Comments for The Outback Hoof's Weblog http://theoutbackhoof.wordpress.com information on horses Tue, 11 Nov 2008 01:58:22 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on How To Worm A Difficult Horse by theoutbackhoof http://theoutbackhoof.wordpress.com/2008/04/18/how-to-worm-a-difficult-horse/#comment-19 theoutbackhoof Tue, 11 Nov 2008 01:58:22 +0000 http://theoutbackhoof.wordpress.com/?p=50#comment-19 Hi Kelly, Yes I would persist with handling his mouth. He doesn’t know and trust you as yet so I’d keep patting him and then holding his nose gently and touching his mouth. If he pulls back let him go and then repeat. Once a horse learns to get out of something by playing up such as tossing their head etc they’ll keep trying it. So if you persist with him he’ll soon learn he can’t get away with it. What’s he like to bridle. Can you hold his nose and put the bit in ok? Being a race horse the poor thing has probably never had a carrot or apple before. When he gets to know you and trust you a little I bet he’ll change his mind about them haha! It’s good you’ve got a little time now until the next wormer is due to keep handling him so he’s used to having his mouth played with etc. You never know what background a horse comes from and what experiences they’ve had. I’m not sure about a horse getting used to being wormed. I accidentally wiped my mouth once after worming my horses and it’s vile tasting stuff haha! There are flavoured wormers available now but I haven’t used them as yet. I guess it’s just discipline and respect that a horse will stand quietly for you, also a horse’s personality plays a huge part in what they will and wont do. That’s why I out smart a difficult horse by not letting them know a wormers coming until it’s too late. Hope this has helped and good luck, Feel free to write again or you can email me at: info@theoutbackhoof.com Cheers Elizabeth Hi Kelly,

Yes I would persist with handling his mouth. He doesn’t know and trust you as yet so I’d keep patting him and then holding his nose gently and touching his mouth. If he pulls back let him go and then repeat. Once a horse learns to get out of something by playing up such as tossing their head etc they’ll keep trying it. So if you persist with him he’ll soon learn he can’t get away with it. What’s he like to bridle. Can you hold his nose and put the bit in ok? Being a race horse the poor thing has probably never had a carrot or apple before. When he gets to know you and trust you a little I bet he’ll change his mind about them haha!

It’s good you’ve got a little time now until the next wormer is due to keep handling him so he’s used to having his mouth played with etc. You never know what background a horse comes from and what experiences they’ve had.

I’m not sure about a horse getting used to being wormed. I accidentally wiped my mouth once after worming my horses and it’s vile tasting stuff haha! There are flavoured wormers available now but I haven’t used them as yet.

I guess it’s just discipline and respect that a horse will stand quietly for you, also a horse’s personality plays a huge part in what they will and wont do. That’s why I out smart a difficult horse by not letting them know a wormers coming until it’s too late.

Hope this has helped and good luck,

Feel free to write again or you can email me at: info@theoutbackhoof.com

Cheers Elizabeth

]]> Comment on How To Worm A Difficult Horse by kelly http://theoutbackhoof.wordpress.com/2008/04/18/how-to-worm-a-difficult-horse/#comment-18 kelly Thu, 06 Nov 2008 08:51:45 +0000 http://theoutbackhoof.wordpress.com/?p=50#comment-18 I bought a 4yr old thoroughbred 5 days ago, and i wormed him today. He was practically impossible and it got quite messy, he'd keep moving his head, throw it up and around, and the whites would show in his eyes. He wont eat carrots or apples, just sniffs them and looks away. He's not fussed on having his mouth played with. Should i keep trying to touch his mouth so he gets used to it? What can i do so he'll be used to getting wormed? I bought a 4yr old thoroughbred 5 days ago, and i wormed him today. He was practically impossible and it got quite messy, he’d keep moving his head, throw it up and around, and the whites would show in his eyes. He wont eat carrots or apples, just sniffs them and looks away. He’s not fussed on having his mouth played with. Should i keep trying to touch his mouth so he gets used to it? What can i do so he’ll be used to getting wormed?

]]> Comment on How To Handle A Difficult Horse With A Farrier by theoutbackhoof http://theoutbackhoof.wordpress.com/2008/05/25/how-to-handle-a-difficult-horse-with-a-farrier/#comment-17 theoutbackhoof Mon, 20 Oct 2008 09:35:37 +0000 http://theoutbackhoof.wordpress.com/?p=57#comment-17 Hi Larry, Thankyou very much for sharing your experience with horses with us. Wow mules, what are they like to handle? Does the old saying “As stubborn as a mule” ring true? Haha! I guess there are some lazy horses out there that will lean but as a general rule a horse should move away from pressure. The aids when we ride are to place your weight and pressure on to the side of the horse you want them to move a way from. Eg: If you want to side step to the left, you slightly move your weight through your seat bone to the right, put a little pressure with your right heel just behind the right girth and pull the left rein out to the side a little so the horse feels pressure from the right side of the mouth and in turn the horse should move to the left away from the pressure. Your right though, different things for different horses. I’ve got a horse that if you dare put her in a yard she will endeavour to find a way out, broken yard or not! Where as a normal horse would probably neigh for a while and then settle down. Hope your hip and back don’t give you too much grief, Thanks again, Elizabeth Hi Larry,

Thankyou very much for sharing your experience with horses with us. Wow mules, what are they like to handle? Does the old saying “As stubborn as a mule” ring true? Haha!

