Mollased licks

Supertrooper

Supertrooper

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Does anyone use to help distract horse from farrier/vet. I was wondering whether to get one of the mini ones to use when the boy is shod on weds. He is always difficult about his front left leg being done (even with lots of work) but I know he'd be mega interested in a sugary lick!!!

I'm just not sure as i'm paranoid about laminitis, he'd only have it under my control and only for about 5-10mins. He always has a haynet but this only keeps him so interested.

Thoughts pls xx
 
If he IS a lami sufferer, then maybe not, but if he isn't and you're just lami aware I think it would be fine. :)

Mollasses has less sugar in it then actual sugar (which is what likkits are), so if you want to choose between the sweet ones, mollasses would be a better option than a likkit, there are also the salty ones like Rockeys, and the "seedy" ones which are bound by something sugary but their bulk is grains.

I reckon it doesn't much matter what you give him while the farrier is there for 10 minutes, if it works then brilliant. If its in a holder and hard/impossible for him to get hold of to bite, he's really only going to take in negligible amounts in 10 minutes anyway.

HTH :)
 
I personally hate the things for free use- pure sugar! However for your purpose you could use one. Does your horse have an injury/problem in that leg/foot? Because if so and he finds it hard for that leg to be done then that may be why training isn't helping. A distraction could work but i would start by just giving it when the horse stands nicely and take it away when he fidgets. Otherwise he could learn that he gets a treat when he fidgets, which is the opposite of what you are trying to achieve.

The same could be done with a handful of fibre nuts. Just give one at a time at the appropriate moment. If you are worried about the horse starting to get pushy and bite you could always hold a feed bucket and put one nut in at a time.
 
I was thinking about getting one of the mini horselyx ones so I can hold it for him. He finds it difficult to stand on his right fore while his left one is being lifted, he damaged his tendon in his right fore 14 months ago. He is totally sound now, no swelling etc etc. Vets have checked it and are happy.

I feel it's a combination of finding it hard to balance (he's a big horse) and he's a bit of a worrier. He is alot better since we've owned him though and worked on it xx
 
He's never had laminitis but the vet said when we got him (sept 2010) he was likely to get it as he was obese. He's lost alot of weight and I'd rather remain a paranoid owner than not! Hence I wouldn't let him have access to a lick 24/7 xx
 
Supertrooper said:
Does anyone use to help distract horse from farrier/vet. I was wondering whether to get one of the mini ones to use when the boy is shod on weds. He is always difficult about his front left leg being done (even with lots of work) but I know he'd be mega interested in a sugary lick!!!

I'm just not sure as i'm paranoid about laminitis, he'd only have it under my control and only for about 5-10mins. He always has a haynet but this only keeps him so interested.

Thoughts pls xx
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If it works and makes him safer go for it. Mine will stand anyway but food would be the starting point. He has a big hay net and is happy as larry.So a lick if this is his treat go for it if not laminitic and only for a few mins wouldnt worry. Good luck
 
When the farrier starts to do him, get him to start with the right front first. I had a filly who damaged her left front and seemed to think that when her left front was lifted the wound was going to be dressed, by starting with her right she accepted t was just the farrier and stood for her left being done.

If he messes put a twitch on him.
 
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