Farriers

[Kiko]

Does anyone else's horse detest the farrier? I've had my 5 y/o for almost a year now and he will still not relax and I may have to use a type of sedative next time as hes a big 16.2. My farrier only managed to get two fronts on as he was just snatching his legs and being really bolshy, sometimes I think he might be genuinely scared and sometimes its like he's taking the pee!! The farrier was also two hours late which didn't help so my boy had no turnout before so was alot worse than he would of been and had the cheek to charge me £50 for two front shoes!! Will be using a different farrier next time! Just wondered if anyone has the same problem and how they've overcome it with youngsters? Thankies xx

 

[Daisychain]

Its down to you now, you will just have to get him really good to handle, i always remember a farrier saying to me once with a difficult horse, 'i have come to shoe it, not break it in!'

 

[Kiko]

Hes perfect to handle if its not the farrier though? He's a bit fidgety when picking his feet up everyday, i don't think he likes the inconvience of it mainly, but I don't have any trouble and I hold he's hoof a while and bang around his hoof to get him used to it but not sure what else I can do? hmph, perhaps its more of a worry thing with him! xx

 

[Bosworth]

I had a 17 hh who was a nightmare with the farrier. When I bought him he had a set of shoes on so we never thought to ask if he was good to shoe. first time our farrier tried to show him the horse lost the plot, threw himself around the box with no concern for himself. We phoned the person we bought him off and were told he had only had one set on and that was by a local hill farrier - ie one who could be called a farrier because his family for generations had been farriers. He had been dragged in and shoes slapped on - he was so shocked he didn't know what was happening. we tried shoeing him the next time sedated - it was a fight but we got 2 on. Then the farrier realised he could not cope with the burning smell so started to cold shoe him - two feet each visit so it was just short and sweet. he would go into the horses stable and put a head collar on and just drop the roper through a tie ring so no head pressure on the horse. Then he just ignored him while he shod. it took about 12 months before we were able to get round to having a full set hot shod .

in between visits we would pick his feet out twice a day - each time holding them for slightly longer and tapping them with a hammer.

The horse was genuinely frightened and force will just reinforce his fright.

 

[Donkeymad]

To be honest, you can't complain at the farrier for charging you £50. he tried, but your horse was difficult. I would recommend you get as many people as possible, especially men, to pick out his feet, hold them up while tapping them etc.

 

[Kiko]

thanks guys, I guess I just need keep perserveering!

Donkeymad - I still don't think he should of charged £50 for two shoes as the horse was worse as he was two hours late with no warning.

Will go back to my previous farrier as he was alot more successful at shoeing him

xx

 

[YorksG]

We have had our big girl nearly four years, she is a 17hh ShirexClydesdale and only has her feet trimmed, the last time, with sedaline, she had the two front done and we called it a day before she killed some-one! I can pick her feet up, tub them do pretty much anything (this is after much perseverence, and one crunching cos kick). BUT she flips when the farrier comes, we have done her twice with IV sedation and three times with sedaline, twice ok, but the last time was awful. We will be using IV sedation next time. We tried for two years to trim without sedation, this was not a good idea! Hope eventually to get to trimming without sedation.

 

[buzzles]

My young mare hates getting shod as she can't stand the banging, as soon as farrier starts banging she freaks out, whether it's on the anvil of her feet. I tried to get her used to it but she used to just get wound up and upset. Now when the farrier comes I plug her ears with cotton wool which deadens the sound of the banging and she stands perfectly quietly

 

[Nosey]

Also think you need to stick with same farrier so you can build up some consistency and the horse gets used to him (or her!)...does need to be someone who is patient! Agree him being late probably wound the both of you up!

Doing the feet in pairs at a time is also good to break it down in manageable chunks - will probably cost more but worth it.

Really important to keep up with the practicing - my horse particularly hated the bit where they pull the leg forward to tidy up the clenches...I suppose thats not something we usually do.