I guess there are some lazy horses out there that will lean but as a general rule a horse should move away from pressure. The aids when we ride are to place your weight and pressure on to the side of the horse you want them to move a way from. Eg: If you want to side step to the left, you slightly move your weight through your seat bone to the right, put a little pressure with your right heel just behind the right girth and pull the left rein out to the side a little so the horse feels pressure from the right side of the mouth and in turn the horse should move to the left away from the pressure.

Your right though, different things for different horses. I’ve got a horse that if you dare put her in a yard she will endeavour to find a way out, broken yard or not! Where as a normal horse would probably neigh for a while and then settle down.

Hope your hip and back don’t give you too much grief,

Thanks again,

Elizabeth

]]> Comment on How To Handle A Difficult Horse With A Farrier by Larry Rowley http://theoutbackhoof.wordpress.com/2008/05/25/how-to-handle-a-difficult-horse-with-a-farrier/#comment-16 Larry Rowley Sun, 21 Sep 2008 13:15:28 +0000 http://theoutbackhoof.wordpress.com/?p=57#comment-16 I have shod horses and mules for 42 years and had to retire because of a very bad back and right hip. Two back operations and a total right hip replacement. To many farriers are in a hurry and they end up fighting with a horse.The easier the horse stands the faster you can work.Now as for pushing on the horses neck or shoulder the more you push the MORE he will lean. A horse will go against weight. Just try to push on his hip to make him move over,he will lean and push back---Right? Ok shake the lead line a little get his get his head up. This helps a lot if the farrier does not pull his leg to high or out to far. But remember some horses will lean and put all their weight on you they know what they are doing Deal with it it is part of the job. But try different things. I had a few horses that a little jab in the gut and they stand up. I said a LITTLE jab.I take my hammer handle and touch them. I also had one who would kick you through the wall if you did that. trial and error. I have shod horses and mules for 42 years and had to retire because of a very bad back and right hip. Two back operations and a total right hip replacement. To many farriers are in a hurry and they end up fighting with a horse.The easier the horse stands the faster you can work.Now as for pushing on the horses neck or shoulder the more you push the MORE he will lean. A horse will go against weight. Just try to push on his hip to make him move over,he will lean and push back—Right? Ok shake the lead line a little get his get his head up. This helps a lot if the farrier does not pull his leg to high or out to far. But remember some horses will lean and put all their weight on you they know what they are doing Deal with it it is part of the job. But try different things. I had a few horses that a little jab in the gut and they stand up. I said a LITTLE jab.I take my hammer handle and touch them. I also had one who would kick you through the wall if you did that. trial and error.

]]> Comment on How To Handle A Difficult Horse With A Farrier by theoutbackhoof http://theoutbackhoof.wordpress.com/2008/05/25/how-to-handle-a-difficult-horse-with-a-farrier/#comment-15 theoutbackhoof Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:23:57 +0000 http://theoutbackhoof.wordpress.com/?p=57#comment-15 Hi Keleigh, Thanks for your comments. I agree farriers do have a pretty tough job having to hold up horses legs all day long with all that weight behind them. But this is a very un-natural thing for a horse. Going back to their origins, wild brumbies would have their hooves naturally trimmed by going over rough ground or unfortunately go lame. Leaning to compensate being off balance is a natural thing and a farrier makes a good resting post! As owners we can place our hand or arm on the horse’s neck or shoulder to try and alleviate some of the weight off the farrier. Also small, tugs on the lead rope to keep the horse alert and their weight even may help. As owners I agree we should definitely handle our horses to get them used to having their legs lifted etc but I also think a professional horse person, such as a farrier, should have the patience and knowledge to handle different situations with horses. Working in stables for years I got to see a lot of different people work with a lot of different horses, some brilliant and some not. I think some people have a natural report with animals and some don’t. And I think horses pick up very quickly as to a person’s nature. I got a little stale myself after a few years having to deal with young, immature horses that you hardly had time to get to know before hopping on and holding on for your life! So I got out and am happy to have horses now as my hobby and not my job. Thanks for reading, Elizabeth Hi Keleigh,

Thanks for your comments. I agree farriers do have a pretty tough job having to hold up horses legs all day long with all that weight behind them. But this is a very un-natural thing for a horse. Going back to their origins, wild brumbies would have their hooves naturally trimmed by going over rough ground or unfortunately go lame. Leaning to compensate being off balance is a natural thing and a farrier makes a good resting post!

