Nightmare with farrier

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Joanne and diesel

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Any advice would be appreciated - my TB over the past 18 months has become a nightmare with farrier to the point he is now trying to cause him serious injury.

He used to be an angel and has become more and more difficult each time to the point we tried doing fronts and backs on seperate occassions and different farrier. This last time he had 6ml of sedolin and was off his head but still kicked out injuring the farriers arm.

He has had two visits from an expert and had his pelvis and back put right in Jan this year so thats ok. He only plays up during the tightening up and rasping process.

Any advice would be appreciated.
 
Can you post pics of his feet? Clean and from the sides with ur cam on the floor level to his feet (hat and gloves advised) and of the soles please.
 
When you say two visits from experts - Im assuming this includes the vet. If not, then that is what you need to do.
 
I would also have the vet mine was the same. Never had a problem shoeing him and then started being very naughty and nasty to shoe turns out he was in pain.
 
I would bute him, rather than sedate him as it sounds as if you need to rule out pain as a reason for his behaviour.
Sedalin can have an unpredictable effect on some horses, sometimes making things worse not better.
But would get the vet involved to check out feet and back.
 
Joanne and diesel said:
Thanks everyone - vet did check him out and said she thought it was psycological -
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How did vet explain this??? Horses don't just suddenly decide to start playing up for the farrier. There tends to be a reason. Either the farrier being heavy handed and impatient with the horse or the whole process being painful or uncomfortable for the horse due to a PHYSICAL condition. Low grade lami, back pain, joint pain being common causes. But from what you have described, Low grade lami would be my bet.
 
Joanne and diesel said:
Thanks everyone - vet did check him out and said she thought it was psycological - got someone coming to see him soon i hope - will try to get the pics today
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Ask your vet to explain what psychological process they believe would result in a complete behaviour change that affects only one aspect of the horse's management :)

I'm a psychologist, by the way - so I won't diagnose pain or discomfort, but when you've ruled out spurious suggestions of "psychological", there isn't much else left to which you can attribute sudden changes in behaviour :)
 
ozpoz said:
I would bute him, rather than sedate him as it sounds as if you need to rule out pain as a reason for his behaviour.
Sedalin can have an unpredictable effect on some horses, sometimes making things worse not better.
But would get the vet involved to check out feet and back.
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This. Give bute the evening before and again prior to shoeing and see if it has a effect. It really does seem like a fear/pain response.
Sometimes Sedaline can cause more problems than it solves in situations like this.
And preferrably use another vet :)
 
Clava said:
Was that really necessary?? personally I think it is a valid view :) (unlike yours)
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x 2. Horses dont just play up for no reason there is ALWAYS a cause but humans are frequently too thick/blinkered/stuck up their own ar$e to find the cause.

Id also be taking the shoes off and leaving him be a while, keeping an eye on the feet for signs of infection or low grade laminitis. Banging nails into inflamed feet is clearly going to be painful.
 
Unless the farrier has been unprofessional it sounds like it might be pain related, I would defiantly NOT give anti-inflammatory drugs or pain killers until I knew what was causing the problem.
As for Chrisitch’s remarks, it is enough to make me feel there is not point contributing to this thread any longer.
 
Heelfirst said:
Unless the farrier has been unprofessional it sounds like it might be pain related, I would defiantly NOT give anti-inflammatory drugs or pain killers until I knew what was causing the problem.
As for Chrisitch’s remarks, it is enough to make me feel there is not point contributing to this thread any longer.
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Bute is given to help with diagnosis, not to mask the problem.
 
hmmm mine was always tetchy on one of his fores and when he went lame on the opposing hind I noticed how he was struggling to weight bear and he had a tendon injury, now barefoot and sound so check the pain issue first defo
 
My mare was really out of character tense and naughty the time she was shod just before her psd diagnosis. I agree with others if its totally out of character for him its more than likely pain related x
 
Joanne and diesel said:
Thanks everyone - vet did check him out and said she thought it was psycological - got someone coming to see him soon i hope - will try to get the pics today
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I don't buy this explanation I'm afraid, especially as he was fine previously.
It is possible to train/drug this out but is it fair?

I'm with others and suspect pain.
 
Me neither. Pain.

Vets and physios are not infallible.

I've had a vet and a physio miss sacroiliac strain and a physio miss severe kissing spines even though she crippled the horse with a back massage.

Try the Bute trial but if it works don't Bute again, sort out the pain.
 
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