Resistance to having hind shoes put on

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llohcins123

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I have a 6 year old who has always been very good to shoe. However the last two times he has had new shoes put on he has been resistant when having his back shoes put on. He just gets really grumpy and pulls proper faces at the farrier, ears flat back. My farrier's work is excellent, horses feet are in good condition and well shod - we get lots of compliments on them! Farrier says he is just being impatient and lazy holding them up but I am not so sure. He is generally a horse that lets you know when he isnt happy but is kind and easy going. I would say he is uncomfortable when having these back shoes done. His workload has increased during the past four months and he is working really well- saddle, teeth etc all done and up to date, had back done about 4 months ago. Shoeing has never been a problem before now I just wonder if anyone had any opinions on this?!
 
llohcins123 said:
I have a 6 year old who has always been very good to shoe. However the last two times he has had new shoes put on he has been resistant when having his back shoes put on. He just gets really grumpy and pulls proper faces at the farrier, ears flat back. My farrier's work is excellent, horses feet are in good condition and well shod - we get lots of compliments on them! Farrier says he is just being impatient and lazy holding them up but I am not so sure. He is generally a horse that lets you know when he isnt happy but is kind and easy going. I would say he is uncomfortable when having these back shoes done. His workload has increased during the past four months and he is working really well- saddle, teeth etc all done and up to date, had back done about 4 months ago. Shoeing has never been a problem before now I just wonder if anyone had any opinions on this?!
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I'd honestly get a physio out. 4 months for me is too long for a horse in full time work to go between visits. It's worth ruling it out as I'd be very suspicious if mine did that.

Good luck.
 
JingleSmells said:
I'd honestly get a physio out. 4 months for me is too long for a horse in full time work to go between visits. It's worth ruling it out as I'd be very suspicious if mine did that.

Good luck.
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like _GG_ said there is most likely issue with back or legs / tendons etc get the vet to check him My boy would out hop on one leg etc when farrier lifted it up high, Turned out to be tendon issue, then month later he broncked me off so now have broken arm turns out back issues.

I think its his way to say something hurts
 
This happened to me with a horse that had spavins. Hopefully that's not the problem with yours, but I would recommend thinking about getting a vet to check him over.
 
Can your farrier explain why the horse is not "impatient and lazy holding them up" when the front feet are being done?

Also, can the farrier explain why the horse would choose to be "impatient and lazy" *only* when his hind feet are being done, given that he is "kind and easygoing" and "he is working really well" in other situations?

I do get a little frustrated when vets, farrier and other professionals make sweeping statements like this, when simple logic shows that the behaviour is confined to a specific situation, has not previously happened in this situation and that the horse has remained well behaved in other situations that may, in fact, require them to work harder.

If something has changed in the horse's behaviour, it has changed for a reason. Suggestions above as to why that might be, but I would certainly be investigating :)
 
Sounds like your horse it telling you something and you need to listen to him. Horses don't do something for no reason. ;-)

Go without back shoes - you don;t really need them (whatever the farrier says)

May well be the first signs of spavins.
 
Get his back looked at again - it was the farrier who suggested it to me when my horse started being difficult behind, and without his advice I've no doubt it would have taken longer for me to get the diagnosis of kissing spine that I did. Following steroid treatment last year, and ligament desmotomy (sp?), he's back to being relaxed about being shod.
 
He may have pain somewhere in his pelvis or other joints - definitely worth getting a vet out to give him a good check over, particularly if it is new behaviour.
 
when my boy was sore over his back (had be found by physio) he was tense with his back legs being shod, he also has now been found to have arthritic hocks. now both have been treated he is ok and much more relaxed.
 
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