disappointing farrier visit

[lisae]

This is long, just need a chance to vent! We had a new farrier in Friday and the whole visit just turned to manure! (Former guy wasn't as qualified and kept trying to sell me magnets (it's his sideline business) (even though I had repeatedly asked him not to!) So new farrier has loads more training. Anyways, appt. is for 11:30 AM and I had planned on cleaning barn, lunging bolshy! two year old, flyspray all around on a 93 degree hot day. At 10:00AM I return with car full of groceries and farrier is waiting in driveway- oh, I'm early, a cancellation. Ack! So, after throwing perishables into frig, I come running out and barn aisle is full of usual cr** so we have to work outside, albeit in shade. Mare goes first but she's fighting flies so even our best behaved horse starts to get farrier into a lather. Next comes Dante, who has been absolutely dreadful with his manners lately and of course he's fresh and thinks this is his chance to show off. Pulls his feet back, starts to drop to the ground, hubby shows up and suggests we put chain on nose, doesn't help because I'm loath to yank said chain with the blacksmith under horse's fat butt. And this horse needs the most work with his naturally flat saucer shaped feet. Arrgh! To top if off, we finally finish the ordeal but farrier states the 3-month old filly should get trimmed, too. Well, she's never been handled by anyone but me and the kids, I thought we wouldn't trim until 4-6 months, (nice straight legs and hoofs so far) but out she comes, can't see Mom, two big burlies come at her and of course she decides this is too much. He got the two back feet done but she kept going up in front and I told them to let her go, they were ready to haul her into position with the lead rope but to their credit the two men deferred to me and we quit. Later I stood in her stall at the regular grooming spot and she let me pick and handle all four feet, no problem.

Big Question - how bad a setback is this for baby? She didn't get terrified but it was not a successful outcome either. Maybe next time, we try one guy in the stall working where she usually stands, or with Mom at her side? Thanks! BTW, two year gelding goes for professional training in September, it's time and he's been out by himself too long!

[Mehitabel]

it all depends on the baby' s natural temperament. some will put up with things and forget bad experiences readily, while others can be set back for months if they don't like the colour of your shirt! does she usually hold a grudge?
it's a good sign that she let you pick up her feet afterwards though. next time, try to make it as different a situation as possible, definitely with mum there. we usually have our broodmares and foals done at the same time, so baby watches the farrier do mum, and then the farrier plays with them a bit and makes friends before he does them. we're really lucky in that we have a farrier who's great with youngsters and difficult horses.
if your farrier is agreeable, get him to pick up mum's feet first, even if they don't need doing, just so baby sees mum not being killed by the experience.

[Wally]

At this age she should have everything done slowly and quietly. Get Mum to have her feet done in full view. So long as you get her used to feet picking up and even the odd tap with the hoof pick or small hammer as she grows up, she should be no bother.

A 93 degree day, with flies is no good for anyone to learn anything.

[lisae]

if she holds a grudge, everything's gone well so far with her training. I would say she's fairly easy going; but when she's scared she tends to act "angry", i.e she'll run, come back, buck and kick, instead of running away. When we put her mom on the two-wheel cart for the first time, in their field, Mara circled around and kicked at the back of the cart...quite unexpected but once she did that she settled down and trotted along with us!

I did want to do the trim with the mother alongside but got overruled by the farrier. He did a nice job with the hoofs on the adult horses, but didn't want to take extra time to meet the horses (and he was 1.5 hours early!), very business like. We've had a time finding a farrier, our favorite retired.

[Mehitabel]

business-like doesn't really work with babies unfortunately, they don't care how busy the farrier is that day.

[KarlR]

Very sad. With a youngster you need a farrier that is punctual, patient, and considerate.

As is often said, to get things done quickly with a horse you need to be prepared to take your time! So very true. I think the key thing is to find a farrier for the next visit who doesn't mind taking 90 minutes over shoeing your youngster in order to give confidence. Keep mum in view if she is calm.

Sometimes hanging onto a foot is the right thing to do; maybe a harsh word and a slap is (lots of farriers seem to think a boot in the stomach is too - woe betide the one who tries it on my horse!). My personal feeling is that a farrier should always use the same tactics as a good trainer: gentle correction without causing any alarm. If a foot is pulled away, allow it - then pick it up again immediately. If a horse stands quitely then praise and give it a pat.

A minor incident occurred at my last shoeing. The farrier, who is normally very good was in a rush. My horse objected to having one front foot held, and tried to pull free. I explained quietly to the farrier how I had once made the mistake of shouting at him for such an incident only to have weeks of trouble afterwards. He listened carefully then when Zak pulled away he shouted at him and jumped around. The shoeing of that one foot took 30 minutes and he wouldn't allow me to hold it still for a week afterwards, not even to pick it out. After patient work, he now lets me hold it again, but it will be some time before he will be as relaxed as before.

You have the same problem. You have to teach your youngster that what normally happens is that his feet are picked up gently and then released to him before he panics. Simulate what a farrier does; tapping his feet; holding them high etc. With patience you can erase this bad memory...so long he doesn't get the same treatment next time!