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Veterinarian's Oath (American Oath--Adopted by the American Veterinary Medical Association House of Delegates in July 1969): "Being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine, I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health, the relief of animal suffering, the conservation of livestock resources, the promotion of public health, and the advancement of medical knowledge. I will practice my profession conscientiously, with dignity, and in keeping with the principles of veterinary medical ethics. I accept as a lifelong obligation the continual improvement of my professional knowledge and competence." |
A word (or two) about integrity and strength of conviction:
To begin, this is just "facts of life" kind of stuff. It's also a fact
that you can count on that I will not ever ask you to consider shoeing your
horse with steel. I have my strength in my belief about this and it is
unwavering. If I began to cheat and occasionally say to someone that "well,
this time I guess...OK, go ahead and nail shoes on"...or "gee, I guess
that horse can't do it..." These sorts of things compromise my sense of
strength and integrity--a very keen sense of integrity. I do not sit on the
fence or beat around the bush on this issue. Steel causes a horse harm, and I
simply can't abide that. I have read and understood the Veterinary Oath and I
also have a keen sense of integrity. Certain folks can advocate both shoeing and
going barefoot...I can not. This does not mean that you have to be as steadfast
as I concerning the use of steel shoes. You are free to make your decisions
based on the best information you can gather.
In addition, many folks aren't eager or accustomed to giving the world their
views about what they've learned to be true, let alone giving them in a way that
shows outright strength and conviction. So it's no wonder that many of those
folks also find it distasteful or rude or egotistical when someone else voices
such strong opinions. Perhaps they surmise we ought "to all just try and get along", or
"it's a big tent...room for everybody", or "we'll just agree to
disagree". Once in awhile, you're bound to run across somebody with
strength in conviction and rock-solid integrity that stands tall next to a
belief system based on sound convictions, because those beliefs are what keeps
them strong. Though generally unpopular, disliked and strongly ridiculed, a
person who holds strong to what is right and calls attention to those that are
wavering or those that are misunderstanding the information is more and more a
rarity in our world. I am keenly aware of how it can appear as if I "know
it all", or seem like "it's my way or no way", but of course
that's not true. Such illusions are understandably fabricated by those who would
label and convict someone who takes a stand against something so near and dear
to them. This is "normal" human stuff. The things they've spent their
entire lives working on are being called in to question, therefore I expect no
less than the strong ridicule from these fellas to begin with. I am encouraging
them, often forcing them, to examine themselves and their beliefs, and it's
quite the painful process. I'm really quite good at the exercise, especially in
person. I've had friends and other fellas that have shod horses for decades
break down and sob over this stuff when it hits them. This is real and it is
powerful. One can begin to see the importance in my strength of conviction
concerning what we currently know as the facts in the case. It is not fine for
me to hurt a horse "once in awhile", or "just this time" or
to justify the act because "well, it sure would be convenient to nail shoes
on for just this Spring...". I realize there are many, many
uneducated/unaware people out there that don't want to worry about the extra
efforts it will take to allow a horse their normal feet, so I am worrying about
it for them, and trying very hard to show them, in as many different ways as I
can, why this is so important to the horses.
Truly, a "barefoot-friendly" veterinary perspective on these issues
can be difficult to find, but is so desperately needed. I'm learning as I go
along, and I am not immune to personal attacks. I pick up ideas on what is best
to say and how best to say it, and I'll get better and better at it as time goes
on. Learning how to better educate and more deeply influence those that have a
difficult time admitting and/or seeing what it is the horse needs from us as
their care givers is my goal. The feeling arguments from both sides are helpful
to me, and I trust will be helpful to others in the long run. Certain things are
said across the wires, but I very much doubt they would be said if we were
standing together next to the horses.
As of now, in a huge number of equine veterinary facilities the world over,
natural lifestyle and the natural barefoot trim are not even mentioned as
therapeutic options for lame horses. This is highly unacceptable and is a
disservice to the horses we love. It is an omission that serves the egos of
those who use horses as simple tools, rather than as the companion animals that
serve us so willingly. As this time goes by, veterinarians and other equine
professionals will have the opportunity to make the right decisions concerning
the use of the steel shoe. It is so obvious to some and yet there are those that
can't help but drive nails in to the hands of the horse, even after being told
that what they are doing is causing damage. Whether from ignorant stubbornness
or an addiction to working with steel or whatever the reasons, they will be held
accountable if it continues once this information becomes more widely known.
There will be more and more veterinarians picking up on this as the days go by,
and the horses of the world are going to be healthier and more sound than ever.
