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Post by PonyGirl on Mar 27, 2007 2:29:56 GMT -1
I am so embaressed. She stood like an angel to have her feet done last time. She was perfect then. This morning......she was the devil. She reared twice. We had to twitch and put a chain over her nose. She was terrible. She was leaning so much I held her head up. Four of us were on her to do her feet! Florence held the twitch, I held her head up and the chain over her nose, Steve was handling the tools, and Adam did the feet. I don't know if it is her being in foal that made her so pissy. But, dang...she was terrible.....I mean terrible. Her ears did not go back but to be honest I was too busy trying to keep her calm and down. Any ideas? I do hope she doesn't pass any of this attitude on to the baby. This is just dangerous. I am at a loss.  |
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Post by greydales on Mar 27, 2007 7:50:36 GMT -1
If I were you I'd spend lots of time working on her myself, until she were happy with me picking up her feet. Then if she stands for you, she must have an issue with the farrier. They do sometimes pick up the feet very high and/or hold the leg out at an unnatural angle making it hard for them to balance (some of them are not very sympathetic, I speak from experience!). I think if you get to the stage where she has to be physically restrained then you are setting yourself up for a constant battle!
I would treat her as if she has not had her feet picked up before, calmly stroking her leg and moving down to the foot, then progressing onto holding the foot for longer and longer times, treating her each time she doesn't fight you, until you can hold the foot and put it down in your time, not hers.
I found the clicker to work wonders for my two fillies who were awful with their feet when I first got them! One used to try and sit down or rear and the other couldn't figure out she could balance on three legs and even fell over once ;D
My trimmer is great as he's very understanding. When he did both of my fillies they started fidgeting, but once I used the clicker they stood for ages for him! If you haven't ever used a clicker, then much the same affect can be achieved by saying 'good girl' and treating immediately (I think a clicker just seems to produce a more instant and definite response).
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Post by PonyGirl on Mar 27, 2007 8:10:43 GMT -1
That you so much Greydales.
I have worked with her. Even got her to let me stretch her front legs out. She didn't understand that at first but then got the idea. She has let me pick up all her feet at different times and different places. (Barn, stall, turnout, areana, and so on)
The same farrier did her before. He is super gentle with her cause she is in foal.
This was really unusual for her. The only other time she acted like this is when we discovered that riding was very uncomfortable for her while she is in foal.
I will take your advise and work more. Maybe she really needs more of that. Thank you again.
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Post by harveydales on Mar 27, 2007 8:20:34 GMT -1
Excellant advice from Gill. It does sound like she was in some sort of discomfort due to the pregnancy and being asked to stretch/stand in uncomfortable ways. Isn't she expecting a June foal? Not long to go and I'm sure there was a connection between her condition and her uncharacteristic behaviour. I would follow Gill's advice.
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Post by PonyGirl on Mar 27, 2007 8:54:18 GMT -1
Yes...she is due in June. Can I tell you I am on my nerves. I worry about everything. This just about sent me and her over the edge.
I am so thankful to have DalesFans to talk to!
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Post by harveydales on Mar 27, 2007 11:49:13 GMT -1
Just keep talking!  |
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Post by harleydales on Mar 27, 2007 18:02:35 GMT -1
I reckon it must be to do with the foal too. I know my sheep don't like being messed with towards the end of their pregnancy so suspect it's the same for a mare.
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Post by PonyGirl on Mar 28, 2007 9:50:43 GMT -1
I worked with her yesterday. She let me do her feet twice with no problems. It has to be her pregnancy.
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Post by knight on Apr 1, 2007 16:38:42 GMT -1
Guess you can't blame a lady for being fussy when she's expecting. May make it extra hard for her to balance. And Knight can barely balance himself when the farrier holds his front feet up & holds them long enough to trim. He's fine for me when I pick them out but I don't hold them up as long as the farrier must. Knight puts his chin on my shoulder & lets me hold up the missing leg till the fgarrier finishes.
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