How to keep him calm with the farrier tomorrow?

michellev123

michellev123

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Hey
I have the farrier coming out tomorrow. Now Oscar hasnt had the best experiances with the farrier as the last one (b4 i had him shouted and gave him a slap :( Which has made him terrified) Now last time (with old farrier) it fell the same time as he had his wolf teeth removed and he was sedated, so no problems!! However now he has moved and we have a new farrier, who is kind and patient and I have only herd good things.

The thing is I know Oscar is still gonna worry...the smell and he is always more on edge with men.

I have some sedalin but dont know whether to use it or not? His feet are in need of treatment (been 8 weeks now) so I really need him to behave!

I thought of giving him a haynet and a bucket of his fave fast fibre to try and calm him? Help him stand still!

Anyother tips?

I have had other people picking his feet out (although they are all woman as i dont know any men who are experianced!)

He is perfectly behaved with me and the other woman with his feet and all manners etc

Any advice wecomed thanks!!

Wish us luck!
 
Feed isnt a great start - it is rewarding him without doing anything and with a haynet they move there head about too much and makes it harder for the farrier to do front feet.

I suggest standing with the horse - scratching his neck (or his soft spot), give his some reassurance and when he is standing nicely after each foot give him a polo/treat rewarding for good calm behaviour. Don't treat when he is messing about - give him reassurance - talk to him and when he settles - treat.

Does the farrier have a few more horses to do as well the same time? - if so between each horse could he come and give your horse a stroke/treat - pick up a foot and just walk away to the next horse.

Could your horse be watching close by to get the smell.
 
I would go for the sedalin and a bucket of fibre feed if necessary, but thats just personal choice. The last thing the farrier will want is a horse leaping all over the place. avoid it as best as you can.
 
Perhaps give the farrier a call - my farrier would want to start afresh - and see what he has to work with.

With a nice calm farrier he might feel that vibe and be as good as gold. Along with a calm you! You need to think calm and the horse will react with you!

An example - i had a young horse who's reaction to the farrier was to rear. I used to move out the way (i had a bad accident when a horse reared on me) - the farrier rightly explained to me that as I moved away from the rear I am telling my youngster it is right to move away from farrier and it is a scary situation. I have used this farrier for years and I trust him. The next time I stood with her and when she went to rear I stayed close but in a safe place and she came down and stood still - she thought about going up a few other times but I stayed close and she soon learnt to stay still and I will stay with her. She was treated when she stood nicely. She was only about 13.3hh which helped - not sure I would have been as brave with a much bigger horse but I trusted my farrier.

A bond with a horse is quite strong and they will look to you for help!

Most farriers will want to work through the problem as they want to work towards an easier horse. Obviously some horses will never cope with the farrier and sedation is the only way, but if your horse used to be good then Im sure with a good patient farrier he will return to be that way.
 
For my youngsters, the first few times they are shod/clipped/manes pulled etc they get a lickit pot held for them, and even the stroppiest one goes into a trance licking away. Feed buckets don't last that long, so you end up giving them loads and loads. The lickit system worked with our 17h hunter when he had justarrived, was four, and hot shod for the first time and also had sore, mudrashy legs.. I don't give them at any other time apart from reward/bribes.
 
Firstly, explain to the new farrier that the horse is nervous. I have a similar problem and I would agree with the advice to stand at his head and reassure him, rewarding him when you get the desired behaviour. My farrier knows now that, if my horse exhibits signs of panic, the best thing is to walk away for a couple of minutes.

You could try a little Rescue Remedy too.
 
I like the likit idea from Honey08 - it is still rewarding without doing anything - perhaps start with nothing and then when farrier comes close and pats horse and when horse stays calm with smell and approach reward with a pat/scratch then introduce likit as a reward for the farrier coming into the equation.

You could then next time introduce when the farrier picks up foot. and make it slightly later and later each time.
 
Love the likit idea, shall have to give that a go! I would use the Sedalin anyway for a quiet life and discuss with your new farrier the way you will be going in future. I also have had dealings with a bad farrier and had to use Sedalin gel (works faster than the paste) and I use it now for the new farrier simply to make my lads life better. Perhaps once he has shod him a couple of times with sedation he will trust the new farrier, but well worth seeing what he says tomorrow. Good luck!
 
Hi
Thanks everyone. He was fantastic. Went for 2 mls sedalin, haynet and carrots in the end!! Did have horselyx there but he was too scared!

He was terrified from the moment he saw the farrier but farrier was fab stood patiently talking to him and the 2 times Oscar did a little rear run away he put his leg down left him to calm talk nicely to him and picked it up again.

He was terrified of him but took a lot of reassurance from me which was good.

Thanks again....lets hope next time goes as smoothly!!! :)
 
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