Originally Posted by Speed Racer
Because assisting such a large animal as a horse can look rough and abusive. Doesn't mean that's what's happening, just how it appears. Pulling a foal can look absolutely horrifying if you've never seen it happen.
This just makes me laugh. I grew up on dairy farms, and while most of the cows do their thing at night (2am spotlight heifer check, anyone?), some have to be pulled. And I mean pulled
, like with chains around their feet, a rope pulley system and a 6'4 built like a brick crapper guy hauling on the end.
Know how many live calves I've seen injured out of I don't know how many I've seen pulled? TWO. One wasn't developed properly for whatever reason and it dislocated his shoulder. The second just had some swollen feet for a few days.
Oh, and I've also had a late (as in past due date, calf was dead and rotten) calf splice all over me when I was seven.
Yes, horses are built differently than cows, but I'd still rather a vet (or someone who knows what they're doing) pull my foal out than let the mare die too. I suppose I've never understood why people think horse pregancy/foaling is more dangerous than other animals.