Scared of the farrier!?

[michellev123]

Hi
Had the farrier out for trims for Oscar my rising 2yo and my friends 20 month old filly yesterday. Oscar has always been fine with the farrier but his feet havent needed a trim (farriers opinion not just mine ) since end of last year.

Then yesterday had the farrier out and my friends horse was really scared running away rearing etc everytime farrier went near her! So we decided to leave her to settle and do Oscar "as he is so good!!" Ha!!

He did exactly the same! Danced around like a muppet! And kickedhis back legs out even when I picked them up (which he never does!)

Do you think he did this could my friends horse did? or because he was scared?Or just being naughty?

It did get me thinking that i am the only one who picks his feet up and i am female (and the farrier is a man) But he picks them up brilliantly for me everytime.

I think he just get himself worked up and we did manage to do his front two, with me picking them up and farrier sneaking in from the side but is obviously not ideal!!

Luckly his back ones are fine to leave for another 4-5 weeks and then the farrier is coming again.

The question being what can i do in the meantime to get him used to farrier? We are going to do his feet first next time so he cant see her getting worried but I am worried now it is going to be a big issue again. I dont know any men who are good with horses to come and practive on him. I am going to get my friends to pick them up too but they are all woman!!!


Within 10 mins of farrier going he settled down and i picked all his feet up fine I just dont understand!!!!

He has never been hit or hurt in any way by a farrier....

Any advice or experiances welcome, I hope its just cause he was worried cause she was worried ......

Thanks sorry about the essay!
Cake if you got tot he end!!

 

[siennamum]

Don't worry too much, he'll settle with plenty of handling. Get the farrier to give him a handful of nuts and some fuss next time. Pick his feet up yourself asap and pick, bang & if you have one a little rasp will help, also get him to reach all legs forward as the farrier will.
I have the same issue with mine who is unfortunately stroppy and scared all at the same time. I am doing most of the work on his feet myself till he will let the farrier get real results. Today I had a male friend who is horsey and strong come up to the yard and pick out, bang and rasp his feet a little also. He is slowly coming to terms with the fact that his body is mine now, not his!!!

Yours will certainly have been set off by his friend, try and have a calm horse present and ensure your is present for as many shoeings as possible till it's all quite boring.

 

[michellev123]

Thanks siennamum! I will get him done with a quiet horse next time and get farrier to give him some food!! In the mean timewill get as many people as poss to pickup his feet...... any other ideas?

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I wonder if the farrier had just been hotshoeing prior to visiting your horses. If the horse isn't used to the smell of smoke etc perhaps that added to his trauma, although I expect that his friend didn't help.

 

[michellev123]

I wonder if the farrier had just been hotshoeing prior to visiting your horses. If the horse isn't used to the smell of smoke etc perhaps that added to his trauma, although I expect that his friend didn't help.

I hadn't thought of that!!!!!!! Very true!!