My most awkward shoeing job involved a talkative toddler and a nervous mare

I was at a new barn last week to shoe a mare that was always a little jumpy. The owner's young kid, about three years old, kept asking questions and reaching for my tools. Each time I grabbed a nail, the kid would point and yell, which got the mare all tense. I had to stop often to settle the horse and softly ask the kid to back off, but the owner just thought it was funny. It's not funny when it risks safety, and it really shows no respect for our trade. Shoeing horses is a careful job that needs full attention, not a playground. I ended up speaking straight to the owner and asking them to take the kid inside, which was super awkward. Stuff like this makes me see why some folks only learn after a bad scare.

2 comments

2 Comments

bettyh8418h ago

Did the owner really laugh while their kid was spooking a jumpy mare?

jenniferr8918h ago

You think maybe the owner laughed because they were nervous too, not just being rude? Little kids learn by watching, and it can be a teachable moment if done safe. @bettyh84 has a point about it being risky, but sometimes people just handle stress weird. Gotta keep the kid back, but shutting it all down feels like a missed chance.