As owners we can place our hand or arm on the horse’s neck or shoulder to try and alleviate some of the weight off the farrier. Also small, tugs on the lead rope to keep the horse alert and their weight even may help. As owners I agree we should definitely handle our horses to get them used to having their legs lifted etc but I also think a professional horse person, such as a farrier, should have the patience and knowledge to handle different situations with horses.

Working in stables for years I got to see a lot of different people work with a lot of different horses, some brilliant and some not. I think some people have a natural report with animals and some don’t. And I think horses pick up very quickly as to a person’s nature.

I got a little stale myself after a few years having to deal with young, immature horses that you hardly had time to get to know before hopping on and holding on for your life! So I got out and am happy to have horses now as my hobby and not my job.

Thanks for reading,

Elizabeth

]]> Comment on How To Handle A Difficult Horse With A Farrier by Keleigh http://theoutbackhoof.wordpress.com/2008/05/25/how-to-handle-a-difficult-horse-with-a-farrier/#comment-14 Keleigh Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:45:28 +0000 http://theoutbackhoof.wordpress.com/?p=57#comment-14 I am a farrier's girlfirend who goes out with him while he does his job. I often have to hold the leads for him. I have seen how some horses react and it is pretty scary but like you said you have to not show the horse any of that. The more you do the more the horse reacts. I think as the owners you should handle your horses legs a bit more. Kinda trace from the shoulder all the way to the hoof. It makes it easier since most Farriers who handle your horse for the first will kinda do that to get a feel of the horse. I have seen this done over and over for 5 years now. It seems to work great. Having a better place for the farrier to work at is great also. The more space the better. It just gives all of them space in case the horse happens to get out of control. One thing Farriers hate is for you to tell him what you think is wrong or happened with the Horses' hoof. They know what it is before you tell them. And if you dont feel comfortable with his verdict then talk to your vet. You have to understand sometimes horses lean all their weight on the farriers back for support while they are shoeing them. So understandably it is a hard thing to do for them to remain unreactive. I dont know if this gave you any insight but I see it all day long and being tugged by the horse isnt easy either. I am a farrier’s girlfirend who goes out with him while he does his job. I often have to hold the leads for him. I have seen how some horses react and it is pretty scary but like you said you have to not show the horse any of that. The more you do the more the horse reacts. I think as the owners you should handle your horses legs a bit more. Kinda trace from the shoulder all the way to the hoof. It makes it easier since most Farriers who handle your horse for the first will kinda do that to get a feel of the horse. I have seen this done over and over for 5 years now. It seems to work great. Having a better place for the farrier to work at is great also. The more space the better. It just gives all of them space in case the horse happens to get out of control. One thing Farriers hate is for you to tell him what you think is wrong or happened with the Horses’ hoof. They know what it is before you tell them. And if you dont feel comfortable with his verdict then talk to your vet. You have to understand sometimes horses lean all their weight on the farriers back for support while they are shoeing them. So understandably it is a hard thing to do for them to remain unreactive. I dont know if this gave you any insight but I see it all day long and being tugged by the horse isnt easy either.

]]> Comment on How To Handle A Difficult Horse With A Farrier by theoutbackhoof http://theoutbackhoof.wordpress.com/2008/05/25/how-to-handle-a-difficult-horse-with-a-farrier/#comment-13 theoutbackhoof Tue, 15 Jul 2008 02:45:10 +0000 http://theoutbackhoof.wordpress.com/?p=57#comment-13 Hi Brandon, Thanks alot for you comment. There are the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to people handling horses! As a farrier,what can people do to make your job easier and the experience better for the horse? Thanks again Elizabeth Hi Brandon,

Thanks alot for you comment. There are the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to people handling horses!

As a farrier,what can people do to make your job easier and the experience better for the horse?

Thanks again Elizabeth

]]> Comment on How To Handle A Difficult Horse With A Farrier by BRANDON BLAKE http://theoutbackhoof.wordpress.com/2008/05/25/how-to-handle-a-difficult-horse-with-a-farrier/#comment-12 BRANDON BLAKE Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:30:11 +0000 http://theoutbackhoof.wordpress.com/?p=57#comment-12 I AM A FARRIER FROM SOUTH AFRICA,IN THE POLICE FORCE.I ALSO GOT A LOT MORE OUT OF THE HORSES AND MORE PLEASURE OUT OF MY WORK,BY THINKING OF THE HORSE FIRST.THERE HAS BEEN A HORSE THAT I COULD NOT SHOE,BUT I THINK THAT WAS A PROBLEM ON THE HORSES SIDE.MOST PROBLEMS WHERE THE OWNERS. I AM A FARRIER FROM SOUTH AFRICA,IN THE POLICE FORCE.I ALSO GOT A LOT MORE OUT OF THE HORSES AND MORE PLEASURE OUT OF MY WORK,BY THINKING OF THE HORSE FIRST.THERE HAS BEEN A HORSE THAT I COULD NOT SHOE,BUT I THINK THAT WAS A PROBLEM ON THE HORSES SIDE.MOST PROBLEMS WHERE THE OWNERS.

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