A pain to shoe

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JANANI

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My new boy is a right pain to shoe. My poor farrier is comming tomorrow to do his back feet after doing is front feet today. Poor farriers back couldn't take any more. He is fine to pick his feet out but my farrier seems to think that he has a low boredom threshold.

Any idea's to get him better at shoeing or how to keep amused. Was thinking of giving him a haynet to naw on tomorrow morning.
 
My mare has a very short window of tollerance with the farrier - it's definately an attention thing :-) We can get the full set done with the distraction of a haynet and me standing at her head, just - and I have also been advised that playing a radio can help too, though I haven't used that one yet.

Also, you didn't say how long you've had your horse but I've found the longer I've had her, the better she's got - I think she just wanted to test me, and my farrier out!!
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Good luck......................
 
Food

and get him used to standing for the length of time it takes to shoe. Hold his legs up yourself for lengths of time between shoeings.

try sedaline maybe it will take the edge off.

I shoe a horse like this but have so far managed ot get all four on in one go.

He must be bad if your farrier only managed to do a pair
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Are you positive that it isn't because your horse is in pain having his legs flexed and this is why he is playing up ...... just a thought? My horse has been taught (by me) to pick his feet up as I go around them, picking them out. But sometimes (due to his bone spavin) he kicks out with his o/s leg whilst its bent as he obviously finds it uncomfortable so I try to pick his feet up with his foot near to the ground now.
 
He is only four and I have had him a few months now. I still feel sorry for my farrier and he does have a real dodgy back. He trimmed my brood mare at the same time and she was her usual complete darling.

I want to get him sorted as I don't want to loose my farrier.
 
If it's not pain related then what about something like the new mini-horselyx. They fit in your hand and I've not met a horse yet that doesn't love them. That should distract him long enough to get backs on.

Do you have anyone that can "practice" shoeing? You hold him and have someone hold up his back legs and lightly tap them with hammer etc? You can learn to do some basic stretches with him which will get him used to having his legs held in those positions and also benefit him.

Good luck
 
Just a thought but my horse is always a pain to shoe when he needs his back done. I would agree with the pain suggestion. With mine it is not that he is lame or anything just gets tight in his back and finds it uncomfortable to keep his leg in the air for a long time.

What is your horses tail like? Is it tight or can you move it around freely? If it is tight then that could be another sign that there is a problem in the back.
 
I used to have to ride my boy before he was shod when he was young.

Just enough to get rid of the excess energy and tire him out so that he didn't fidget for the farrier.

Don't need to these days, but I do try not to get morning appointments in the winter so that he has had a chance to go out in the field.
 
Thanks for ideas. We have only got him out of nipping (Thanks to my aged gelding) so I don't want to give him treats in my hand. Don't think it is pain related as he was fully vetted a few months ago and there certainly isn't any other signs of pain working around him. He is also difficult to shoe on all four feet.

When you watch him it does appear to be boredom so will give the brat a hay net tomorrow
 
Can only tell you about mare we have(on loan) came to us who didn't like getting shod,needed sedatation as was apparently dangerous.Think it does really depend on your farrier.Ours had such patience with them won't take any crap but will make allowances for youngsters etc..first time he saw we did her in stable as she appearred better if there was no way out but not best place to do a dangerous horse I think.He didn't shoe her just went round lifting up legs she did try and break free but farrier (def not a spring chicken )calmly held on to leg and went with her til horse stopped then he put it down - if he lost leg he just started again ,Did this with all four legs and then again with hammer.Next time he went through same routine but shod front feet only.Came back following week did same again and shod back feet.We figured she was really wary on off hind,farrier wondered if had nail bind or something at one point.You can't start on that foot but finish on that one seems to be that if you do the others by time get to that one sheknows what coming so is ok but if you go straight to that foot (as farrier did one day to sort loose shoe boots you into middle of next week.Mare now gets a hay net and we hold her to get feet done no problem tho we still do her in stable.- next stage is to try in open space but tbh if aint broke.............
As your farrier has sore back may not be an option depends how stubborn your farrier is - mine is very.Will say tho at NO point did he loose his temper or raise his voice with her.
 
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