| The better your horse behaves for your farrier, the | | | | long as you can determine the cause of his fear and |
| better job your farrier can do. | | | | avoid it, your horse should return to his confident self in |
| Let’s face it. No one wants to have to pick out a | | | | no time. For example, maybe he's afraid because he |
| hoof or look at an injured hoof when a horse is | | | | sees or smells the smoke from a hot shoe, the sound |
| behaving badly. Neither does your farrier. It’s hard | | | | of the grinder, having been stuck with a high nail from |
| enough to keep your own feet out of the way and not | | | | the last shoeing, or been scared by a running dog while |
| get stepped on on a good day. Imagine what your | | | | on the cross ties. |
| farrier has to cope with as he wrestles around with | | | | 3. If your horse had been mismanaged during prior |
| tools and nails, deals with a nervous owner, or dodges | | | | shoeing or trimming, he should be dealt with as a horse |
| the barn dog running underfoot to grab a snack of | | | | with fear issues. You must be patient and repeatedly |
| hoof, and on top of that, your horse is bouncing around | | | | build his confidence. Both you and your farrier should |
| from side to side. | | | | have a system so your horse gains confidence with |
| Your horse's safety and your farrier's safety depend | | | | each lift of the hoof. |
| of your horse's behavior. We all know that | | | | 4. If you acquire a young horse or a horse that hasn't |
| sometimes horses do misbehave, become afraid, or | | | | had proper handling, be sure to work with the horse |
| jump around. But if your horse chronically | | | | before the farrier comes for the first time! |
| misbehaves while being shod, you need to work with | | | | 5. Sometimes your horse may behave better when |
| him to resolve this issue. Daily handling of your horse | | | | you're not there. Ask your farrier what he prefers. I |
| and his feet is the best solution to helping your horse | | | | know from experience that when I'm present, my own |
| behave for the farrier. | | | | mare pays more attention to me than to the farrier. |
| Is your horse misbehaving due to pain, fear, prior | | | | That makes his job significantly harder. Instead of |
| mismanagement, or lack of education? The solution | | | | focusing on the farrier, she pays attention to me |
| depends on what's bothering your horse. Here are | | | | (usually begging for a treat). As a result, she doesn't |
| some tips to help you determine why your horse is | | | | focus on her job of picking up her feet and standing |
| misbehaving. | | | | still for him. I respectfully let him shoe my mare when |
| 1. If that's the case, talking to the vet may be in order. | | | | I'm not there, knowing that she'll behave better for him |
| 2. Usually a horse that is patiently handled will gain trust | | | | that way. |
| in both the handler and the farrier in a short time. As | | | | |