Filly acted awful with farrier?

[Nicole-Louise]

She's nearly 3, and has had the farrrier out MANY times with her previous owners, so knows the score. She is pretty stubborn with her feet, so I expected her to act up a little.. just not as bad as she did..

She has her feet trimmed regularly, so it isn't something that is new to her, she's pretty used to it if anything. Her 2 back feet, and her front right went 'perfect', a little fighting with her here and there, but nothing dramatic. Her front left was a complete and utter nightmare. The farrier was lovely, didn't hit her once (which I was dreading, due to experience of previous farriers). He talked to her, tried calming her down, but she wouldn't have any of it. She threw her weight around, as she's a pretty big girl, nearly standing at 16hh, he had little chance with her. She rammed him into the arena door, any time he got close she'd try rearing, spinning, striking out with her front legs and kicking with her back, threw her head around.

I felt awful for him havign to even see to her. He ended up twitching her, and she calmed down dramatically, left it on for 2 minutes, took it off and he managed to quickly trim the last. As soon as he was done, any sight of him and she'd start all over again.

She's NEVER like this, I don't understand why she'd be fine, then act up awfully?

 

[Footlights]

I had a similar experience today with my horse, I felt awful for the poor farrier, but he was very patient. Not helpful I know, but will be interested to see others replies.

 

[The_snoopster]

I had a very similar problem with a youngster, although he would let me pick his feet out he would be a nightmare with anyone else. What I did was get as many different people to handle his feet, especially "men", untill he was confident for the farrier.
Sometimes its impatience as farriers handle the feet for longer than the owners usuall hoof picking, so it may also be good to hold her feet up for longer than normal. I always train my youngsters to hold their feet up whilst I brush them with a stiff brush to simulate the farriers rasp, I also sometimes hold one of those sweet sticky licks for them to lick whilst the farrier does his job for the ones who get "impatient" it can take their minds of whats going on. Good luck

 

[FreddiesGal]

I also have this problem..everytime i know the farrier is due i stress out bigtime..funnily enough it is also his left leg. He has floored the farrier numerous times and i find watching the whole thing upsetting (especially if he gives him a smack) so now i leave them both to it. At least your filly is only young still..mine is 6!!

 

[Orangehorse]

Young horses can get frightened as they think their feet are being "attacked". Also they have to learn to be able to balance on 3 legs. But you say that she has had her feet done many times before.

Well, she could have been tired and was just fed up. Or there may have been something that was uncomfortable for her, or even painful. Was the other front leg/foot, the one bearing her weight, OK? I should check carefully.

Other than that lots of practice, maybe using food as a distraction/reward.

 

[Nicole-Louise]

Young horses can get frightened as they think their feet are being "attacked". Also they have to learn to be able to balance on 3 legs. But you say that she has had her feet done many times before.

Well, she could have been tired and was just fed up. Or there may have been something that was uncomfortable for her, or even painful. Was the other front leg/foot, the one bearing her weight, OK? I should check carefully.

Other than that lots of practice, maybe using food as a distraction/reward.

She was bearing her weight fine on all legs, I've checked her over and nothing out of the ordinary. The farrier checked also and agreed. I do know she doesn't compromise men as much as women, so I'm questioning this. But she was fine until the last minute, her previous onwers also had a male farrier attend to her and she was fine with him, a little waving around of her legs but that's it. Never has she reacted so badly..

The whole trimming literally took 10 minutes, her feet weren't in bad shape anyhow. But she's used to standing around tied up for longer than this, I always get others to pick her feet up too, and not a problem.

I constantly check her legs, and found nothing wrong on this particular day, or any day before/after.

 

[Nicole-Louise]

I had a very similar problem with a youngster, although he would let me pick his feet out he would be a nightmare with anyone else. What I did was get as many different people to handle his feet, especially "men", untill he was confident for the farrier.
Sometimes its impatience as farriers handle the feet for longer than the owners usuall hoof picking, so it may also be good to hold her feet up for longer than normal. I always train my youngsters to hold their feet up whilst I brush them with a stiff brush to simulate the farriers rasp, I also sometimes hold one of those sweet sticky licks for them to lick whilst the farrier does his job for the ones who get "impatient" it can take their minds of whats going on. Good luck

I have had many people pick her feet up, touch her legs up and down, not an issue whatsoever. I know she doesn't compromise men as much as women, but I've even had my boyfriend and other men be around her and touch her, and do her feet, not a single problem. Think I might just have to work on her a bit more, just hope the next time doesn't prove the same or worse!