Loading, Syringe administration and farrier issues

[AnnaPK]

Hello all,
I have had some issues with the above (Loading, Syringe administration and farrier issues)
I am seeing a behaviourist about these issues. I just want to hear others' experiences.
Loading
My horse - 13yo Gelding 16.3hh - Has recently become difficult when loading. I have spent a session with a loading expert, and after this this he loaded perfectly both ways to a local ,competition but only if the lorry ramp was in the same place it was when the behaviourist came out (ramp facing into sand school). It is purely cheek but he is rather large and can justuse his size to his advantage!!! any advice would be brilliant.
Farrier issues
When I bought my horse (2years now) he had his first farrier appointment with absolutely no issues. (This was March 2023) Since that first appointment, he has been awful, kicking out and very dangerous. for that reason, we sedate him.
Why the big change? Obviously, I'm unsure, but it could be pain-related as I had his hocks injected (December 2023) and again (Febuary 2025) although this seemed to make no difference to his behaviour around the farrier. In December 2023, I got him a full veterinary workup - nerve blockers, Ulcers, X-rays, all absolutely fine, and we decided then to do his hocks.
I accept that this is most likely, therefore, anticipation of pain, but I'm looking for advice on how to get back to how he was. I pick up his feet daily, not an issue at all. He is hot shod but won't even let the farrier pick his feet up! What do I do?!?!
Syringe administration
As mentioned above, I have to sedate my horse for the farrier, and I don't anticipate a sudden change in that!!! I use domedecian gel (prescribed) (under the tongue medication), but the little genius now knows what's coming and won't go near a syringe. I have been doing daily work with a syringe and carrot or apple juice so he has a positive relationship with it, but even this isn't going brilliantly, as he is terrified of them. He will rear up if I try to administer it! He is too big to be messed with, and I can't keep getting flung around my stable every 6 weeks!! In this situation, how do I either get him used to the syringe, or is there another sedative I can use? Maybe one that works in feed? I'm not sure!!!

Thank you for reading I would really appreciate any experiences or advice you have to offer!! Happy to answer any questions.

 

[Supertrooper]

I had good success with clicker training my pony to pick his feet up and then slowly progressed on to everything a farrier might do. You need someone who knows how to do it, as the timing needs to be right.

With my pony it was hock pain related, but also the anticipation of pain. With him it showed as bargy, difficult behaviour but he was just trying to tell us.

I always gave him bute (with vets advise) two days before farrier and on the day. Sedation made him more dangerous so with the above and a farrier who was patient, held his foot low and gave him breaks to decompress we got to the stage he was an angel.

He did like this farrier though, he was confident with him but kind.

Ginger nut bribery also helped hugely, the pony and the farrier . Apparently according to the farrier they wouldn’t share so they had to have a packet each.

The farrier was worth in weight in gold and I often overpaid him as I didn’t ever want to lose him.

 

[Supertrooper]

Just to say my pony would kick, bite, rear, spin round. It was so stressful and obviously had to come up with a solution to save everyone’s sanity.

 

[LEC]

With dope in a tube. I have a lot of big reactive horses. I have them in the stable with headcollar on but have their head over the stable door so I am out the way safely. I then spend 10 minutes just tapping them on the side of the mouth with it. Both sides. First few times they are horrified. You just keep going until they no longer react. The next step is to put it between the lips in corner of the mouth. Again I might do this 20x until they just don't react. Sometimes you need to go back to tapping. Essentially you keep going until no reaction. Take off the lid and it's usually manageable.

 

[blood_magik]

Dually for loading - it’s the only thing that stops my bolshy bad loader from getting away from me if he’s being an idiot.

And if he’s likely to try running at you, carry a stick so you can place him where you want him.

I also had to get a behaviourist to help me with mine. Best thing I’ve done - 99.9% of the time the horse loads like an angel now

 

[HopOnTrot]

Definitely no pain issues? Travelling and farrier and both events that can cause discomfort that isn’t an issue every day.

Apple juice in a syringe worked wonders for my mare but tbh she’s 13.2 and quite chilled, we did get to the point I can do a syringe loose in the field as she was on so many meds this winter!

 

[AnnaPK]

Definitely no pain issues? Travelling and farrier and both events that can cause discomfort that isn’t an issue every day.

