Finally got a clean clip on a really nervous quarter horse in Spokane

Tried holding the hoof between my knees instead of the stand for the first pass, and it calmed him right down. Anyone have other tricks for jumpy clients?

3 comments

3 Comments

finley_flores281mo ago

That bit about "reading the horse" really sticks with me. I had a similar experience with a rescue gelding who would tense up the second he felt the farrier stand touch his leg. I tried just resting his hoof on my thigh while I talked to him and rubbed his shoulder for a good minute before even reaching for a rasp. It was like a switch flipped. He realized he wasn't trapped and could pull away if he needed to. Once he understood that, he relaxed way more than he ever did with the stand. Sometimes the simplest thing is just letting them know they have a choice.

barbarahill2mo ago

Ever think holding a hoof that way was just asking for trouble? I was wrong, it works like a charm sometimes.

perry.avery2mo ago

That quarter horse in Spokane sounds like a real project, good on you for finding a fix. Barbarahill is right that it can feel risky, but the knee hold gives a softer feel than a cold metal stand. The real trick is reading the horse to know when to use it. For jumpy ones, I'll sometimes just rest the hoof on my thigh for a minute before I even pick up a tool, lets them get used to the pressure. It's all about taking away that trapped feeling they get with the stand.