They are my babies too..........

Client asked me the other day if I get attached to the horses I 'do'. 

'Ooh' thought I 'Now there's a highly charged question!'

It's a fine line to tread - 100% putting out for the horse, their welfare, physically and mentally, but still staying removed enough so as not to tread on the carer's toes.

I am not so sure I do that very well.  So apologies to all my clients for when my enthusiasm gets the better of me.

Because you see, I do get attached to the horses.  All of them.  Even the little darlings that kick me every time I so much as look at them.  They are my babies too.

And the hardest part of the job is when you have to walk away. Because you can't trim a horse sound and healthy if there is something else going wrong in their life which can't/won't be fixed.  From inappropriate diet, unnatural living and perhaps the hardest of all (to discuss with carer anyway) riding technique.  And while I could keep pitching up and doing my 'thing'; in my heart and soul I just can't.

But there are huge compensations - I was just thinking back over just the last few months and you know what, without even trying I can think of half a dozen horses that were chronically lame, some written off, which are now sound and working.  And that is in less than a year.

Most of them, with changes in lifestyle and diet come sound in just a couple of months.  Some of them will need boots periodically.  But you know, boots is better than dead.

Yes they are my babies too and I love them all, nearly as much as my own.