My horse just tried to kill my farrier!

Finn

Finn

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Im so upset and dont know what to do.

Horse has been footy for a good few weeks and my farrier came out to her last week to do her usual trim etc as she is barefoot and she was as good as gold for him, never even blinked. I was so proud of her and gave her loads of praise etc etc..
When I took her back to her field after riding her that night she trood on a stone, chipping or something and was suddenly hopping lame and was holding her front let up, like dogs do when they are begging. It took 4 of us to get her back to her stable, bless her. I immedialty rang my farrier who said it was more than likely she had trodden on a stone and had bruised her sole, keep her in and give her bute for 24 hours and see whats she like and I was to keep him updated. I did as was told and the next day she seemed better so spoke to the farrier and he said turn her back out and carry on as normal and he would come out Weds ( today) and put front shoes on her.

I got her back into her field that day and she was ok but still walking footliy. She is fully sound on grass in her field and on grass verges and flat roads etc it was just when she walked on the rough stoney part of our drive that she was footy.

Anyway farrier came at 9:30 today and did her poorly foot first, got the shoe on and she was fine, banged some nails in and when he came to the last nail she suddenly went vertical and pulled her leg away. He took the shoe off and checked her foot and said she had a very deep bruise in the sole of her foot and the nail must of hurt it but he managed to get it back on for her inbetween the rearing . He went to do her good foot and she just kept trying to rear. It was awful. I felt really bad aswell coz my farrier has a really bad neck from a few days ago when another horse kneed him in the head and it jarred his neck so the last thing he needed was my horse being naughty and he did say that he wasnt in any fit state wo have an arguement with her and win it. so everytime she reared or snatched her leg away she won! Any way long story short he couldnt get the other shoe on. She wasnt in pain or anything she was just being purely naughty! He did say that she was tense/ tight in her shoulder though.

So now I have a horse with one shoe on because in the end he said he wasnt able to win a fight with her today because of his neck hurting him so he refused to carry on with the other one ( which to be fair I can understand ). He has said he will come back next week to put the other front shoe on her as long as I get the vet there at the same time to heavily sedate her before he starts.

Im so mad/ upset/ dissapointed with her as I know she can be naughty for him but she was doing so well the last few times he had been and we both thought we had cracked it with her but no, today she was even worse and I cant understand why.

I'm really, really upset for my farrier aswell because the last time ( before he gave up) she tried to rear he moved out of the way and jarred his neck again.

Has anyone got any ideas on how we can sort this out without me having to get the vet out every 6 weeks to sedate her before he can go anywhere near her.

She never really has liked farriers never has done since the day I bought her and my farrier says her previous owners obviusly let her get away with it and thats why shes like it now but I dont know what to do to get round tihs issue with her. We even twitched her today and she still reared!

On the plus side though she went back out to her field and walked over all the rough loose stones and never batted an eyelid, walked as though she had never been footy at all.

Any advice anyone can give me would really be appreciated as Im at a loss of how to handle it or what to do.

Wine and chocolate on offer if you managed to read all of this.

xxxxx
 
In all honesty I would change farriers. I had a mare who was difficult once. I did everything, including getting an IH person out to help. Eventually the farrier quit in the middle of the job leaving me with a horse with one shoe on. Changed farriers because I had no choice, new farrier did not have any issues with her at any point. I can't help wondering why, as he knew the history, your farrier did not spot the bruise and avoid nailing through it!
 
^^^^^ THIS


Your horse had possibly bruised soles/sore feet, and then within a few days the farrier starts hammering nails into them - THAT is why your horse freaked out - PAIN !!!!

I would get anothe farrier out - get those shoes off, and start to rehabilitate back to barefoot, with a vet to help if necessary. Sorry this has made me angry.Is this farrier even registered ?? I would be reporting him if he'd done that to my horse (not that I'd have let him, sorry).
 
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He's still trying to put a shoe on once he's identified that the foot is sore? And now he's left a half-shod horse?!!

Yellow Pages for a new farrier, please!

ETA - if he's injured he shouldn't be working anyway, that's in no way your mare's fault!
 
She wasnt in pain or anything she was just being purely naughty!
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Maybe rethink this? You say your mare had a sore enough hoof that the farrier felt she needed shoes - and that she reacted in real pain when he was nailing on the shoe. And then... the farrier asks her to put all her weight on the very sore, and now probably much sorer than before, hoof while he lifts the other to shoe it?

She's in a lot of pain, and is telling you and the farrier the only way she knows how. Personally, I'd be listening to her and not the farrier (and a good farrier would be listening to her too :)).

