27/06/2025
Many equine professionals, myself included, need to view a horse holistically to deliver an excellent outcome. As I’ve often noted, a change in bitting is not going to be effective if elements like dentistry, farriery, body work, saddle fit etc are not also regularly and correctly maintained.
If I notice an anomaly in an area I’m not qualified in I refer to someone who is! I often see horse owners relying on a ‘diagnosis’ given by a professional who’s not qualified in that particular field. When a professional speaks with authority outside their scope of training it runs the risk of spreading misinformation and at worst, potentially causing harm to horse and/or rider. You don’t go to a lawyer for medical advice so don’t take, for example, saddle fitting advice from a farrier not qualified as a saddle fitter.
A responsible equine professional will be working collaboratively with other professionals and be able to give referrals if you don’t have someone in your existing network. I’m fortunate to have an amazing group of qualified practitioners to refer to. Knowing when to say “I think there’s something up, it’s not my area but here’s someone who could help you” is not a limitation, it’s a mark of professionalism and respect for the client and their hard earned dollars!
Staying in my lane isn’t about restricting my own practice; it’s about ensuring the service I provide is informed, ethical and 100% in the best interests of you and your horse.
