--- SHERREL LEININGER <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I would start before the farrier come next time. Even if it is > just the day > before. He needs to know that clicker means something good. It > will make > him work harder for the treat. Maybe your husband will "be the > farrier" > for one or two sessions then show the farrier what you have been > doing and > get him to give treat when you click. You might start with > something > besides the feet to show him that the farrier is no sooo bad. > Then go on to the feet. > > Sherrel
What Sally and I do for horses with farrier trauma is this, and it has always worked so far, but timing is a lot of it. We use food, little small little tiny bites of food. The food is shown to the horse in the hand and the very second the horse gives the foot, he gets the treat. As long as the foot is up he keeps getting very small nibbles of food. If the portions are too big, a horse can store food like a chipmonk, and then when the farrier puts the foot down they still get to eat, so small small bites. A cube is far too big. When the foot goes down the food is stopped. The horse is always treated well. The farrier needs to take some extra time....mabye set the shoe, then put the foot down. Then one to 2 more nails, then down again...A few visits like that with the farrier and the horse usually responds very well, and begins to trust again. Patience and just knowing that the horse has fear, and any escalation will only hurt the problem. The biggest issue we have had with this method comes from the owners who are not watching, they continue to feed the horse when the foot is down...that does not work, so I usually end up doing that part and showing the owner what a small nibble looks like and so on. Its easy, it works, and fun is had by all. Storme ____________________________________________________________________________________ Have a burning question? Go to www.Answers.yahoo.com and get answers from real people who know.
