OMG horse was a nightmare for the farrier

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Footlights

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Only second time a farrier has been out for my horse, first time he was figiting and threatening to rear so farrier put a chifney on straight away and he turned into dope on rope and everything was ok from then on.

Long story, but had to get new farrier out this time who didn't have a chifney and doesn't really agree on using them. And omg, he was AWFUL. Back feet were fine, no problems, but front feet every time he was about to put a nail in he reared up vertically. At one stage the nail was half in, he reared up and came back down and bent the nail.

He doesn't seem to have done himself any damage (fingers crossed) and the farrier was extremely patient with him and finally managed to get the job done.

I'm beside myself though, worried he has hurt himself. He has also cut my finger when he reared up and pulled all the muscles in my arm from where I was holding him.

Farrier has suggested banging his front feet every day when i pick them out to desensitize him to the whole process. It's all in his head though and he genuinely seemed scared so I dred to think what has happened in the past.

Has anyone had similar problems? What did you do? I feel awful.
 
My horse was terrible with his front feet, he would rear and them barge the farrier out of the way. He would snatch his feet away from me when I was picking them out. No problem with his back, I kept picking them up and he did get better. He did eventually settle having them done but it took a while. Me and my farrier just persevered. Hope your horse improves in time, I used to dread shoeing time as he was a nightmare.
 
I got a vet out to sedate for the farriers safety. My girl was worse with her hinds, we progressed to using the gel dermosedan without the vet attending, but then I tried her without back shoes and she was quite calm. Sedation did work, her acceptance at each shoeing increased,(not using sedalin, - that made her worse) She's now unshod all round after her remedial work was successful. Like you, I had a patient farrier who really helped.

I'm surprised that your horse played up about the fronts and not the backs, have you considered a pain issue for his behaviour ? Does he have to be shod at all ?
 
It is not unknown for horse to be rearing in front I think it is because they have been allowed to do this at some time, nothing to do with fear or pain, I would just get a chiffney. It is not a ideal to change farriers as the horse may get nervous.
 
I did consider that it may be pain, however, he was fine with the majority of nails going in, but got himself worked up before they actually went in, if that makes sense?

I don't know whether to just get a chifney to save him hurting himself, me and the farrier, or to try and work with him through it. Maybe over time he will realise there is nothing to get worked up about and we won't need to use it.
 
Footlights said:
I did consider that it may be pain, however, he was fine with the majority of nails going in, but got himself worked up before they actually went in, if that makes sense?

I don't know whether to just get a chifney to save him hurting himself, me and the farrier, or to try and work with him through it. Maybe over time he will realise there is nothing to get worked up about and we won't need to use it.
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You don't need to "use a chiffney" very often, by putting a chiffney in his mouth passively, it is "used" by tugging on the mouth, and the horse stops rearing because it is a bit painful
Putting the chiffney in his mouth may be enough.
 
Can you not ask your vet for some ACP and water them down in a syringe and give him a shot of some about half hour before the farrier arrives if he's really that bad? Ring vet tell him what he's like and ACP tablets are pennies anyway and then at least you have them for when u think he's going to be a pain if it could cause trouble for the farrier or risk you or farrier or horses safety .. And they can always speak to your farrier before the administer them
 
It is interesting how the reports of poor behaviour with farriers have increased alongside the many reports of horses being laminitic (acute and sub-clinical).
I would bring a horse off grass for 24 hours before shoeing next time and see if that makes the difference.
 
As long as I was certain there were no pain issues, though this is more likely to be with hind feet, it a horse reared then it would sure as heck get a darn good shock from me. I would make it think it was going to die, which does not necessarily lean beating it up.

I give them enough to think about that they are more worried about upsetting me than having shoes on.
 
