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Veteran
Posts: 165
 
| I have a 5 yr old gelding who is an absolute demon for the farrier. I have had him for about a year and he has been terrible with 2 different farriers. I don't know his past experiences with farriers before I got him. He will let me do absolutely anything I want with his feet, I regularly pick them up, stretch them out, hammer on them... I put a foot down and he's standing with the next foot up ready for me to pick it up. The farrier comes along and the horse is absolutely nasty, kicking, leaping, throwing the farrier around...I'm sure he is not scared, he is just absolutely ignorant and beligerant. I think he may have gotten away with some bad behaviour with a farrier before I got him. We have resorted to giving him a light sedation the last couple of times so that no one gets hurt and we are hoping that if it is a good experience a couple of times he might get over himself. I'm not sure what else to do to get him over his attitude with farriers. Any suggestions? |
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Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
 
| try that duct tape on end of nose or jst ace him. |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| Are you female and both farriers male? Can a non-farrier male mess with his feet? |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 672
| I have one that is the same way. I've worked extensively with his legs/feet and I can do anything, but he will knock out any Shoer if given the chance. He is fine with the person until he smells the "Shoer" on them. I've had guys tell me, well just let him smell my tools..haha no! To keep my farriers safe and happy and less stress on him I give him a 1/2 dose Dermosedan to knock him out a bit. Even then I have to cover his eye when he gets his back feet done as he will sometimes try to kick but his aim is off. I don't know what happened before I got him, but obviously it was pretty bad as I've had him for the last 10 years and have only used 3 different shoers and they have all been gentle and willing to work with him and he hates them all.. |
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Regular
Posts: 73
| Having gone through school for shoeing for education only and certified massage therapist and acupuncturist. A large problem horses have and act up with the Ferrier Is because they are not comfortable in the stance that they're in while shoeing. I'm not saying all but a lot get comfortable for them & not the horse. They have to remain level especially on the hind end. A lot will hike their hind end up so high they can't balance or stand and the horses become agitated overtime or just flat uncomfortable standing like that & dred it. Then it becomes a bad experience quickly.
I also grew up with a corrective shore, my dad. We all know it does not take long for a habit to be picked up quickly with a horse, bad experiences are no different for them, they associate & remember.
Edited by run2winedge 2016-09-03 8:26 AM
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Regular
Posts: 73
| I've seen people get horses over this by when the shoer arrives the shoer giving the horse a cookie or Feed cube ( you supply) so they associate his arrival as good & no matter the horses actions give one at the end. Really makes a change fast. You as a owner while the feet are up you can stand at the head & take his mind off of it with small bits of feed- treats ( keep his attention on you ) in your hand. Small pats between the eyes on the forehead or clockwise circles between the eyes will also give calmness to the horse. But 1 time can create a habit but takes time to change it. |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | run2winedge - 2016-09-03 8:19 AM Having gone through school for shoeing for education only and certified massage therapist and acupuncturist. A large problem horses have and act up with the Ferrier Is because they are not comfortable in the stance that they're in while shoeing. I'm not saying all but a lot get comfortable for them & not the horse. They have to remain level especially on the hind end. A lot will hike their hind end up so high they can't balance or stand and the horses become agitated overtime or just flat uncomfortable standing like that & dred it. Then it becomes a bad experience quickly. I also grew up with a corrective shore, my dad. We all know it does not take long for a habit to be picked up quickly with a horse, bad experiences are no different for them, they associate & remember.
This. I've had one horse that we never could get to be good for the farrier without drugs, and discomfort was his problem. When I finally found a guy willing to work on him closer to the ground, he got over it. |
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 Expert
Posts: 5293
| I had a horse about 5 years ago exact same way. Like exactly as you described. My farrier got smart and just didn't wear his chaps one day and my horse went to sleep!!!!!! All farriers get out , put the chaps on and start. Mine associated the chaps with pain from being abused. No chaps no problem. Lol he was same way with vet. |
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  Damn Yankee
Posts: 12390
Location: Somewhere between raising hell and Amazing Grace | Is he shod? I would get his feet xrayed. Start there first. He may let you do whatever you want because you aren't pounding nails into his feet. He may hate farriers because they are. And if he has a foot issue none of you can see, it may be causing pain. |
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | Three 4 Luck - 2016-09-03 3:35 PM
run2winedge - 2016-09-03 8:19 AM Having gone through school for shoeing for education only and certified massage therapist and acupuncturist. A large problem horses have and act up with the Ferrier Is because they are not comfortable in the stance that they're in while shoeing. I'm not saying all but a lot get comfortable for them & not the horse. They have to remain level especially on the hind end. A lot will hike their hind end up so high they can't balance or stand and the horses become agitated overtime or just flat uncomfortable standing like that & dred it. Then it becomes a bad experience quickly. I also grew up with a corrective shore, my dad. We all know it does not take long for a habit to be picked up quickly with a horse, bad experiences are no different for them, they associate & remember.
This. I've had one horse that we never could get to be good for the farrier without drugs, and discomfort was his problem. When I finally found a guy willing to work on him closer to the ground, he got over it.
One of the reasons we love Tom---our two that need extra TLC to their legs never fail to get it from him. He never lifts too high or holds too long to where they are uncomfortable. |
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Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
| my farrier like to do the horses close to ground/ he used to do my mare when she was in shape she is a tank, he would do her on his feet, steel toed boots she would be quiet.. |
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 Very Important Person
Posts: 5682
Location: South MS | run2winedge - 2016-09-03 8:19 AM Having gone through school for shoeing for education only and certified massage therapist and acupuncturist. A large problem horses have and act up with the Ferrier Is because they are not comfortable in the stance that they're in while shoeing. I'm not saying all but a lot get comfortable for them & not the horse. They have to remain level especially on the hind end. A lot will hike their hind end up so high they can't balance or stand and the horses become agitated overtime or just flat uncomfortable standing like that & dred it. Then it becomes a bad experience quickly. I also grew up with a corrective shore, my dad. We all know it does not take long for a habit to be picked up quickly with a horse, bad experiences are no different for them, they associate & remember.
EXACTLY!!! My mare was horrible to shoe, went through four farriers, and finally got one that keeps her legs at HER comfort level and not his (the farrier) and she's great. I have no problem handling her feet but we did have to have a "come to Jesus" meeting when I got her - she evidently got away with being a MARE too many times before. |
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 Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | run2winedge - 2016-09-03 8:19 AM Having gone through school for shoeing for education only and certified massage therapist and acupuncturist. A large problem horses have and act up with the Ferrier Is because they are not comfortable in the stance that they're in while shoeing. I'm not saying all but a lot get comfortable for them & not the horse. They have to remain level especially on the hind end. A lot will hike their hind end up so high they can't balance or stand and the horses become agitated overtime or just flat uncomfortable standing like that & dred it. Then it becomes a bad experience quickly. I also grew up with a corrective shore, my dad. We all know it does not take long for a habit to be picked up quickly with a horse, bad experiences are no different for them, they associate & remember.
Definitely this. The lower you hold them, the easier it is for them and the less they fight.
I'm not opposed to letting the farrier give them a treat either - they learn be repetition and association. |
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