How to train a horse to be good for the ferrier!

[SmokeKandeeBar]

Hi,
My two and a half year old is very fidgity for the ferrier, She's not nasty or mean she just gets very impatient. She leans on him and it takes three people to hold her up. She walks the ferrier around and doesn't want to stand still. I have been practicing holding her feet up for long periods of time, and clanging a horse shoe on her front feet that have shoes on, so she gets used to the noise and vibrations, she's doing a lot better, but I guess i'll see the next time she's shod. I just was wondering if there is anything else that I can do to ensure good behavior the next time he comes. It's embarassing and I just want her to stop it. Hope someone can help me out!
Halle

[Colorado Sunset]

Ahh, Im new and i just sent your reply as a new thread!! So no ones going to know what i am talking about!!

Well, back on the subject, I think your doing exactly the right thing. As long as you continue getting your horse used to the routine that happens when your farrier comes, your horse should get better and better at understanding what s/he has to do. If however, your horse is happy standing around with its feet up with you, and not with the farrier, it could be the case of the horse not liking unfamiliar people messing about with its feet. All you can do with this is to get other people, who your horse doesnt know and will not be in a rush, to do the same as you; pick up the feet, knock on them etc.
Sorry if this isnt much use, most of it is just reiterating what you are already doing, which is good, you seem to be doing the right thing!!

Good luck, Jo

[SmokeKandeeBar]

Thanks for responding! Thats a really good idea to have people that she is unfamiliar with handle her feet. It seems like she does so good for me and then when he does it she's bad. So I will definitely try to have other people than me handle her feet. Thanks again for the suggestion!
Halle