We will look at the horses in the future and see them as the magnificent
specimens of power that they are. Seeing one with steel plates nailed to it's
feet will draw criticism from those that respect and love the horse. We have
ways of protecting horses feet (if needed), and they don't involve steel.
We have to start paying attention to what we know: It is physiologically
impossible for a steel shoe to offer anything therapeutic or beneficial to a
horse. Our responsibilities and obligations to the horse and all our livestock
are huge, and it has come to this.
As a note to equine professionals everywhere, if you look at this information
and understand it, please digest it and begin to apply it to the horses around
you. Add this information in to your repertoire as authorities on the health of
horses. Folks around the world are grasping some very fundamental concepts of
horse care and the care of their feet. We must take a look at this information
for ourselves, evaluate it critically, apply our knowledge of anatomy and
physiology, and become an integral part of improving the health of the horse.
Truth and knowledge are destined to win out; no matter the intensity of the
wailing and weeping, no matter the fierceness of teeth gnashing, no matter how
simple or complex the concepts turn out to be, and also no matter how easy or
difficult it might seem to accomplish honest soundness.
Many of us dearly love our toys, gadgets and contraptions--they matter none to
the horse.
So, it does come down to whether certain people have the time and dedication to
achieve an honestly sound barefoot horse. If they don't have the time, they will
need to ask themselves whether it's fair to force the horses to stay with them.
Perhaps they will have to find some boots that will be comfortable for the
horses, or maybe it will be necessary to hire extra help to get the horses
moving...these sorts of things.
This is leading us toward a deeper respect for horses: using steel shoes will no
longer be justifiable. Steel "shoes" will no longer be seen as shoes,
because shoes can be taken on and off at will.
We have so much more better ways of TRULY protecting the feet than steel...it's
really hard for me to even fathom using a steel shoe at all, for we know, and
you freely admit their evil, that these devices are simply not offering anything
beneficial to a horse! We can not continue to apply them to horses and feel good
about it. To apply a shoe to a horse after becoming aware of what evil happens
to that horse is contemptible. That means that if you're doing something even
though you know it brings harm, that you are doing something worthy of scorn.
Doing it before knowing this stuff is forgivable...I have admitted freely that
only three years ago, I as a veterinarian was prescribing eggbar shoes, pads,
impression material and special shoes...but now I can't do that anymore. I have
changed. I remember many horses that have died at my hands because I didn't know
of anything that would save them...and now I see horses just like them and they
are better in a short time. This is life and death stuff, here, and that's why I
use terms like "terminal" and "life-threatening" when
talking about the effects of shoes and poor hoof form. Even if we didn't have
any alternatives to the steel shoe, it wouldn't be justified to shoe horses
given what we know about the effects...we are above that. Thankfully, we do have
many options for horses to truly protect their feet and get them healed and
stronger with every passing moment: the natural trim, based upon the
rediscovered and continually-improved understanding of the workings of the
equine foot, and a myriad of different boot designs, with more coming all the
time. We need to learn about using boots and work harder on developing more
user-friendly hoof boots. Boots allow a horse's feet to have vital mechanism
with every step, and can honestly and completely protect the feet, whereas the
appliances being touted as offering protection are actually causing damage.
The farriers are professionals in the equine world. The horses and their
stewards count on them. They are in the ideal position to learn about proper,
natural hoof form and function: They have the clientele with the horses, the
love for the horses and the tools and the knowledge of how they work. They only
need to study more carefully and apply more carefully the natural hoof trim and counsel people on how their
horses should be kept! It should be perfectly acceptable for them to counsel
people on getting horses out of stalls, feeding horses grass in their diet, and
getting the horses together in a herd where they can move each other around and
be psychologically healthy.
Hanging up the hammer for a farrier leads to championing a cause that is noble
and stands solidly footed around a body of knowledge gained through the careful
study of the nature of the horse.
| "All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." ~ Arthur Schopenhauer |
Coming in to this knowledge of the horse's hoof is a powerful thing! I encourage
those who have gained this knowledge to use it with discretion. I encourage them
to speak with conviction, but maintain an open ear to those who have concerns.
Listen to others as they manifest their insecurities and ignorance concerning
the use of steel shoes. You will soon discover that all the answers you provide
for these concerns will flow directly out of addressing their concerns. When you
show how much you care as well as how much you know about the horses and their
feet, concerns turn to understanding, and understanding turns in to a changed
life. This is the hallmark of dealing with the truth. It is never too late to
start spreading the word. I know that fighting against the current and against
the mainstream is difficult, but once you begin to grasp this information, a
powerful energy will be yours to embrace: the power of the truth--the power to
heal--the power of the horse.
Very sincerely, and truthfully yours,
Tomas G. Teskey, D.V.M.
June, 2004
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