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sunny
Silver Member
252 Posts |
 Posted - 05 Jul 2008 : 1:38:38 PM
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My mare has always been funny about picking up her back legs for the Farrier, but we have managed, since our move i have changed farriers and my mare was ok at first but has gradually taken a dislike to him, anyway last time she really played up (very windy day), and he could not do back legs, he said i would need to sedate her with Sedalize (spelling?), so i did and he came, with no time taken went straight to back end with tools in hand, she lashed out, there was no way he was going to get near her. I said for him to leave it which he then went on to say he had been in touch with previous owner and she was suprised i could do anything with her at all. I have been really fed up about this (not to the fact that farrier did not do her feet as i would not want him to get hurt) but with how people talk and try to justify themselves,for giving up and not putting in the time and stablity. My mare had 5 different homes before i brought her from an auction at he age of 5yrs. She is the most sensitive, loving intelligent animal who craves attention. She follows me round the field like a dog and is always first at the fence. When people say negative things it justs give me a seconds thought of doubt, but when i look at her i know that they have missed out on such a special girl. 
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South Lincolnshire |
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trinity
Gold Member
Scotland
1126 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jul 2008 : 1:48:45 PM
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| Stick to your guns Sunny and ignore the seeds of doubt. If there's one thing we brits are good at (sorry - making assumption you're posting from Uk) it's this wonderful habit we have of looking on the negative side of life. Your mare sounds great with you, and you obviously love her so just make sure that others handle her they way you think they should. Your farrier was bang out of order to go marching up to her like that - sedated or not. He should have taken the time to reassure her first. IMHO you know your mare better than anyone else, so next time ask your farrier to groom her / make friends with her first. If he's worth his salt and interested in you and your mares best interests he will. I totally agree that horses should be behaved and farriers / vets should not be put in danger but every now and then they need to take a step back and slow down a bit. You and your mare are obviously lucky to have found each other, so no more self doubts. (Sorry - this was not meant to sound as if I'm preaching at you!) Good luck. |
Beck |
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sarahjo
Silver Member
England
262 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jul 2008 : 2:15:50 PM
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Don't beat yourself up over it! I think it's very bad horsemanship for the farrier just to go marching up to back of her when he knows she's bad anyway! Same with vets as well - you can tell when you've got a good vet as they will always take couple of minutes just to say hello to the horse, nothing to worry about - it only takes a couple of minutes...
I'm quite lucky with my farrier as he's very calm and patient especially when my lad had his first shoes put on.
Is she ok with other people doing her feet?
Sarah
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saraholdershaw@hotmail.com
www.arabianhalternatives.com
Nottingham |
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arabic
Platinum Member
England
4562 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jul 2008 : 2:47:58 PM
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Well done sunny for giving your mare a chance!!!! ignore the idiots, you cant educate pork lol!!
I rescued a dog years ago, took her to the vet for her first jabs and my experience was much the same. I told them she was a rescue so that they would be wary altho she was a lovely kind and gentle animal (but had a rough past)the vet went straight in, yanked open her mouth to check how old she was without stroking or speaking to her. She snapped at the vet. A muzzle was suggested which I was ok with. The muzzle was a piece of bandage wrapped roughly round her nose and I was asked to hold her. Jen fidgeted and the vet strung he up by the bandage, held her against the wall and put their knee in her tummy. I was seething, wripped the lot off and waltzed out giving a few v choice words. I came home, rang another vet immediately and booked her in that day. Explained to them what had happened. That vet was lovely, I explained he may need to muzzle her but he spoke to her, stroked her, gave her a couple of treats and vaccinated her no problem at all.
sorry, got a bit carried away there but it's something that has always stayed with me. Jen was the most amazing dog and we had her for 14 years.
Perhaps you should consider another farrier, one perhaps a little more focused on horses than gossip.
Good luck, she will repay your love and care over and over.
Sandie |
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kimzi
Gold Member
865 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jul 2008 : 8:31:55 PM
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| I would find another farrier, i have seen far too many gung ho rough types over the years, no wonder some horses never improve. Just keep trying until you find the right one. |
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Jingo
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3632 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jul 2008 : 8:48:12 PM
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My gang are all handled from babies to have their feet picked up etc. So imagine my horror when one of them wouldn't stand for the farrier - I just couldn't understand it.
Funny thing it got worse and one of the others became stressed as well.
I always stand with them but did notice the farrier would come in and just GRAB a leg - never talk to the horses. He never shouted at them etc BUT just had this "business like" manner.
So I changed farriers and it has taken us 18 months of hard/caring work to get one filly back on track. My "new" farrier comes into the stable - talks to the horses - and spends time - HE gets the results and my filly is now relaxed and happy.
Sometimes I think people must emit certain "smells/vibes" whatever and naturally, horses react
Trouble is I bet the old farrier says "bl Arabs" - maybe he should look at the way he approaches horses to get better results |
Jude
www.auchmillanarabians.org.uk
      
