At my wits end - farrier issues

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sjdress

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Can anybody make any recommendations for a horse which really dislikes the farrier and being shod.
I have had said horse for 5 years and in that time she has always had to be sedated to be shod. I started using oral sedation but this no longer works so it's a vet job each time and I really don't know what to do.
She is genuinely nervous... Whenever any farrier enters the yard she will go to the back of the stable and shake and snort.
When being shod she does not kick or rear, she just panics and lady's to run, pushing through me.
She is excellent to pick feet out and do studs so no idea where to go from here.
We have tried all approaches, nicely nicely and more firm to telling her off but this does not work. Help as it's costing me a fortune!
 
I know your pain, my little mare was perfect to shoe used to leave her tied up and go off poo picking while the farrier saw to her.

Then we moved and had a situation where the new farrier not only tried to punch my horse in the head because she reared, but after finding out he had hammered a nail in to her foot in the wrong place I am not surprised she went nuts.

I was left with 3 shoes on, clenches hanging out, a horse bucking and rearing, me in tears screaming at the farrier to get off my land.

Needless to say my mare wouldn't let another farrier near her. I found a fantastic guy who came out and risked (I am not joking) his life to get the 3 shoes off. We turned her away for a couple of days then with his help, food (lots of food) talking to her, shoing her in different places she is finally at a point where she falls asleep on the lead rope... THIS has however taken me and my farrier a year plus to get this...

Patience and calm is all I can advise....Good luck!!
 
I would look at getting some professional densisitising/natural horsemanship- type help - even if it costs a bit she isn't cheap at the moment.
 
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