When your vet doesn't like your farrier

Whitehorse · 01-08-2009, 01:00 PM

I just discovered that my vet doesn't like my farrier and I feel somewhat in between the two of them now. I really like my vet and I really like my farrier but there seems to be bad feelings between them. Vet came out today saying bad things about my farrier that I use and I was completely caught off-guard by this and didn't know what to say. I have always had a really good relationship with my vet and also with my farrier (not in a personal way) but you understand what I mean... a good rapport. So now my vet was not acting his usual self with me but I'm not going to switch farriers because he is really good.. he does great work and is good with my horses. I've never had a problem with him. Well... my vet was going on and on about how my farrier has made a lot of vets upset because he thinks he is a vet but now my farrier speaks very well of the vet I use and doesn't have these negative feelings towards my vet. What an awkward situation. Does anyone else have this problem and what to do?

horsey-gal · 01-08-2009, 01:03 PM

I don't see why your vet was bad-mouthing your farrier if he does a good job trimming. If you didn't ask your vet for advice on your horses trim, why the talk?
IMO, if you like your vet AND your farrier, I'd keep them. If they have differences among themselves, let them deal with it.

Druydess · 01-08-2009, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whitehorse

I just discovered that my vet doesn't like my farrier and I feel somewhat in between the two of them now. I really like my vet and I really like my farrier but there seems to be bad feelings between them. Vet came out today saying bad things about my farrier that I use and I was completely caught off-guard by this and didn't know what to say. I have always had a really good relationship with my vet and also with my farrier (not in a personal way) but you understand what I mean... a good rapport. So now my vet was not acting his usual self with me but I'm not going to switch farriers because he is really good.. he does great work and is good with my horses. I've never had a problem with him. Well... my vet was going on and on about how my farrier has made a lot of vets upset because he thinks he is a vet but now my farrier speaks very well of the vet I use and doesn't have these negative feelings towards my vet. What an awkward situation. Does anyone else have this problem and what to do?

That's very unprofessional of your vet. If you like them both, keep them both. Tell your vet that you want to keep his services, but would appreciate no more negativity about the farrier..

Whitehorse · 01-08-2009, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by horsey-gal

I don't see why your vet was bad-mouthing your farrier if he does a good job trimming. If you didn't ask your vet for advice on your horses trim, why the talk?
IMO, if you like your vet AND your farrier, I'd keep them. If they have differences among themselves, let them deal with it.

Yeah... i didn't ask the vet about the trimming but i didn't have to... the vet had already commented on what a good job he did with the trimming/shoeing. The vet just came out to take a couple more x-rays on one of my geldings front feet because he had been lame and I had the farrier come out recently to put pads and shoes on and my farrier was interested in seeing the copy of the x-rays so I had told the vet that my farrier was interested in seeing the x-rays too and that's when he went into talking bad about my farrier.

ruffian · 01-08-2009, 01:10 PM

Sounds like a bit of turf war to me!!
The vet said the farrier "has upset a lot of vets, because he thinks he's a vet"??
A good farrier can often diagnose lameness and soreness issues as well as a vet

Anyway, it is unproffessional for one to slag the other

It's your money, your horse, perhaps politely suggest that unless the vet has a specific concern to raise in the farrier's work, that you don't want to be involved in these discussions.

Whitehorse · 01-08-2009, 01:13 PM

Yeah.. i thought it was really good that my farrier was interested in seeing the x-rays... it showed me that he was concerned and willing to help get my gelding feeling better as soon as possible.

Whitehorse · 01-08-2009, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ruffian

A good farrier can often diagnose lameness and soreness issues as well as a vet

I agree and I think it is good if we can all work together in a positive way to resolve issues with my gelding's feet. I just feel awkward now... like I can't share their opinions with the other (if that makes any sense).

EquineAlberta · 01-08-2009, 01:25 PM

Your vet might have been having a bad day and just needed to vent. My vet (and I like to think most vets) would be happy to work with a farrier and show x-rays to them. Although good farriers do learn to diagnose and treat lamenesses, there are also cases where a farrier did harm by contradicting the vet's opinion; you might just have gotten the vet on a sensitive day, or right after he saw a case that was like that.

Karen

horselady · 01-08-2009, 06:31 PM

As was stated your vet your farrier and your money,
Vet should not bad mouth anyone, and should be glad that the farrier is concerned enough to ask to see exrays.
Perhaps there is another reason vet and farrier do not see eye to eye and has nothing to do with their jobs per-se, perhaps it is a personal matter.

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01-08-2009, 01:00 PM
Whitehorse Weanling Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 425	When your vet doesn't like your farrier I just discovered that my vet doesn't like my farrier and I feel somewhat in between the two of them now. I really like my vet and I really like my farrier but there seems to be bad feelings between them. Vet came out today saying bad things about my farrier that I use and I was completely caught off-guard by this and didn't know what to say. I have always had a really good relationship with my vet and also with my farrier (not in a personal way) but you understand what I mean... a good rapport. So now my vet was not acting his usual self with me but I'm not going to switch farriers because he is really good.. he does great work and is good with my horses. I've never had a problem with him. Well... my vet was going on and on about how my farrier has made a lot of vets upset because he thinks he is a vet but now my farrier speaks very well of the vet I use and doesn't have these negative feelings towards my vet. What an awkward situation. Does anyone else have this problem and what to do? __________________ "If your horse says "no", you either asked the wrong question, or asked the question wrong." Pat Parelli

01-08-2009, 01:03 PM
horsey-gal Started Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Valley, N.S Posts: 2,128	I don't see why your vet was bad-mouthing your farrier if he does a good job trimming. If you didn't ask your vet for advice on your horses trim, why the talk? IMO, if you like your vet AND your farrier, I'd keep them. If they have differences among themselves, let them deal with it. __________________ " If God made anything more beautiful, he kept it for himself. "

01-08-2009, 01:10 PM
ruffian Long Yearling Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Alberta Posts: 1,156	Sounds like a bit of turf war to me!! The vet said the farrier "has upset a lot of vets, because he thinks he's a vet"?? A good farrier can often diagnose lameness and soreness issues as well as a vet Anyway, it is unproffessional for one to slag the other It's your money, your horse, perhaps politely suggest that unless the vet has a specific concern to raise in the farrier's work, that you don't want to be involved in these discussions. __________________ There is something about the outside of a Horse that\'s good for the inside of a man (Will Rogers)

01-08-2009, 01:13 PM
Whitehorse Weanling Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 425	Yeah.. i thought it was really good that my farrier was interested in seeing the x-rays... it showed me that he was concerned and willing to help get my gelding feeling better as soon as possible. __________________ "If your horse says "no", you either asked the wrong question, or asked the question wrong." Pat Parelli

01-08-2009, 01:25 PM
EquineAlberta Kid Safe Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 6,004	Your vet might have been having a bad day and just needed to vent. My vet (and I like to think most vets) would be happy to work with a farrier and show x-rays to them. Although good farriers do learn to diagnose and treat lamenesses, there are also cases where a farrier did harm by contradicting the vet's opinion; you might just have gotten the vet on a sensitive day, or right after he saw a case that was like that. Karen __________________ New Hillside Website The Art of Praise

01-08-2009, 06:31 PM
horselady Kid Safe Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: albany new york Posts: 6,428	As was stated your vet your farrier and your money, Vet should not bad mouth anyone, and should be glad that the farrier is concerned enough to ask to see exrays. Perhaps there is another reason vet and farrier do not see eye to eye and has nothing to do with their jobs per-se, perhaps it is a personal matter. __________________ www.rainbow-horse-retirement.com We love and take care of your companion for the remainder of his lifetime