I am kind of disappointed that the good doctor has not seen fit to join our discussion here. I would love to here some of his responses to Tom's letter.
If he was smart enough to get through vet school he is smart enough to know he can't defend his position. I would love to see the AFJ put some pressure on the guy to debate me next year at the IHCS.
I m somewhat surprised that there has not been discussion over at the AFJ site or that ther was not some other written word in the follow up issue by the farrier community, wonder if it shows that we farriers, for the most part,just shut up for fear of loosing a client or the money! i know that in the past i ve followed the vets script even though i ve disagreed, and to be honest sometimes correct,sometimes incorrect. ray
Frank wants everybody to be happy and to get along. I was pleasantly surprised to read Tom's letter and wondered if it had just slipped by the editor. Normally the AFJ isn't big on any type of controversy
Brian, not sure i d go along with you on those thoughts, if i remember correctly Frank published the Strasser article and the follow ups, which some might say led into the AFA,AFJ split up,he has written up the soreing in the industry,just to name a couple, The Dr. Fredericks/Tom Bloomer letters did not seem to be edited to me,give Frank credit for that! Tom so far is the only farrier who has responded, that i know of, credit to him, now maybe we need to get off our collective duffs and let folks know how we feel............ and or at least research our standing in such matters. ray
A few years ago there was a vet lecturing on vet/farrier relations at the IHCS. This particular vet, Frank Reilly, DVM, had caused considerable suffering to a foundered horse I had worked on when he showed up at the farm and dug the equipac out of the bottom of my shoeing package, then refused to return my telephone calls about his act of sabotage. I talked to Frank Lessiter about the case and said I wanted to confront the guy in his lecture. Frank said, "GO FOR IT." So that is exactly what I did. Evidently the same guy was back last year lecturing. Frank Reilly, DVM has this miracle cure supplement that he sells to horse owners that is supposed to help control the metabolic issues in chronic foundered horses. Seems that's why he lectures at the IHCS, to sell his product. Fortunately his product has been so successful (even better than Kool Aid) that he no longer practices vet medicine in the field.
The farrier community has no unity. I stick up for myself because there is no organization with the fortitude to do it for me.
Great letter Tom. Covers many concerns I've had and dose it well. One of my new hobbies is to take the "shoeing prescriptions" ordered by vets and go over them with the vet, making a few suggestions, and shoeing the horse as it should be. The final result has no resemblance to the "prescription", but the Vet thinks they approved it and the horse certainly approves, so all is well. As to sticking up for you, I do! I've heard guys say bad things about you, but I stuck up right fast. I told them that people like that have Rights out here in California. I got your back buddy, don't worry.