ETA she probably walked fine back to the field because she was awash with adrenalin.

Yellow Pages for a new farrier, please!
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Yep, second this!
 
If she has a painful foot she would be very reluctant to put any weight on it so im not entirely surprised she reacted like that.

My mare had a lame fore a few weeks ago and for a few days i couldnt pick her opposing fore up without a fight so i left it alone for a few days.
 
Not suprised your mare acted up. I would too, if I was in pain and someone put a nail through my injury.

I would get another farrier ASAP. Either shoe the good foot, so she is level or remove the shoe from the bad foot (although that may be hard just now if your Horse is still footsore as she won't want anyone near it)

No idea what your farrier was thinking in the first place!
 
Hi

Many thanks for your replies.

Both myself and farrier discussed it and he watched her walking on different surfaces etc and said she would be better with front shoes on as she was footy due to the hard ground. She went footy like this about 18 months ago when I first bought her and she had shoes on and was fine then she had to have her shoes off due to tendon surgery in Aug last yr and was on box rest for the few months before that and until Jan this year so couldnt compare last yr to how footy she was this year.

She seems a lot better and is walking normally again now though all be it with only one shoe on. He did say I could ride her but only in the school, Im not to hack out on her until her other shoe is on next Weds and that I also need to remember she wont be fully balanced with only one shoe.

xxxxx
 
I would be getting the shoe taken off, and investing in a pair of hoof boots for the immediate future to help lessen the soreness. Have the sore feet come on with the hard ground? We have a retired TB who is kept without shoes, although we monitor him closely, and will put fronts on for the summer months if needed to help him, although he tries to self medicate by standing in the boggy spring fed area in our field :)

We have a pair of hoof boots for him which are good for whenever he becomes footy, which can happen in winter if the ground is frozen hard for weeks :o

ETA FWIW I have competed BS on a surface with only 3 shoes, some horses really do become unlevel, but others don't seem as bothered if they don't have a shoe on every foot! :)
 
Oh for gods sake. The horse has always been bad with the farrier. Its been tried barefoot and hurt itself.

They waited until it was sound everywhere except stony ground and then put fronts on it. No reason for it not to stand on one leg

As it was bad to shoe before, why would it have changed.

If you are happy with the farrier in general I would get some of the new oral sedative from the vet, Dem something I think. It was enough to knock our mad creature out for the dentist to pull a wolf tooth so I think it will be plenty for the farrier to get a front on.

Wait until the next shoeing and reassess. You might be able to go back to barefoot them. Or buy some hoof boots.
 
Im not surprised your horse reacted!!!
Im sorry the horse had a sore foot and his advice was to put shoes on it??? New farrier immediately!!

The worst thing to do would be put shoes on a horse with sore feet, and then take it off again, and put it back on and then ask it to put its weight on its bad foot.....am i missing something???

Get someone else out to have a look!!
 
AMH said:
He's still trying to put a shoe on once he's identified that the foot is sore? And now he's left a half-shod horse?!!

Yellow Pages for a new farrier, please!

ETA - if he's injured he shouldn't be working anyway, that's in no way your mare's fault!
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Totally agree ^^^ she obviously was in alot of pain!
Farrier very unprofessional.... get a new one!
My horse if very fussy with who does his feet... he has been known to completely refuse to let a farrier anywhere near him but loves the farrier he has now and stands very nicely... don't blame your horse, yes tell her off to let her know you don't approve of this bad behavior but don't be too hard on her as there is usually a good reason why our horses act in such ways... in your case your poor mare was in pain made worse by your farrier!
 
I think I agree that you need to be looking for a new farrier. The horse was clearly sore as he had just whacked a nail through the bruise on it's foot, it would have still been painful for her to stand on the sore foot with all her weight whilst he put the other shoe on. She was probably worried that he would do the same on that foot. I have to be honest, I wouldn't have put shoes back on after having them off for so long, I think I would have opted for boots, certainly in the short term.
 
Oh dear, I seemed to have caused a bit of upset. I really didnt mean to upset anyone.

Trust me we have tried everything and I have really tried to keep her barefoot but some horses just dont cope on the hard ground without front shoes on and shes obviusly one of them.

Like Rocksmum stated my horse has always been naughty for the farrier apart from when he came last week and she was as good as gold for him. But today was totally over the top even for her. Even other people that were in the barn with us said she was just being naughty.

Her ears were forward and she was happily muching inbetween the rears and leg snatching and she had no fear or anything in her eyes.

