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A horse that’s easy to shoe is TAUGHT that
By Horse Guy | July 22, 2010
The reason there are so many horses are bad to shoe is because of carelessness and neglect in the proper handling of them when young.
Many people think that if they take their colt to the farrier and have it shod, it would assist them in training it, and it is a very common thing for the owner to think: “We want to break him next week anyway, and it will make him gentle to have the blacksmith shoe him.”
In the first place the colts feet should be handled before it ever goes into the blacksmith’s shop, or the farrier touches the feet.
It is an easier and simpler matter to handle the colt’s feet after he has been poled and taught the lessons given in Book #1 of Train Wild Horses.
Put a halter on the colt and take it out into a lot or onto the barn floor, or any place that his attention is not attracted elsewhere. Have your assistant hold the colt by the halter strap with his right hand, standing directly in front of it.
Step to the colts left shoulder and push against it with your shoulder as you stoop down to pick up the left front foot and the foot will come up almost of its own accord. Hold the foot up for a moment and then let it down carefully, holding to it until the foot rests on the ground.
Next, walk back rubbing your hand over the back and down the left hind leg, and by pressing in against the hip raise the hind foot carefully. Hold it for a moment as you did the front one and then let it down.
Now walk forward again and approach the right shoulder and raise the right front foot, as you did on the left side. Now go again to the foot you started with and work it in the different positions for shoeing.
Go only so fast as the colt can understand. If he does not fully understand what you want, and resists, do not attempt to hold the foot by “bull strength and awkwardness,”
For more information on training a horse to be shod and other inside secrets to being a world class trainer, then you need to grab your copy of Train Wild Horses right now:
Originally posted 2008-06-08 10:21:00. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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