Oberon said:
It is interesting how the reports of poor behaviour with farriers have increased alongside the many reports of horses being laminitic (acute and sub-clinical).
I would bring a horse off grass for 24 hours before shoeing next time and see if that makes the difference.
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Agree with the above. It is very unusual for horses to react so dramatically unless there is a really good reason. I would imagine that having nails driven up near slightly inflamed laminae is something like have nails driven under our finger nails,so I would deffo want to rule this out before the next shoeing.
 
Oberon said:
It is interesting how the reports of poor behaviour with farriers have increased alongside the many reports of horses being laminitic (acute and sub-clinical).
I would bring a horse off grass for 24 hours before shoeing next time and see if that makes the difference.
Click to expand...

Interesting thanks, will give this a try next time farrier is due.
 
My young girl was bad getting her feet done, she would not let me pick them up at all at first and would go down on her knees and also kick out with the backs. Then when farrier first trimmed her she was a nightmare, rearing, barging, being a general pain. Just me being persistent and patient has paid off no end. I can even pick out her feet in the field without a headcollar.
The second farrier visit was far better, she tried it on but started to realise it was not a life or death situation so I am hoping she will be the model pupil on her 3rd go in around 4weeks time.
Dont lose hope, your horse will I am sure learn to trust in having his feet done

ETS: She has not and was not being shod when she did this, it was down to fear and a lack of understanding and trust about what was going on. Could be different for your horse of course
 
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Thank you for giving me hope. He got himself so worked up, in the end I think he was just rearing for the hell of it. He settled down when the farrier was doing his back feet, but as soon as the farrier picked one of his front feet again he just reared again.

He is such a different kettle of fish to my old chap who would fall asleep on the farriers shoulder when his feet were being done. :-(
 
Footlights said:
He is such a different kettle of fish to my old chap who would fall asleep on the farriers shoulder when his feet were being done. :-(
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I know that one. I lost my girl in October and it has been very different starting with a new horse who has been very green even over the basics such as feet and handling. It takes time, but dont give up hope x
 
My horse suffered a bout of laminitis during the first spring i had him. He also had other serious hoof problems and was on box rest for a long time.
The day came finally we were able to shoe him and he went mad. Rearing pulling away, kicking the whole lot.
I used sedalin for half an hour before the farrier was next due and it took the edge off- along with a highly patient farrier he's now good as gold to shoe.
It could be a memory of past pain as in my horses case he had had so much pain in his feet he was literally terrified of anyone other than me touching them.
I sedated him for the following about 6 times and then stopped- by this time his fear was gone.
 
We used to use sedaline and a twitch for my mare - turned out eventually that she had really bad arthritis coming on and it was pain that made her play up.
 
Thanks guys, more food for thought. Just been up to check on him now and he is lame, which to be honest doesn't surprise me considering how many times he reared up and landed on either bare foot or a shoe that wasn't on properly yet. If he isn't sound after bank hol will be getting farrier back out - I guess he is just very foot sore from being an idiot.
 
Agree with having a look to see if there's any pain going on. My horse has been pretty rude with the farrier since I had him (5 years now). At the start it was all four feet - used to rear up when the fronts were done. Like you, have a very patient (and determined!!) farrier who would NOT let go if he could help it. Got so bad one time, horse threw himself on the floor in temper :eek:

He settled a bit and was good with the fronts eventually, but still put up a fight with the back feet. We discovered this combined with a saddle fitting nightmare I had at the same time, that his back was very sore. This is when the patience of the farrier really came into its own and really helped my horse out through his discomfort. :o

Guess what I'm saying from my experience, rule out pain and continue with a sympathetic, patient and determined farrier, which is what you have, it seems. Good luck, it should get better.
 
Interesting because when I bought my horse he didn't have laminitis but was naughty with the farrier. He did get better in time, but he did get lamintis after about 3 years of me owning him. Which did make me think that he might have had bouts before, hence being naughty with the farrier.
 
It seems to me that your horse is trying to tell you something - but what? How is he when you pick out his hooves? He is lame now which indicates that something was wrong when he was being shod. You are his owner and it is up to you to find the problem and put it right!! Good luck!!
 
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