Any advice on how to get young horse used to farrier smoke

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NELSON11

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My young gelding just 4yo has always seen the farrier hot shoeing and being in close proximity to others. He has just started to be reguarly shod whilst away at Boarding school being backed and produced.

He is fine to have shoes nailed on, taken off etc. Fine to be cold shod, then the last time the farrier who is very very patient attempted to hot shoe and my 4yo went absolutely barmy. It was a full blown I am not accepting this.

Just wondered in your experiences, whether this is a common occurrence. None of my other youngsters have ever reacted as this one has.

I know it is a patience time issue and we have all the time in the world and under no circumstances will we put pressure on this boy.

Any advice/experiences muchly appreciated
 
Hi, I just had my 4yo shod in front for the 1st time yesterday & he was an angel. My farrier caused very little smoke & he had already had his feet tapped on occasions when his feet are picked out. My farrier asked was I sure he had never been done before!

Not sure if it has helped but he as always been there for his trim when the others have been shod, even so we were both impressed when he just stood quietly. I did actually mention about how little smoke there was to my farrier & he said it was deliberate. It seemed to be a case of not holding the hot shoe to the foot for as long.
 
We had this problem with both our 4yr olds. For both of them the answer was those lickit pots! We generally don't do treats, however for upsetting experiences - ie first few times shoeing, or clipping etc we let them have the lickit pots, which they all seem to adore, and they seem to go into a lciking trance and hardly notice whats going around... Previous to this we have had them around when the older horses are being clipped and hot shod, so its not a total shock to them...
 
OH always starts hot shoeing youngsters by only doing the hinds at first, and not making too much smoke while he does it. It's as much the sound as the smoke. If your youngster has been around while others have been hot shod he is probably used to the smell at least. Obviously they need to be very very good when cold shod before you introduce hot shoeing.

Once he is good with his hinds you can then start doing the fronts hot too:)
 
My mare was very spooking with the smoke when being hot shod, my farrier was very patient and had the shoes nearly cold before burning them on which caused very little smoke then gradually over each visit increased the heat/smoke until she was able to tolerate the hissing and smoke ok. Although when in season she still reverted to being spooky about it!
 
Thanks guys for your suggestions. I don't normally do treats but I do have one of those lickit pots so also worth a go with all your other ideas.

I am sure in time he will settle with small steps being taken

Thanks again
 
When Joey was first shod (let alone hot shod!) I held him outside (so lots of space if the farrier should be sent flying!) and when it would smoke and sizzle, I held my hand around his eye and spoke to him which seemed to work as he was never a problem and he hadn't had the advantage of seeing other horses shod at all, ever, as all I have are mares and youngsters.
I'm a strong believer in being ready for trouble but not expecting or allowing the possibility of it and the horses seem to pick up on that vibe and just get on with what I'm asking of them. Joey has probably had under a dozen sets on by now and he is tied up to be done where he stands like a lamb but if I hold him, he's a fidget; work that one out!
 
tie him up on the yard whenever there is another horse being shod so he gets used to the smell etc of the smoke. once hes realised its nothing to be frightened of he should be fine. best to get them used to smoke whilst they arent actually being shod themselves.
 
burtonse said:
tie him up on the yard whenever there is another horse being shod so he gets used to the smell etc of the smoke. once hes realised its nothing to be frightened of he should be fine. best to get them used to smoke whilst they arent actually being shod themselves.
Click to expand...

This is the best way of desensitising a young horse to hot shoeing, while they are actually not the ones being shod.
 
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