My son's mare is out of control while she is being trimed and shoed. The last time we up shoes on her I thought she was going to kill my husband. She rears and pulls away. I'm not strong enough to hold her and she needs to have her shoes pulled now and I'm afraid she is going to really hurt someone. Our farrier was going to show me how to scotch her but he hurt his back and can't work anymore. Does anyone have any ideas on how to calm her down?

Is there potentially any physical reason (arthritis, etc.) that she might not want her legs or feet messed with? If not, then she has learned that she can over power people and she is going to take advantage of it every chance she can get. Do you have to pull her shoes, is she due to be trimmed? I would suggest finding a trainer to help you with her and get her under control, before she hurts someone, horses who are light on the front are the most dangerous out there. We had a rescue pony at one time that sounds like your mare if not worse, I am lucky enough that the trainer we use is also one of the top farriers in the area and just started him all over from the begining.

I would possibly have her checked out by a vet, just to make sure there is no pain, then possibly look for a trainer or ever a good farrier that would be willing to work with her over the problem.

Hope this helps

Please be careful.

About a year and a half ago she got her foot caught in a fence and all but cut her hoof off. My mother in-law had her sold and that happened the day they were coming to pick her up. So instead she gave her to my son. But she was difficult even before that happened. I would love to take her to a trainer but my husband doesn't think we should or could afford it. My biggest concern is she is my son's and he is only 10. She loves him and has never done anything to hurt him but he goes out and messes with the horses all the time.

Do you have any suggestions on things I can do to help her? I'm not an expert but have been around horses all my life. All the horses I have had have been awsome with their feet. Every farrier I've had do my gelding can't believe how good he is. This mare has been owned by at least 4 people and possibly more. So who knows what has happened. I just don't know how to start over.

My best suggestion would be find a trainer that you like (ie Craig Cameron, John Llyons etc) and get a video or book on ground work and follow the lesson plan. That would be the cheapest route. But you also need to stop feeling bad or sorry for her, she can pick up on that and uses it against you. I personally like Craig Cameron, not so many games just good practical go out and use advice. You can go to his website and get his videos and they are reasonably priced.

Good luck and be careful

That was all great advise that you have received. Be sure to have your horse checked out by a vet first.

My experience has been that horses which have experienced such injuries they remember them and associate that particular part of their body that was injured to pain. Understanding that I think that you should begin from the beginning in order to create a new positive experience. Treat this horse as if she does not even know how to lift/give her hoof. Be sure to move in steps, slowly progressing every time. It is key to remember that anything negative will build upon the negative behavior, however positives will begin to erase them.

If your horse becomes scared or frighten it is also key that you are able to recognize those signs and back up one step until she is relaxed and comfortable again. *Remember if we don't have control of the horses mind and stay relaxed, they WILL NOT learn. Work in slow steps ensure that your horse remains calm. I think that you will begin to notice a difference. As a trainer and farrier there are so many possible solutions, however I believe the key is going to be treating her like she has never done it before.

I hope this helps.

Good Luck and Please be careful. Safety first!

Curry

There are so many possible factors in this kind of behaviour - a frequently overlooked cause is muscular pain. Muscular problems are far more common than realised, and due to to the severe discomfort that can be caused by the problem the horse's behaviour becomes worse and worse.

You haven't said whether this is a new form of behaviour or if she has always been difficult. Overfeeding and underexecising can also contribute. If however she is becoming so difficult that she is dangerous, then the most likely cause is pain induced fear.

Shirley

She did mention that the mare was difficult even before her unjury.

If I found no signs of pain, either muscle/from arthiritis/ poor farrier work (this is what I find in most cases, so I shoe my own horses and have taken natural farrier school) I would probably start back from the beginning of training, communication, and try to get her heart in your hands before her hoof. The hoof is probably the MOST misunderstood part of the horse... besides mabye the digestive track lol...

I hope you are able to figure out what the trouble is!

If she doesn't need the shoes for a medical reason once you get them off just keep them off. If she is just difficult with her feet no matter what to get the shoes off safely have your vet give her a mild sedative-make sure they know its for shoeing purposes. Then everyday pick her feet. If you can brush her legs do that, if you can hold her foot do that, if you can place her leg btwn yours farrier hold do it, then try to hammer her foot. At some point you will reach a level she will start to object that then becomes your starting point. Be consistant depending on many factors it may be a long drawn out process or as short as a week. You also mention that she is great for your son. How tall is she ? If she is a shorter pony, when a full grown adult goes to climb under we unknowingly put such stress and joint angles on the little guys that it truely does hurt.