help me please

[newforest_fan]

i have a 13.2 newforest who is still growing, and is 3 years old. i have broken him myself, and normally has not problem with his back hooves, but recently he has been kind of funny lately with them. i have had them checked out, by vet and by farrie, who say there is no problem, except he is frightened. i cant understand why? normally he lifts his hooves up before you even turn to them! will sum 1 please help me ***lorna***:(

[fjp]

Hi Lorna! When you say he is funny about them, what does he do? I guess there are lots of reasons why he might be unhappy all of a sudden, but things like a bad experience while being shod - eg if he was uncomfy cos it took longer than normal, and his leg got held up for too long, or if a nail was slightly misdirected and touched a sensitive part of his foot (or overtrimmed), or even if he was finding it difficult to stand on 3 legs at present (eg lame or sore in another leg, stressed by changes on the yard so felt he might need all his legs to get away in a hurry). He may even be feeling a bit more grown up and trying to show he can be boss too!
Anyway, being patient and firm, giving him practice and short sessions of lifting feet when you ask should get him to behave as normal - sounds like you've done really well to get him so good with his feet in the past!
Fiona

[Sharon H]

Heel mites, mud fever, back problem?