Apple juice in a syringe worked wonders for my mare but tbh she’s 13.2 and quite chilled, we did get to the point I can do a syringe loose in the field as she was on so many meds this winter!

Ofcourse you can never be certian theres no pain issues but he has had a full work up physio every 6weeks 2 days before the farrier... what else could it be? as I saynpt ulcers and the farrier has never found an issue with his feet! running out of body parts to worry about!!! (saddle also fits beautifully and is checked every 3months)

 

[AnnaPK]

Dually for loading - it’s the only thing that stops my bolshy bad loader from getting away from me if he’s being an idiot.

And if he’s likely to try running at you, carry a stick so you can place him where you want him.

I also had to get a behaviourist to help me with mine. Best thing I’ve done - 99.9% of the time the horse loads like an angel now

yes, I am using a behavriolist and the time right after he is a gem but 2-3 trips after that he starts pratting around again. Im just not strong enough to hold him sometimes!!!

 

[AnnaPK]

With dope in a tube. I have a lot of big reactive horses. I have them in the stable with headcollar on but have their head over the stable door so I am out the way safely. I then spend 10 minutes just tapping them on the side of the mouth with it. Both sides. First few times they are horrified. You just keep going until they no longer react. The next step is to put it between the lips in corner of the mouth. Again I might do this 20x until they just don't react. Sometimes you need to go back to tapping. Essentially you keep going until no reaction. Take off the lid and it's usually manageable.

yes, I have been doing similar. He sees the syringe snorts and dashed to the back corner of the stable with his bum to me and if i go near he goes up!!! Jolly dificult!

 

[AnnaPK]

I had good success with clicker training my pony to pick his feet up and then slowly progressed on to everything a farrier might do. You need someone who knows how to do it, as the timing needs to be right.

With my pony it was hock pain related, but also the anticipation of pain. With him it showed as bargy, difficult behaviour but he was just trying to tell us.

I always gave him bute (with vets advise) two days before farrier and on the day. Sedation made him more dangerous so with the above and a farrier who was patient, held his foot low and gave him breaks to decompress we got to the stage he was an angel.

He did like this farrier though, he was confident with him but kind.

Ginger nut bribery also helped hugely, the pony and the farrier . Apparently according to the farrier they wouldn’t share so they had to have a packet each.

The farrier was worth in weight in gold and I often overpaid him as I didn’t ever want to lose him.

bute is an interesting idea I will definitely speek to my vet about that. would help to narrow down wether its pain or behaviour! He really isnt food driven (massive pain in my arse because thats my auto solution too!!!)

 

[AppyLover1996]

I know this probably isn't an ideal solution but it could temporarily work - regarding the syringe - can you hollow out a carrot, slide the syringe inside (filled with something yummy like molasses etc) and get near him that way? Then he could start to associate the syringe with something nice, and he would have the bonus of the yummy carrot afterwards? The above worked a treat with Baggs when he had to have a ton of syringes due to health issues x He can still be a monkey occasionally but on the whole is a lot better than he was! x Another thing to bear in mind when using the above technique - some horses try and bite down on the carrot which can lead to the syringe leaking or breaking - so it's not something I mention a lot, but sometimes you have to do the not ideal thing until things get a bit easier x

Loading wise - is there a particular phase that he buggers off at, or is it totally random? A friend's horse won't load willingly in a trailer but trots himself up the ramp of a lorry no problems. Turns out he hated the small space of the trailer. She eventually got him over the fear but even now, he has a tendency to bugger off at warp speed if a trailer is involved. To hold him, she used a Dually halter and only brings it out when she needs to load him (as a result she has several lying around the place so she's never caught short without one) x

 

[AnnaPK]

I know this probably isn't an ideal solution but it could temporarily work - regarding the syringe - can you hollow out a carrot, slide the syringe inside (filled with something yummy like molasses etc) and get near him that way? Then he could start to associate the syringe with something nice, and he would have the bonus of the yummy carrot afterwards? The above worked a treat with Baggs when he had to have a ton of syringes due to health issues x He can still be a monkey occasionally but on the whole is a lot better than he was! x Another thing to bear in mind when using the above technique - some horses try and bite down on the carrot which can lead to the syringe leaking or breaking - so it's not something I mention a lot, but sometimes you have to do the not ideal thing until things get a bit easier x

Loading wise - is there a particular phase that he buggers off at, or is it totally random? A friend's horse won't load willingly in a trailer but trots himself up the ramp of a lorry no problems. Turns out he hated the small space of the trailer. She eventually got him over the fear but even now, he has a tendency to bugger off at warp speed if a trailer is involved. To hold him, she used a Dually halter and only brings it out when she needs to load him (as a result she has several lying around the place so she's never caught short without one) x

he turns to the side at the bottom of the ramp and refuses to walk on then if pushed just buggers off!!! Ill try the syringe thing!!

