Serious facial injury picking out feet-how to avoid another?

you might just have been in the wrong place at the wrong time :(
things do just happen, who knows. Makes sense to take it slowly now though esp as you're having a bit of a wobble. Even if she is just trying it on, it's hard to be convincingly confident and authoritative if your innards are shaking like a jelly.
 
I share a farrier with a lady who bought a stunning ID who wouldnt let (our very experienced and patient) farrier anywhere near his legs. He'd had shoes bashed on in Ireland and the dealer picked all 4 feet up when she bought him - but when she got him home he would panic the moment you touched his legs.

So don't take it to heart - sadly not every horse has a great experience with having their feet done and you're suffering for it.
 
Rowreach, did you get my reply to your PM? I wrote a great long one, but I think my phone/the internet ate it 😥😥

Thank you, SEL...not just me, then! 😄😄
 
I was always taught and always taught everyone else to stand as close as you possibly can to the horse. You have more chance of keeping hold and if you dont they cant get anywhere near as much force into a kick. When you get to the foot picking out stage again, hold the toe off the hoof when you do it. I've never really worked out why, but horses seem to prefer it.
 
catembi said:
Rowreach, did you get my reply to your PM? I wrote a great long one, but I think my phone/the internet ate it ����

Thank you, SEL...not just me, then! ����
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I did, I have replied just there now! I was wheeler-dealering in my kitchen. My son was quite impressed with my negotiating skills :D
 
Hope you get better soon. Providing there's nothing too horrendous wrong with the feet I wouldn't worry too much about fiddling with them for a while. The farrier can check there's nothing actually causing her pain and then just use walking out on tarmac to condition them. Hoof paste etc can wait until she's more relaxed about handling her legs.
 
Glad you are ok! We had a very similar injury at home with our groom mucking our one of the family horses- not a kicker, a super calm HW hunter in the back end of his career. She ended up with a few surgeries to try to arrange her face back- again no hat and no one saw the accident. I don’t have any practical tips I’m afraid but keep safe especially while everything is still swollen.
 
annagain said:
Ouch. Hope you get better soon. I fractured my cheekbone in a (totally non-horsey) fall on holiday so know how you feel. I looked like a beaten wife for a good few weeks. All I can suggest is a rubber glove stuffed with straw on a stick to de-senstise her, although this won't help with the lifting and keeping it there, just with the touching. It might be a good first step though? I remember someone I know who worked with youngsters always lifting legs with the opposite side next to a wall so they could lean on it if they felt they were losing balance. Having never dealt with youngsters I've no idea if this is 'correct' but they seemed to think it worked.
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Basically this... I had to do the glove on a stick for a good month with my baby before I felt safe enough to try and pick up her back feet (with a hat on of course).

I really would recommend taking the time to get them to be completely relaxed and sensible before worrying about hoof paste (no idea what this is/for having always had shod horses so if someone could explain that would be great!)

With regards to picking up feet from the other side, I always pick out all 4 feet from the same side as it saves so much time (varies which side) so that could be a good option however I think there's still some risk with them jumping on top of you if you've got the opposite foot in your hand and they try to put it down. Could be a safer option though!

Happy to report mine is now completely happy with me doing whatever I need with her back feet 😊 the tedious desensitising paid off!
 
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Nasty. Hope you are on the mend OP and can get some help to handle her hooves.

One of our irish ponies (easier to deal with than an ID admittingly) came bare foot due to ''crap farriers in Ireland'' and after a few 'this is what we do and this is how we do it' lessons is now fine to 'leg handle', but gets bored with the farrier. Managed first set of front shoes with much bribery and much sweat and gritted determination from the farrier. I spent the following month working on picking up (fine) and tapping with hammer, taking my time (he got so much better). I'm off work now , and wasn't there recently so replacing said front shoes the other day didn't go well. I'm quite gutted. Apparently farrier lost his temper, no-one had any patience to help, so the pony is now bare foot. In my eyes this won't help, but odd things happen for a reason. Can't wait to get back to work, and re-do all the 'feet training' again.
Was mentioned that a bit of sedaline will help, but I think pony needs a little bit more work, so going to suggest a lunge session before farrier?
Is this an Irish thing? Never had or heard of such trouble in the English horses?!?
 
Not read the whole thread, but wondering how long you have had her, and if you stormed in with hoof paste, soaking etc etc before giving her a chance to get to know you and trust you?
 
Really sorry to hear about your injury catembi and I hope you mend quickly. I haven’t read all replies but the few I have seem to have positive suggestions for possible protection and handling ideas.
 
