Horse Dislikes my farrier...

[kateknights]

Ok so i had my farrier out yesterday for a trim...
Tommy really doesn't like him, as soon as he walked around the corner he just started shaking all over! This is the 3rd time i have had my farrier since i have owned Tommy. The first time he was fine but the last two times he has been like this, it was awful, he is usually so laid back about everything i have never seen him like this before, he was snorting at him and everything! What would you do? Change farriers? I have used my farrier for 4 years he is very reliable, always comes when he says he's going to, i just don't know...
Help???

 

[coen]

Have you always supervised this farrier while he has trimmed/ shod your horse. If not he may have been unnecessarily harsh with him, in which case change the farrier.
If you have been present and nothing untoward has happened then it may just be that he hasn't learnt to try the guy yet, so you could persevere and maybe check he isn't like that with men in general.

 

[HollyP]

yes have you always been there and not noticed anything too harsh?

If everything is ok with the farrier maybe see if he can try and bond a bit with your horse stroke him and give him a treat so its not such an ordeal!

 

[Achinghips]

I had a farrier once who kicked my horse in the belly with steel toe capped boots, because he reared and put his ears back. The horse bolted out through the stable and impaled himself on a nail from the broken door. I since watched a farrier very carefully and thankfully found a good and well mannered one on my second attempt and have stuck with him, though obviously his job was made more difficult by the antics of the first.

 

[russianhorse]

One of my farriers punched my horse full force in the head when he stomped his foot down

Needless to say, I didnt bother with him again

If your farrier has done nothing to your horse, I agree with Holly P to try to get them to bond

 

[Achinghips]

[ QUOTE ]
One of my farriers punched my horse full force in the head when he stomped his foot down

Needless to say, I didnt bother with him again

If your farrier has done nothing to your horse, I agree with Holly P to try to get them to bond

[/ QUOTE ]

Absolutely appalling behaviour.

 

[Oberon]

If the farrier has not been abusive to the horse it may be a scent thing. A friend's very clever and sensible cob really hates one of the other liveries. Said livery has had very little contact with the cob - and never a bad experience. We are left to believe he just dislikes the way he smells.

 

[MegaBeast]

[ QUOTE ]
If the farrier has not been abusive to the horse it may be a scent thing.

[/ QUOTE ]

Apparently some soaps and perfumes contain the same chemical that is given off by a dead horse. My Mum was telling me this the other day when she was reading something but I wasn't paying much attention so it may be your farrier has changed his soap and now smells like a dead horse? Buit far fetched I know but it's possible

 

[sophie1]

one of my horses absolutly detests mine! She turns from sweet to evil in a click (literally like jekel and hyde!) I had an incident where she got so upest by him she raised a leg to me when i went to pick it up, and then when i stepped back saying 'it's not worth it' she actually took aim kicked out at me and did a fair bit od damage!! I have heard situations with the farrier are not uncommon. It could be a smell of burning?? are you in contact with the previous owners?

 

[TheFarrier]

many aftershaves contain male pig pheromones and we all know how much horses love pigs.

It could be that? I dont wear aftershave while working (i think some farriers do) but i think some deodorants must contain pheromones too.

Were you not present when the horse was being worked on? If the farrier hasnt done anything then he is hardly to blame is he. Why has the horse changed form the first trim? perhaps find the reason out and then make your decision from there

 

[L&M]

Have you asked the previous owners what he was like with their farrier - maybe he doesn't like them in general and only accepted the first trim as distracted by being in a new home?