieving and documenting, and I couldn't ignore the objective evidence this provided.
Since then, I have remained open-minded and have continued to evolve personally, and professionally, and have become more 'successful' and deeply satisfied as a result.
Due to popular question asked, I decided to talk about my experiences and share some thoughts on this topic in this 18-minute video recording at the bottom of this article.
The real value of professional relationships
Relationships contribute to our spiritual growth by acting as a mirror that reflects our inner selves, pushing us to grow through conflict and forgiveness, nurturing compassion and empathy, promoting self-awareness, and enabling us to find deeper connections and meaning through shared values and purpose with another person.
Key ways relationships promote spiritual growth:
Self-reflection:
A professional relationship can reveal areas where we need to improve, such as our communication style, ego, or reactivity, encouraging us to scrutinize our actions and motivations.
Compassion and empathy:
By understanding and connecting with another person's experiences, we enhance our compassion and empathy, which can influence how we interact with others in the world.
Forgiveness and letting go:
Handling conflicts within a relationship involves practicing forgiveness, leading to personal growth and spiritual development.
Shared values and purpose:
When people have similar spiritual beliefs or life goals, they can support each other in living a meaningful life and strengthening their bond.
Vulnerability and intimacy:
Being our true selves with another can create an environment for deeper connection and personal development.
Unconditional love:
Giving and receiving unconditional love in a relationship can nurture a sense of belonging and acceptance, contributing to spiritual well-being.
Key takeaways:
Healthy relationships are key to personal growth and can help foster a sense of well-being, connection, empathy, and compassion and help develop positive and successful teamwork for the benefit of everyone, including the horse. Teamwork really does make the dream work!
Be honest, kind and compassionate with your clients, and your HCP, and foster a good working relationship with your client/HCP
Make time to discuss your concerns at a scheduled time and not when emotions are high
Provide evidence of what it is you wish to discuss. For example, if it is a hoof balance query, provide quality documentation and mapping to illustrate this accurately and clearly, ideally with comparisons from previous visits and wherever possible, provide supporting evidence from peer-reviewed studies for instance.
Keep it professional and not personal - really listen to each other, and be mindful of your emotions - focus on meeting the horse's needs above all else, and not on 'defending one's POV' and being 'right'. The horse doesn't care about this - it only seeks to experience soundness and safety.
Owners, respect your HCP's education, and HCP's, respect that owners can also be educated and have the right to question their hoof care, and advocate for their horses in the best way they know how.
Owners - don't abdicate and place full responsibility for your horse's hoof care and welfare on to a HCP - hoof care is more than trimming and shoeing. That said, HCP's - don't place all the blame on owners when hoof health is negatively impacted. Be proactive and discuss the hoof care plan ahead of any work done, the time frame, what the anticipated outcome is, what to expect, and who is responsible for what. Ultimately, everyone is on the horse's team and everyone is responsible and should be accountable for their actions and non-actions.
If mistakes are made, or expectations aren't met by either team member, identify them, own them, make amends to correct them, and grow from them.
Accept you only know what you currently know and that no one has all the answers, and if a HCP says they do, that you don't need to involve a vet, get a second opinion, or don't wish to answer questions with objectivity - IMO, that's a red flag for predominant ego-driven left-brain thinking, which prioritises being right rather than being right for the horse - and this attitude has no place in working on horses with compassion and kindness. HCP's - remember my experience learning from a client? This was a catalyst for the positive evolution of my professional work! You never know what or from who you might learn something new!
In addition - HCP's - if you feel out of your depth, say so and seek expert help. Owners, if you feel your HCP lacks the skills needed for your horse, say so and suggest getting expert help to support the team.
If any team members wish to leave the relationship, offer to take the time to explain why - in person, on the phone or in writing. This can be deeply healing, and provide the opportunity for growth. Like all HCP's, I have experienced clients come and go for a number of reasons over the years, but it is not uncommon for these clients to reach out for support years later and I value the relationships I build and the connections made - this I feel, is reciprocated - another reason I love my 'job'.
One of the worst experiences a professional or owner can experience is to be 'ghosted' without explanation andt obvious cause. In this situation, it is both unkind and unprofessional and isn't the hallmark of a compassionate equestrian and successful team. However, if you feel intimidated, or unsafe, you have the right to remove yourself from a situation or relationship without explanation.
Resources and assistance
To assist you, here is my roadmap for successful hoof care, which you are free to download and use as a talking point.
I work alongside farriers, trimmers and equine podiatrists and can support team members remotely or in-person via consults and mark-up services, with or without detailed reports.
Our popular online consults can be attended by team members remotely or recordings of the online consult can be shared with team members if they cannot attend live. Copies of marked-up hoof and body documentation are also provided.
We take an integrative and holistic approach to whole horse hoof and body health and greatly value teamwork. We appreciate the delicate and often complex relationship between body, limb and hoof and seek to address imbalances while positively influencing appropriate static and dynamic hoof balance, hoof morphology (form + function), posture, development, neuro-muscular health, autonomic nervous system and welfare state of the horse.
There are ways you can support your horse, your clients horse and team by objectively assessing the horses hooves and posture, and track change and monitor progress. Check out our self-study online courses including PRO-Active hoof mapping - how to recognise healthy hooves as well as how to assess and track changes using modern hoof mapping tool HoofmApp
We also recommend you learn how to document horses hooves and body using this FREE self-study online course, whether you trim your own, your clients horses, are an equine professional (in any capacity/field) or simply want to track and monitor progress of your horses hooves and the impact their hoof care has on their posture.
If you want to fast-track your knowledge and print out a handy guide on documenting the hoof and body of the horse, here is an e-bundle featuring a 2 hour 20 minutes webinar recording plus a 53 page e-book which are all the slides featured in the webinar, plus links to the video clips.
Please feel free to share this article, ask questions or reach out for further support!
Beccy Smith BSc ADAEP EBW
Diploma in Advanced Applied Equine Podiatry and now an Independent Integrative Equine Podiatrist, Consultant and Therapist. Certified Lazaris Nerve Release TM Practitioner
CEO and Founder of 100% Non-Profit Community Interest Company Holistic Reflections CIC
Holistic Reflections CIC – a 100% non-profit organisation promoting wellbeing and resilience in people, horses and the environment - for the benefit of all.
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