07/27/2020
This is important info to remember. We care about your horses and we care about you!
I think some view our career as hoofcare providers as straight forward. We go to a barn, maintain some horses' feet, and leave.
I was thinking about this today, and realized our job is a lot more than that, actually; it is a mixture of science, problem solving, and art all rolled into one.
As hoofcare providers, we are part anatomist, picturing the soft tissue, bone, and internal structures of the hoof as we work.
We are part engineer, considering what changes we do and how it will affect the movement and biomechanics higher up the limb.
We are part artist, gently molding the feet in a healthier direction.
But even more than that, we are part therapist. We listen to your struggles with your horse: the soundness issues, the training problems. The hurdles in your ridden work. Even the difficulties in boarding situations, or work you deal with when keeping them at home.
We are often part friend, rejoicing with you when you reach milestones in your life, celebrating successes with your horse, and reminiscing in how far you've come - hoof-wise or not.
Sometimes, in some special cases that we carry with us, you even become like family.
So why am I saying all of this?
I think it's easy to forget the weight we carry as professionals as we go from barn to barn. The rehab case that is having a setback, the laminitic horse that ate something it shouldn't have and is sore again. The emotional stress we absorb from owners and help them work through. We carry these small burdens as we go, seeking to lighten your load as we do it.
We carry your horse's struggles with us as we work, and want to help them improve.
One thing we ask as hoofcare providers is you remember that we care. So be kind. Give us the benefit of the doubt that we are seeking ways to continually help your horse. And we will never turn away a word of encouragement- you never know what kind of day we have had, or what tough cases we might have seen before coming to you.
We care about you all. Next time we are a little quieter than usual, remember we may just be processing through some of our tough cases.