 

[maya2008]

Farrier: does he need back shoes? Could you learn to rasp if he doesn’t or perhaps try a different farrier? Perhaps yours has his legs too high or pulls them more roughly and it hurts? Or Bute - if it is pain, then take the pain away.

Syringe: Sedalin works in feed but doesn’t really sedate, it just takes the edge off. I would try Bute to see if the farrier reaction is pain. Especially because he might be sore after the shoeing when he wakes up, so now associates the syringe with pain.

Loading: pain.

To me, all these are linked. Being shod behind hurts. Travelling hurts. Your vets have missed something, somewhere. Probably minor as he’s fine day to day but sore in these specific situations.

 

[Fingerontheneckstrap]

Hello all,
I have had some issues with the above (Loading, Syringe administration and farrier issues)
I am seeing a behaviourist about these issues. I just want to hear others' experiences.
Loading
My horse - 13yo Gelding 16.3hh - Has recently become difficult when loading. I have spent a session with a loading expert, and after this this he loaded perfectly both ways to a local ,competition but only if the lorry ramp was in the same place it was when the behaviourist came out (ramp facing into sand school). It is purely cheek but he is rather large and can justuse his size to his advantage!!! any advice would be brilliant.
Farrier issues
When I bought my horse (2years now) he had his first farrier appointment with absolutely no issues. (This was March 2023) Since that first appointment, he has been awful, kicking out and very dangerous. for that reason, we sedate him.
Why the big change? Obviously, I'm unsure, but it could be pain-related as I had his hocks injected (December 2023) and again (Febuary 2025) although this seemed to make no difference to his behaviour around the farrier. In December 2023, I got him a full veterinary workup - nerve blockers, Ulcers, X-rays, all absolutely fine, and we decided then to do his hocks.
I accept that this is most likely, therefore, anticipation of pain, but I'm looking for advice on how to get back to how he was. I pick up his feet daily, not an issue at all. He is hot shod but won't even let the farrier pick his feet up! What do I do?!?!
Syringe administration
As mentioned above, I have to sedate my horse for the farrier, and I don't anticipate a sudden change in that!!! I use domedecian gel (prescribed) (under the tongue medication), but the little genius now knows what's coming and won't go near a syringe. I have been doing daily work with a syringe and carrot or apple juice so he has a positive relationship with it, but even this isn't going brilliantly, as he is terrified of them. He will rear up if I try to administer it! He is too big to be messed with, and I can't keep getting flung around my stable every 6 weeks!! In this situation, how do I either get him used to the syringe, or is there another sedative I can use? Maybe one that works in feed? I'm not sure!!!

Thank you for reading I would really appreciate any experiences or advice you have to offer!! Happy to answer any questions.

Not trying to scare you or anything but maybe something to think about - a friends old pony who used to be on the same yard as me suddenly started having loading issues, and wasn’t bad with the farrier … but was not too happy with him picking up his hind legs (he’d let him do it but would often pull away when he could or ears were back the whole time). Loading was kind of just luck, sometimes he would be fine but sometimes you could be out in the car park for 2 hours. I know she did resolve a good bit of the loading issues by setting the trailer up by the entrance to one of the small turnout pens and putting his dinner in there a few evenings a week - but it didn’t matter because about 2 months later he was diagnosed with hind suspensory tears and had a very lengthy rehab. He did recover which is great but I think he is a happy hacker now - typically suspensory is a tricky one that sometimes does not always resolve itself.

Hind suspensory injuries can actually be a bit hard to see sometimes unless you’re really looking for it - they often try to tell you as best they can if you don’t notice it - farrier issues, loading issues, napping issues, maybe stopping and refusing jumps. It went unnoticed for this pony because he was mainly hacking with the odd arena hire here and there so he wasn’t doing a ton of hard work where he would show a lot of lameness afterwards.

Not saying your horse has exactly this but it sounds like he’s trying to tell you something potentially.