I was out at one of.my draft barns the other day. I put a set of fronts on one and trimmed two. They were all seriously overdue. One had a lot of sole to trim out so I was using my half round nippers and took a bigger bite than I thought. I got a little blood, nothing major mind you. I finished the trim and turned them all out and they all kicked up thier heels and ran for the back pasture. The owners were not there and I knew they did not want to be bothered. I gave them a call the next day and told them what happened. I said to give me an update in a couple days and if the horse was lame I would take care of it. I hadn't heard anything in 3 or 4 days so i called them. The lady said he was lame and i said I would be out late the next day. She said that wouldn't work for them because she wanted her or her husband to be there. So cut to the chase. I went out today and the horse is lame on the opposite(front) leg. He will stand on the foot that I quicked all day however I can't make his owner believe this. As far as she is concerned, I crippled her horse and she is pissed. I applied a shoe with pad to the foot I quicked but the other foot was to broken up to nail to. I have to go back with acrylic and patch it together. She wasn't happy with that either. Okay so what would ya'll do with an owner who is pissed about a horse who you quicked but is lame on the opposite foot? And what would you do with the horse
Have them call the vet. Let them explain it to them, and then tell them how expensive a vet consult will be. Then tell them that -------"APPARENTLY YOU CAN NOT GIVE THEM THE SERVICE THAT THEY REQUIRE" --------- that's get them everytime....because they don't know how respond to that comment... what?... as owners to neglected feet!!!!
So you forewarned them that there might be a problem, but then never called you about it. It wasn't until you called them to ask about the horse that they complained. I would not cut them any slack at all. If they don't care enough about the horse to follow up, then clearly you care about the horse more than they do. Trust me, you don't want to work for people like this.
The bad part is if I had not said anything then I would be out treating the correct foot and the owner would be happy as could be that I am there to fix the problem. Thats what I get for opening my mouth.
It has been my business policy to call every client the next day after working on a lame horse (or if I quicked a horse) and ask how the horse is doing. Would you be surprised to know that many times the client admits they haven't even looked at the horse? And that gives me the opportunity to tell them something like, "That's OK, I'll just drive out to your farm and check on him myself." I say this in a very cheerful voice, like it would be my pleasure to see their horse again. It lets them know that you are more concerned about the horse's welfare then they are. Yea, send them on a guilt trip for being too lazy to check on their own horse.
So I just went out and pulled the one shoe I had nailed to the injured foot. They called and said he was worse than before. I got there and the horse isn't lame at all. They said they had given him Bute. I pulled the shoe and left. I hope they never call me back.
