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Coming Together
"Farrier-Friendly"™
series By Bryan S. Farcus, BS, CF
As of this writing we are more than half way
through the year 2000. All the anticipation of what the new millennium would
bring has for the most part faded and with the exception of the "Elian
Gonzalez case" and the break up of Microsoft, I see no major revelations
taking place. At the start of the last decade, I was just entering the horse
industry. The "horse world" was a virtual undiscovered territory that
I was excited about and ready to explore. The experiences of these past ten
years have merely served to start me off on this journey and each equine expert
that I have met and studied (farriers, vets, trainers, and breeders) has,
without a doubt, contributed to my success thus far. I have felt for some time
now that it is my moral duty to transfer any knowledge gained to those who
depend on it the most – the horse owners. Being active in the field of
education as an instructor of horseshoeing and horsemanship, along with my
personal shoeing services, I have noticed a positive change in the way people
deal with their horses. Ten years ago, whether it was a part of the
farrier’s work or a vet’s visit, it seemed to be common practice to
"throw", "tie-down", or "drug" a horse to provide
routine health care. Today, thanks to leading trainers such as John Lyons, Ron
Meredith, Monty Roberts, Richard Shrake, and Linda Tellington-Jones (just to
mention a few), a body language is being promoted in order to gain "ground
control" with the horse.
These logical, "horse-friendly"
approaches have proven to be effective when dealing with difficult horses,
because they generally yield a more lasting correction, rather than a quick,
temporary fix. In my farrier practice, I refer to these methods of training as
"Basic Body Language Systems" (BBLS’s). I routinely prescribe
them to my clients in order to improve the process of shoeing their horse. Of
course, the method I prescribe to an individual is based on the language that
he or she most easily relates to. I am very optimistic about what lies ahead
for the horse industry. I think we all would agree that it’s a
"horse-friendly" environment that sustains us. From those
"novice newcomers" to those "noteworthy professionals," the
ability to communicate with the horse is what determines the amount of success
they will have. Whether success is measured with a degree of profits or plain
‘ole pleasure, it makes sense to invest quality time communicating with
your horse. As a professional horse care provider, I am dedicated to the
advancement of "kinder, gentler" techniques for a more prosperous
horse industry. Therefore, it is with great enthusiasm that I propose the
following:
- A national campaign that will implore all
leading trainers / clinicians currently practicing a BBLS approach to donate at
least one day per clinic season exclusively for farriers and vets to come
together and learn, first hand, these safer, more logical horse handling
techniques. I feel that a coalition of this type will provide safer strategies
and clear guidelines for all horse professionals and owners, when attempting
routine treatments on horses.
- A national campaign involving all horse
industry media. Magazines, videos, and the Internet are all powerful tools that
can help educate the horse owner on the importance of utilizing humane
horsemanship techniques while performing routine horse care. Simply reporting
the success of such unions between leading trainers, vets, and farriers will
serve as a much-needed role model for horse owners. Ultimately, I would like to
see major media sources offer sponsorships and promote such clinics.
- In the near future, I plan to take the first
step towards initiating a national "Horsemanship Day." As of the date
of this writing, I am assuring that such a day does not exist. If, however,
such a day does exist, I will switch my focus towards promoting it.
As mentioned in my opening statement, I feel
that the new millennium has not yet offered us anything revolutionary or even
stimulating. However, I do believe that it is the will of nature and the
essence of our existence that such events will ultimately occur. Maybe it will
be in our horse industry. Nonetheless, the time for a Horsemanship Coalition of
Equine Professionals is needed and it could very will be a defining moment in
history when we say to all horse enthusiasts – "your horse industry
is finally coming together." I commend those farriers and veterinarians
who have already joined with humane trainers in their attempts to promote and
practice a BBLS approach. To learn more about the proposed Horsemanship
Coalition of Equine Professionals contact Bryan Farcus at (304)
679-3262.
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© 2000 Bryan
Farcus. All rights reserved.
Bryan Farcus, certified farrier and head of the
Department of
Farrier Science at Meredith Manor International Equestrian Centre, has been
combining the skills of horseshoeing, teaching and riding for the past ten
years. He has also achieved a BS in Business Management. Bryan is the creator
of "Farrier-Friendly"™ articles and products aimed at improving
the general understanding of horseshoeing through horsemanship. For a complete
collection of "Farrier-Friendly"™ articles
click
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