photos:Anthony Reynolds,Sweet,Deano,Real Time Imaging |
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LYNDILOU
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
13976 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jul 2008 : 9:00:38 PM
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I have a wonderful farrier, he is so good with the babies and takes his time , never rushes them but does not let them get away with anything either, they soon learn that he will hold on for dear life if they try to throw a wobbly, so in the end they give up and from that moment on they are fine every time. I think it is the farriers manorizames (sp) and the way they approach the horse.
My farrier has been teaching and doing seminars for years (get rid of yours)
I applaude you for loving your mare , you stick to what you are doing she obviously loves you and has found a loving home ,bless her |
   
www.dreamfield-arabians.com |
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marionpack
Gold Member
England
1073 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jul 2008 : 11:16:29 AM
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| I also have a brilliant farrier (21 years) with babies he is as patient as anything, when he first did my two year old she wouldn't let him near her, even though I can pick her feet up in the field without head collar on, it is either the smell or his hat, but he knows when they are playing up or if they are scared, if playing up they are told off, but if scared then plenty of time spent with them as he knows it pays off in the long run |
Berkshire
   
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paul_exe
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
2022 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jul 2008 : 12:09:38 PM
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When I kept my horses at their previous yard, the farrier lived on site. My boy hated the farrier, and we eliminated every option.
In the end we thought it may be the smell of the farrier, from the furness.... I know this is extreme, but at my farriers suggestion, he tried showering, and changing his clothes before he did my boy.... It worked.... He has now got use to the smell of burning hoof, and is much better.
I know this is not an option for most farriers, and he went out of his way to accommodate my horse.
Paul
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Get over yourself: You breathe, you fart, what makes you different?
Gloriously Sunny Devon |
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madmare
Platinum Member
England
2129 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jul 2008 : 12:29:38 PM
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Must admit that my farrier is excellent with Crystal....but then again, she takes it as her due that he worships her! He's been in the job over 40 yrs now, and is fab with all ours...include the elderly shetland....he won't take messing, but is firm and fair....will take time with a horse who he knows is nervous, but will not stand for plain naughtiness.
Get shut hun, I know it's easy to say that, and a good farrier is hard to find these days! Good luck hun..your mare has obviously landed on her feet with you!!!!
Emma xx |
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sunny
Silver Member
252 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jul 2008 : 1:17:28 PM
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Thanks for all you reassuring comments, i rang a different farrier last night and he is coming on Thursday, i explained that she needs time before he starts and he said he does this each time so hopefully fingers crossed
Sarah - Yes Sunny is not happy at all picking up her back legs and it has been a stuggle for me, but i keep persisting. Any tips on working with back legs would be welcomed
cheers Michelle |
South Lincolnshire |
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Pixie
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
6586 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jul 2008 : 1:35:02 PM
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Some time ago I watched a programme. I think it was a colt that had come in from Exmoor. Can't remember. Anyway someone on here is bound to know.
It had back leg issues....... what they did was to pad out a glove with newspaper and attach it to a garden cane. You know the sort for runner beans etc. Anyway with this "hand" they used to touch all the ponies legs and as it got more comfortable about the whole hand down leg thing they shortened the cane bit by bit. Obviously didn't see the whole process but seemed like a good idea to me. Eventually the colt was quite accepting of a real hand down its legs. They never showed picking its feet up. Well if they did I don't remember it. They gave it loads of quiet praise when it accepted the "cane glove hand". This might be a rubbish idea but good luck. |
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trinity
Gold Member
Scotland
1126 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jul 2008 : 4:06:51 PM
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This was a really good idea Pixie, and it does work. It helps to desensitise the horse and become accepting of a hand.
Good Luck with the new farrier sunny. |
Beck |
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sunny
Silver Member
252 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jul 2008 : 8:36:49 PM
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| Thanx pixie, i will try that with her, and see how i get on |
South Lincolnshire |
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gossy
Platinum Member
England
3639 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jul 2008 : 8:46:40 PM
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| yes remember that pixie, we have had same issue with the filly that i am looking after at the moment, its all about trust, and no matter how many farriers they see, they just will not trust them, i had to twitch this filly at first and keep doing the down the leg thing, shes getting better but it is a long process, im sure in time she will be a lot better, if the ground work isnt done from day one as a foal, then it will take much longer. |
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honey
Platinum Member
N. Ireland
2634 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jul 2008 : 10:52:06 PM
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sounds like you have come on alot with your mare. don't let other peoples comments upset you you know what you have done, and how far you have come on. we had a mare a few years and was told by a farrier, dentist, and vet that she was dangerous and to get her euthanised. We persevered and two years down the line sorted all her pain issues out and mental stability and sold her to a lovely home as a family pet, occasional riding duties and all the people that seen her that had told us to euthanize couldn;t believe it was the same horse
so stick at it well done. |
    
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sunny
Silver Member
252 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jul 2008 : 11:29:20 PM
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| Honey - interested to know more about pain issues. My instructor and i think there maybe something to do with pain somewhere - i am currently waiting for a man to come out and see her who my instructor uses on her horses. |
South Lincolnshire |
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