Shoeing

[PenC]

Hello - I have a great farrier and has shoed my horse for the last 2 years, she is not the easiest to shoe, was first sedated for a couple and then able to be shoed without sedation, but lots of carrots and feed to bribe, everything going well. I have spent lots of time on ground work and picking up feet, horse is 5 years old and has been shoed since the age of 2. Horse, Cleveland Bay x TB. She was trimmed since the age of 18 months when I first bought her. However now she has started when nailing by snatching her front foot out and down quite violently and not letting it be done. Tonight had to have Domosedan Gel and managed to get the front shoes on, but as soon as started nailing she started to snatch but not as bad as before, (as sedated). She is an orientated mare and is 17hh. Has anyone had this issue and resolved. Next shoeing vet coming for sedation!

 

[SpeedyPony]

If she's got worse rather than better, I'd worry there was something amiss that being shod was highlighting.
Why was she first shod so young? Does she have problem hooves? Has she ever been lame after shoeing?
If she's been lamed by a shoeing then it might be remembered pain, but otherwise it might indicate a problem either in the hoof, which might mean the concussion of the hammering causes pain, or a problem further up which makes holding her legs up in that way painful.
I'd recommend having a vet look at her first, to see if they can pick up any issues, then if nothing obvious if found, perhaps take the shoes off for a few months (assuming it's not corrective shoeing) and see where you are.

 

[PenC]

Thank you Amy, she was barefoot trimmed from 18 months regularly and shod from 4 years not 2 years old, (I cannot amend my post). Will go back to basics.

 

[smolmaus]

I would also suspect something hurts somewhere. Either in the foot she is snatching, the opposite hind or possibly somewhere in the back that makes it difficult for her to balance.

You can do a bit of (careful) investigation yourself by holding the foot up for a prolonged period to see if it's the duration, and you'll be able to feel if she is balancing herself or has to lean on you. You could whack the shoes with a hammer to see if it is just the concussion. This isn't instead of getting a vet out, it's so you can give the vet more information to start with!