Post by Fi on May 18, 2018 10:52:22 GMT -1
So, a small yet big success yesterday.
When Sammie first arrived I tried to keep him barefoot but it just wasn’t possible on our stony tracks so after a year I decided to shoe him traditionally. I’d done as much prep as I thought he needed, practiced hammering his feet etc, had him stood near others being shod so he could see the process and get used to the hot shoeing smoke and the noises etc.
And he was ok, a bit fidgety, but OK. Until the nails went in which he quite clearly did NOT like, and threw himself about a bit. All rather stressful. He was just as bad the second time despite whatever I’d done in the interim with a hammer on his feet. Even got the OH to do it too! So I decided for everyone’s safety to sedate him, just enough to take the edge off, and establish calm behaviour.
The past few times using this method he has been very calm so yesterday I decided it was time to go without. And.......success, he stood beautifully. And I was able to use positive association by feeding bits of carrot whenever a nail went in.
It’s only a small thing, and it’s taken 2 years, but I’m pleased. I guess there are a number of ways of addressing the problem, I’m not sure I’d ever have found a farrier with enough patience to do it any other way.
When Sammie first arrived I tried to keep him barefoot but it just wasn’t possible on our stony tracks so after a year I decided to shoe him traditionally. I’d done as much prep as I thought he needed, practiced hammering his feet etc, had him stood near others being shod so he could see the process and get used to the hot shoeing smoke and the noises etc.
And he was ok, a bit fidgety, but OK. Until the nails went in which he quite clearly did NOT like, and threw himself about a bit. All rather stressful. He was just as bad the second time despite whatever I’d done in the interim with a hammer on his feet. Even got the OH to do it too! So I decided for everyone’s safety to sedate him, just enough to take the edge off, and establish calm behaviour.
The past few times using this method he has been very calm so yesterday I decided it was time to go without. And.......success, he stood beautifully. And I was able to use positive association by feeding bits of carrot whenever a nail went in.
It’s only a small thing, and it’s taken 2 years, but I’m pleased. I guess there are a number of ways of addressing the problem, I’m not sure I’d ever have found a farrier with enough patience to do it any other way.
A big WELL DONE YOU TWO!!!!!! 
Way to go!!!!