Shes a Shire X Cob and cant be arsy and bloschy at times and knows her own strength and sometimes uses it to get her own way.

All I was asking for was advice on the way forward with regards to any ideas to help her accept the farrier and be good for him. My farrier has been amazing with her and so kind and patient but today she just took the pxxx and won as he wasnt in a well enough state to win the arguements with her.

Normally she will always try it on with him within the first few mins, he gives her what for and then she stands still for him. I have no issues what so ever with my farrier just wish my mare would be good for him.

Thanks Rockysmum for suggesting that stuff. I will ring the vets later and see whats its called and if I can have some.
 
So the farrier was driving nails into a sore hoof that was bruised and you are surprised the horse reacted?

Do you REALLY think she was just being naughty?

Horses very rarely do things just for the hell of it - they react in fear and to protect themselves against a perceived threat.

I would suggest this mare was already on guard and the pain she has just gone through has confirmed she was right to be afraid in her mind.

The horse will be footy, thin soled and prone to bruising because of the high sugars in the grass.
Slapping a shoe on may numb the discomfort but it won't fix the underlying issue.
Take her off grass for 48 hours before the farrier comes next time.

I posted a reply to someone else asking about their footy horse today.
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=539153
 
Im so mad/ upset/ dissapointed with her
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I wouldn't be - she's in pain and letting you know (or rather the farrier).

My saint of a horse tried to kill me, the vet and a friend when he had colic.

And farrier when he had an abscess.
 
shysmum said:
" I have no issues what so ever with my farrier just wish my mare would be good for him."

This to me says it all. :mad:
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Some of us are unlucky enough to have horses which dont behave for the farrier, even though our farriers are great.

I have one of them. Our farrier is fully qualified, also a barefoot trimmer and does remedial work for our vets (a large equine practice)

Two of my horses love him, he even managed to shoe the 36 year old who cant pick his feet very high any more. This lad was tried barefoot before but was crippled. With this farrier we have managed to do away with his shoes last time.

Bring on the stressy warmblood. Not in pain, just a bitch. She has reared, jumped around, wrecked his tool box which he has owned for 20 years etc etc. On his last visit he even resorted to singing to her, which actually worked. But it might not next time. We have tried barefoot but her feet are not good enough to stand it.

In the OPs position I would not hesitate to give her an oral sedative.

This horse has never been abused, she had never even been trimmed when we bought her as a youngster.

She is like this for the vet and everyone else.
 
rockysmum said:
Bring on the stressy warmblood. Not in pain, just a bitch. She has reared, jumped around, wrecked his tool box which he has owned for 20 years etc etc. On his last visit he even resorted to singing to her, which actually worked. But it might not next time. We have tried barefoot but her feet are not good enough to stand it.
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Obviously you know your horse better than anyone, but it's interesting to me that she has hoof problems and is difficult.

Hoof pain and behavioural problems are quite a common theme.

I understand what you are saying, but the OP has stated her horse has bruising and is footy - which (to me) is indicative of sub-clinical laminitis. Do you not consider her horse is reacting in pain rather than just being badly behaved?

I do agree that a sedative will probably be necessary next time for everyone's safety.
 
Oberon said:
Obviously you know your horse better than anyone, but it's interesting to me that she has hoof problems and is difficult.

Hoof pain and behavioural problems are quite a common theme.
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She doesn't really have hoof problems, just had bits breaking off because of the stoney tracks when she was barefoot.

I have spent year making excuses for her behaviour. Bottom line she just only tolerates what she want to. If it suits her, we are allowed to do it, if not then we can forget it.

Example, she got something under her shoe and went lame. Cue holding a leg up looking pathetic and actually let the vet examine her. She also let me poultice it for 2 days being as good as gold. When it stopped hurting I was still poulticing it. She managed to get three poultices in a row off. Scared everyone on the yard to death. I'm talking leaping three feet into the area and kicking the front hoof with her back ones till in came off. She would then stand and look at me snorting as though daring me to try again.

Rest of the time she is a sweetie, doesn't bite or kick, so not a nasty mare.
 
rockysmum said:
She doesn't really have hoof problems, just had bits breaking off because of the stoney tracks when she was barefoot.

I have spent year making excuses for her behaviour. Bottom line she just only tolerates what she want to. If it suits her, we are allowed to do it, if not then we can forget it.

