Strange Cruelty

First couple of times that I saw them, I just thought 'What a shiny, beautiful horse'. Then I started wondering why there's nothing ON it - no saddle, no decorations, what kind of wedding mare is that?
The man accompanying it, is eternally attending to its hooves, curious instruments like screw driver & pliers in hand...
I stopped one of the days near them & asked him.
You are right.
The man is selling "BLACK HORSE'S SHOE"

All day long, he fixes a shoe on it's hoof, & pliers it out again, all in front of a customer, it's genuine black horse's shoe, after all!

When I mentioned this black horse, (I contacted everyone, colleagues, neighbours, acquaintances) & this practice, the first response will invariably be "Ya? Get me one too!" !!!!! Including my Dad. When I protested, I'll be frequently told "it doesn't pain it, it's like fingernails"

The horseshoe is not removed everyday, like a man's shoes, have U seen a horseshoe?
It is fitted. Changed maybe 3 or 4 times in the lifetime. The horseshoe protects the hooves when the horse runs on hard terrain. But this voiceless animal ... not only is it unprotected, also, by now, its hooves are now so hole-riddled & brittle, it's just months away from being lame.

With the prompt efforts of PFA activist Mr Saurabh Tiwari, the man who was selling 'black horse's shoe' got arrested. Don't want to name him. Don't know what got him - ignorance,indifference, or cruelty? He really did not KNOW that he's maiming the animal?

What I'm referrig to, might appear to be a very local phenomenon, & trivial to You, but this superstition is widespread in our country, & it is verymuch possible that this heartless treatment is taking place elsewhere too.

I simply hope that You, who is reading this, looks beyond the obvious, whenever You see a being unable to protest for him/herself.