Saved horse - will not let anybody touch his feet

[jimmysend]

I have just brought a horse saving him from the meet man. He is a 7yr old dabble grey gelding. I have ridden him jumped hima and although he is nervios he is generally good. The problem is if you brush his legs or try to touch his feet he cow kicks or pulls back. I am feeding him dodson and horral Placid just cos his so nervious but wondered if anybody had any ideas to help me and the farrier before sedation.

 

[PapaFrita]

Do you really need to shoe him? if you're only working on grass, or in a school, you might not need to shoe him at all, which will give you more time to gain his trust.
You could also try making a fake arm, by stuffing a glove and putting it on a broomstick so you can touch his legs without risking getting kicked until you've gained his trust enough to pick up his feet, but if you need to get the farrier out urgently (for example if his feet are very overgrown) It's probably best he's sedated this first time so it's not so traumatic for him. Your farrier might have a few tricks of his own up his sleeve.
Well done for rescuing him!

 

[*jess*]

i don't know the full details of how to do this but... attach a cloth of soemthing that could be like a hand onto the end of a stick at start at the top of your horses leg working down just stroking the leg.. if the horse kicks it won't hit you 'cause of the stick enables you to be a safe distamce away!

just keep pratcice... maybe whilst he eats?

 

[henryhorn]

I would leave him unshod for as long as possible, then get the farrier to cold shoe just his front feet only a couple of times. This is what we always do with our babies, it's just too mind blowing to cope with shoes.smoke etc first go.
As for picking his feet up, use the hand on a stick trick, but to protect yourself also use the soft rope first. You need a rope long enough to loop round his fetlock (lead him in to it on the floor if necessary then pick both ends up)
Using both ends, slide it up to his fetlock and gently pull his foot towards you , you should be out of kicking reach at the shoulder. Stroke his leg, put the foot down, reward him. Do this over a few days and eventually you should be in a position to treat him normally and pick his foot up.
The farrier will refuse to shoe him anyway until you can pick his feet up and bang them with a hammer, so it will be quite a while before you reach the shoeing stage.
Under no circumstances use sedation unless no other way, you will end up with a horse that is scared stiff of being shod.....

 

[Onyxia]

like others said leave him unshod and you will have some time to work on him.remember it is NOT the farriers job to teach him how to behave,that is down to you.take as long as he needs,you have to try to get your hand a little further down his leg each day but dont push him too far or you will lose his trust and have to start again.

remember that when he cant be left any longer without a trim you can have him sedated,not first choice but might be necessery if he wont let you near his feet when time comes.good luck with him,you have done a really brave and good thing by taking him on.

 

[barkinghorse]

If he is nervous try Chromium and Magnesium, my horse was terrible with his feet due to his nerves and this took the edge off him allowing him to relax enough to feel safe with his feet off the ground, it's the flight mechanism that makes them reluctant to give up their feet so once the are calm it is easier and safer
Jo xx

 

[jimmysend]

thanks everyone for your advice, i have already started using a fake hand to brush his legs and hind end area and over the last couple of months "Breeze" has got much better. The farrier is coming out at weekend and vet has supplyed sedelin gel to sedate him - not what i wanted to do but Breezes feet are now looking RSPCA reportable. Gonna just have them trimmed. Farrier has set a plan for next six months to try and get BReeze happier with shoeing hope it works as he is such a loveing horse.

 

[jimmysend]

hi guys just to let you know i have had some bad news about breeze, just when things were going so well the vet noticed a twitch in his stifle when giving him his flu jab. Is most prob a old injury may mean he cant be ridden

 

[jimmysend]

just to let everyone know, breeze was but to sleep last month, he had fused bones in pelvis and was in alot of pain

 

[AmyMay]

What a sad end to your story. I'm sorry to hear your news.

Do you think that this could have been the reason why he was being sent for destruction when you initially bought him?

 

[Tinseltoes]

My cob wouldnt let you get near his back feet,he would kick out and I had 2 farriers for trims, both out at different times,my horse reared.So I didnt bother with them.My hubby and I we talked to him and would gently stroke his back legs,talking to him.praising him,giving him treats for being a good boy.It took a year but now he is very good.Ive never shod him.
If I was you Id leave him unshod,just give him lots of fuss so he gets to trust you! If he trusts you,he wont be so scared.
I know how you feel as Ive been there.

 

[Tinseltoes]

Sorry to read about your sad news.

 

[Honeypots]

[ QUOTE ]
just to let everyone know, breeze was but to sleep last month, he had fused bones in pelvis and was in alot of pain

[/ QUOTE ]

What a sad story...sorry you lost him

I imagine that was why he didn't want to pick his feet up and why he was where he was originally

 

[kerilli]

that's really sad, so sorry you lost him but it sounds as if you did everything you could for him, and at least he knew a lot of kindness before he was pts. v best of luck with your next one.