Fools Motto said:
Nasty. Hope you are on the mend OP and can get some help to handle her hooves.

One of our irish ponies (easier to deal with than an ID admittingly) came bare foot due to ''crap farriers in Ireland'' and after a few 'this is what we do and this is how we do it' lessons is now fine to 'leg handle', but gets bored with the farrier. Managed first set of front shoes with much bribery and much sweat and gritted determination from the farrier. I spent the following month working on picking up (fine) and tapping with hammer, taking my time (he got so much better). I'm off work now , and wasn't there recently so replacing said front shoes the other day didn't go well. I'm quite gutted. Apparently farrier lost his temper, no-one had any patience to help, so the pony is now bare foot. In my eyes this won't help, but odd things happen for a reason. Can't wait to get back to work, and re-do all the 'feet training' again.
Was mentioned that a bit of sedaline will help, but I think pony needs a little bit more work, so going to suggest a lunge session before farrier?
Is this an Irish thing? Never had or heard of such trouble in the English horses?!?
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Yes, a lot of horses over here get no preparation at all, are trimmed a couple of times (or not) and then have a set of shoes whacked on for selling. A burly farrier and a strong minded handler is often enough for the first set, but by then the horse processes that experience and is frequently upset by it, and the problem becomes the next person's.
 
You've posted how you've only just moved into your new place, and the facilities are somewhat basic for now. Whereabouts were you both when you where picking her feet out, and what was she tied to (was she tied up?). Could your pony have distracted her, or could she have brushed the electric fencing, or been stung by a wasp? Also, thrush can be very painful, so if you were digging into her central sulcus then that could have provoked a sharp reaction.

Summer's had a lot of upheaval recently, she's been through the dealer's yard, come over to here to go on full livery, been prodded by the vets for the hoof crack then moved to yours all in the space of a few weeks. Even a calm horse will find that all rather unsettling. As others have said, Irish horses often have had less than ideal experiences with farriers before they go up for sale.

I've reminded OH that if ever I'm found splatted up at the stables, it will have been an accident because while none of my 3 would ever deliberately injure me, cr@p happens sometimes.
 
Red-1 said:
I am sorry you have had a nasty injury. When we were buying green ones in very few had any idea of how to do feet. I would recommend the following...

1. Yes a hat. You may not have the front of your face protected, but at least you won't be shoved backwards into a wall with your head.

2. Have someone to help as I think being tied up when not feeling balanced can make some panic. When they panic they are more likely to wrestle their feet off you.

3. have the 'someone to help' to be a horse aware person, then if the horse is likely to swipe at you they can turn the head towards you and redirect.

4. Make it about teaching the horse to be handles for a few days, rather than about doing the feet. For this I would have them firstly happy to be handled with feet on the floor, then lifting just a smidge and back down, and build it up.

5. If a horse has learned to kick out or snatch to get you off, then I use a rope around the pastern initially so they can try to kick/snatch and it does not get them anywhere. I just keep it held and give it back when they relax.


6. I would have the farrier back out to have a look, as it is possible that there was a pocket of thrush that really hurt her when you picked it, causing her to react.
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This is a good point. My big ex-racer broke my nose when I inadvertently popped an abscess whilst picking out a hind foot. Not fun!
 
At the moment we are using a rope on our youngster that hasn’t had good foot-handling in the past. Very easy to loop it round and pull the leg up but you can stand way out of the way.

Fronts he’s great at now and can pick out easily. Backs are still tricky so working on getting the foot up and lifted even if can’t pick out every time.

Weirdly he is fine with his legs being touched and handled but massively objects to standing on 3 legs sometimes?!

I was too nervous to pick out his feet initially as used to older horses who know the drill but using the rope we have made loads of progress.
 
merlin84 said:
At the moment we are using a rope on our youngster that hasn’t had good foot-handling in the past. Very easy to loop it round and pull the leg up but you can stand way out of the way.

Fronts he’s great at now and can pick out easily. Backs are still tricky so working on getting the foot up and lifted even if can’t pick out every time.

Weirdly he is fine with his legs being touched and handled but massively objects to standing on 3 legs sometimes?!

I was too nervous to pick out his feet initially as used to older horses who know the drill but using the rope we have made loads of progress.
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Try letting him stand next to a wall, he won't lean on it but it will give him the confidence to stand on 3 legs, without feeling as though he is going to fall over - a tip given to me by an excellent farrier many years ago.
 
Ouch! Hope you feel better soon! I see you've had lots of advice, my only question is does she need all of that care on the feet? My horses are unshod and I don't sole cleanse and field paste everyday? I just pick out and keep well hydrated
 
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