Horse Behaviourists in Bedfordshire area

HollyWoozle

HollyWoozle

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1 August 2002
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Beds/South Cambs
www.farandride.com
Can anyone recommend a horse behaviourist in Bedfordshire area please? Have had my horse 16 years in November and she has never been that easy, but she is becoming increasingly difficult with the farrier - have already discussed with vet and she is on bute as getting a bit stiff, but doesn't appear to be helping. Would love a professional's view to help me to help her if you see what I mean (and to help the farrier too!). Thank you.
 
I would want a vet first, imo it's always best to check every avenue of potentially causative discomfort before looking to just tackle a specific behaviour considering that all behaviour is communication and you already know that she has some pain/discomfort.
 
Mine struggles with back legs and farrier! She was diagnosed with ulcers and juvenile hock arthritis! Ulcers treated and hocks medicated and seems much happier lifting them up. I’ve bought a hoof stand to help too!
 
Thanks all! Just to clarify she was seen by vet in person (who started her on daily bute). I agree that it all points to discomfort but I sort of want to check all avenues and have more opinions somehow… vet believes she is a bit stiff with age and that is all, but we haven’t done any specific diagnostic tests beyond them seeing her move.

She has been retired for at least 10 years and has been with the same routine and same farrier, has never shown any symptoms of ulcers and lives out 24/7. I’ve tried joint supplements. She has melanomas and at this point I am just cruising her through to the end of her days as best I can and I am aware that those are coming sooner rather than later. She has never been “easy” for the farrier in some ways but she just looks like she hates it now… she doesn’t do anything sudden or wild but she is reluctant to give up her back legs, leans on the foot stand and generally makes it hard for him to do the job.

I don’t believe it is “naughtiness” at all and am sure she finds it uncomfortable but feel another view might help me. She is a confusing mare. 🤪 At age 23, retired 10yrs+ and with an unpredictable and nervy nature I’m not going to start medicating hocks, sending her away or doing anything invasive… but I also want to find a way forward to help her and farrier if I can. Maybe I’m mad though as her melanomas are likely to mean it’s over for her soon, but she otherwise looks well and, I think, lives a good life. ☺️
 
I use an excellent trainer and behaviourist, she is in Surrey though. She has taught me positive reinforcement and you can teach most things with + reinforcement and counter conditioning but you do need to look at the underlying cause.

Can you have another chat with the vet with ideas around pain relief specifically for the farrier's visit?

I would say that my young gelding is at a rehab yard and has had extensive vet treatment over the last 9 months. Yesterday I was grooming him and picked up all 4 feet with no issues because he is comfortable, I picked them all up twice as I couldn't believe it. No pulling back, no rebalancing himself, no anxious behaviour.
 
I looked on the directory my behaviourist is registered with and the only result for Bedfordshire is Hannah Donovan. I'm never going to advise not getting a behaviourist on your team as it has been pretty transformative for me. Even if your mare is just communicating "this hurts and I hate having my feet done" you can still learn a lot. Behaviourists also usually a good source for contacts on other holistic practitioners, like an osteopath or a rehab physio who could potentially help relieve some stiffness with postural improvements. I don't think you're mad, just because she is 23 doesn't mean she can't feel better in her body ❤ "Stiff with age" can mean anything!
 
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