As horse people (equestrians) we all know that horses, donkeys and mules, more so than other animals, have minds of their own and know what they want and when they want it. They have unbreakable spirits and are ever so inspirational. But these personalities, no matter how strong, must be tamed and trained for our safety and theirs.
Below I will be talking about why this is especially important for farriers.
Why Farriers Aren’t Trainers
Everyone with a horse, donkey, or mule should have a farrier, unless of course the owner IS a farrier themselves. It’s an essential part of loving and caring for your hooved friend. And it’s key to being a responsible owner.
But as much as we farriers love our clients, their hooved friend, and our jobs in general, but we are not responsible for the training of the horse we are hired to work on. We went to school to be farriers. Farriers aren’t horse trainers.
Farriers’ Ideal Time Per Trim
Though horses more often than not are gentle giants they can deal a lot of damage whether accidental or on purpose. As a farrier myself, I can tell you that it is vital for the horse to stand well and allow the work on their feet to be completed in a safe and timely manner.
The ideal time for a simple trim on one of our four legged friends is 10-20 minutes depending on the shape and condition of the feet.
But when the animal will not stand still or is heavily distracted it can take too long which only makes the animal more impatient and the owner frustrated. Farriers aren’t trainers and we can’t be expected to train a problematic horse.
When Farriers Encounter Problematic Horses
Farriers have to be stubborn to be in the line of work we are in, so know that we won’t give up easily if we come upon a problematic horse.
And I for one, love finding the best solution for you and your horse if a problem does arise.
If your horse is putting you or your farrier in danger or having problems standing there are a few things I’d suggest for you as the owner. While farriers aren’t trainers we know that hoof trims are essential and will do anything and everything we can to help make sure your horse gets the hoof care they need and deserve.
Farriers Aren’t Trainers: Advice for Horse Owners
The best practices an owner can follow to keep accidents and injuries from occurring or to change their behavior, is to mimic the actions and atmosphere that comes with having their hooves trimmed. Here are some ideas for you to try.
Pick Your Horses Feet Regularly
This can be as simple as cleaning out hooves on a daily basis. They will learn that no harm comes to them when people handle their feet.
Practice Tying Or Holding Your Horse
Having a horse tied, standing still and lifting their feet in the same order creates muscle memory and association with the tasks. Horses, mules and donkeys are all very intelligent and as every owner knows, when they hear the feed door open, they know it’s meal time.
So this same practice can work for having the farrier come out. They know “when someone is holding my head and I have my foot being picked up, I have to stand and let each foot get held and not pull or tug”.
Choosing The Right Environment
It’s important for a horse to be comfortable in their environment for a trim. That includes the place where they are being held or tied, and also what and who is in their environment.
- Are there going to be startling noises like a barn door banging?
- Are there going to be things they see that make them jump like a tarp waving in the wind?
- Is the terrain going to feel comfortable and easy to stand on that won’t give out, let them sink, or cause them to lose their footing?
- Are there going to be small unpredictable animals around? (Most farriers will ask their clients to keep dogs inside or out of sight and/or hearing range regardless of how comfortable the horse is around them normally.)
One Animal At A Time
It is important that the animal is taken out of a common area, because even if the animal being worked on is standing still, a pasture-mate or other furry friend may try to join them and either cause a fight or simply become a distraction.
Once again this could potentially cause an accident or injury to anyone in the vicinity.
I personally learned this the hard way, and when working on a draught horse in a field of other horses, received a kick to the face that was actually intended for one of the other horses.
No Treats or Food
One common misconception is that a horse will stand better for treats. I have known very few, however, with which this tactic actually works.
When a horse is hungry and it sees food it pays very little attention to its surroundings and will do just about anything to get to that food. And they often react this way with tasty treats.
Distraction and restlessness do not result in a good, patient, standing animal. I am all for rewarding the animal after I’m done, but not till then.
Farriers Aren’t Trainers: Trainers Are Trainers
There are many cases where these small steps do not accomplish the desired result. If your farrier can’t do a calm and efficient job due to bad behaviour, external help must be called in.
As a farrier I cannot train the animal in question. But trainers are very efficient in training the horse and teaching the owner how to fix problematic behavior.
Talk to your farrier about this. They may be able to discuss with you what to tell the trainer. And they may even offer you a recommendation for a good trainer.
Farrier’s Aren’t Vets: When You Need A Vet
Training takes time and occasionally the feet need attention before the horse is ready to stand well. In this case a licensed large animal vet must be called out to sedate the horse. That way the farrier can properly care for their feet.
Though this seems very scary or intimidating, it really is a very normal practice. There are many horses that even need it regularly. Of course, we do prefer a horse could learn to stand well.
Other times, if the farrier suspects the animal isn’t standing due to pain or other health-related issues they may suggest a vet. While we are not vets, we may have an idea of whether it’s a behavioral issue or a health problem.
Conclusion
I hope these little bits of advice can help you and your horse. It can be as simple as handling their feet daily or choosing the right environment.
If you’re in the South-Eastern VA and North-eastern NC area, you can contact me to be your personal farrier. Someone to help you take care of all your hooved friends.
No matter where you are I still advise the same. Find a farrier near you who can help you take care of your horse, donkey or mule.
Leave a Reply