Example, she got something under her shoe and went lame. Cue holding a leg up looking pathetic and actually let the vet examine her. She also let me poultice it for 2 days being as good as gold. When it stopped hurting I was still poulticing it. She managed to get three poultices in a row off. Scared everyone on the yard to death. I'm talking leaping three feet into the area and kicking the front hoof with her back ones till in came off. She would then stand and look at me snorting as though daring me to try again.

Rest of the time she is a sweetie, doesn't bite or kick, so not a nasty mare.
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Fair enough. But it sounds to me like she doesn't have healthy hooves at the best of times and then can't cope as soon as the slightest thing happens to them.

My gelding had an abscess that went nasty once (it was down to a few other health problems at the time and his hoof copped it:(). It grumbled on for ages and the vet used hoof testers on him a few times. It got where he started throwing a tantrum at the sight of hoof testers. Even years later and with healthy hooves - he will throw himself on the floor or try and clunk the vet in the head if he gets them out of his bag :o
He is still twitchy with me picking out that particular hoof or looking at it for too long. No matter how much he likes or trusts me after 20 year together, he remembers pain with that hoof and he will protect himself accordingly.

I may be speaking out of term - but I would have a close look at her diet and see if that can improve her hooves. Over the last couple of years, mineral balancing has brought big improvements to a lot of those horses who just couldn't grow good hooves despite best efforts before.

And get a gelding next time :D
 
shysmum said:
^^^^^ THIS


Your horse had possibly bruised soles/sore feet, and then within a few days the farrier starts hammering nails into them - THAT is why your horse freaked out - PAIN !!!!

I would get anothe farrier out - get those shoes off, and start to rehabilitate back to barefoot, with a vet to help if necessary. Sorry this has made me angry.Is this farrier even registered ?? I would be reporting him if he'd done that to my horse (not that I'd have let him, sorry).
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This ^^^

I can't believe anyone would try to shoe a horse with sore feet. And the reason she was worse when he came to doing her good foot is as plain as day. She doesn't want to put her weight on the bad one, especially as it is now aggravated by a misplaced nail.
 
Brightbay said:
Amen to this!



And to this, as OP did mention that the same thing happened at this time last year.
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Amen from me too. :D Ooops the quotes don't show but you get the jist.
If a horse is footy, it is sore! It wouldn't be footy otherwise would it? :D Surely it's not being awkward when it's footy? :eek:
 
Finn said:
Oh dear, I seemed to have caused a bit of upset. I really didnt mean to upset anyone.

Trust me we have tried everything and I have really tried to keep her barefoot but some horses just dont cope on the hard ground without front shoes on and shes obviusly one of them.

Like Rocksmum stated my horse has always been naughty for the farrier apart from when he came last week and she was as good as gold for him. But today was totally over the top even for her. Even other people that were in the barn with us said she was just being naughty.

Her ears were forward and she was happily muching inbetween the rears and leg snatching and she had no fear or anything in her eyes.

Shes a Shire X Cob and cant be arsy and bloschy at times and knows her own strength and sometimes uses it to get her own way.

All I was asking for was advice on the way forward with regards to any ideas to help her accept the farrier and be good for him. My farrier has been amazing with her and so kind and patient but today she just took the pxxx and won as he wasnt in a well enough state to win the arguements with her.

Normally she will always try it on with him within the first few mins, he gives her what for and then she stands still for him. I have no issues what so ever with my farrier just wish my mare would be good for him.

Thanks Rockysmum for suggesting that stuff. I will ring the vets later and see whats its called and if I can have some.
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There is always a reason why a horse is bad to shoe, and it's usually pain related. My gelding is the same. I have finally taken all his shoes off and trying him barefoot. He is a genuine horse and so I know the shoeing issue is pain related. He too looks totally unconcerned between. He seems to object more to having his front legs pulled up and slightly to the side than anything else. I think it hurts his joints.
 
Wagtail said:
There is always a reason why a horse is bad to shoe, and it's usually pain related. My gelding is the same. I have finally taken all his shoes off and trying him barefoot. He is a genuine horse and so I know the shoeing issue is pain related. He too looks totally unconcerned between. He seems to object more to having his front legs pulled up and slightly to the side than anything else. I think it hurts his joints.
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I have 5 ponies and 1 horse that have all struggled with legs being lifted too high and when they are pulled forward for the ponies, the horse just with one hind. Our current farrier, in about 5 visits, has turned them from fidgety leg snatching horrors, that are a nightmare to stand with, into animals that don't even twitch whilst he is trimming - all without a cross word! The horse almost lost us one farrier because of his behaviour, I now wish he had and that we had found this one earlier, he is brilliant! He takes their problems into account and deals with them accordingly.
 
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