shoeing problem
Honey B is a 10 yr old Dutch Warmblood Mare – very accomplished but
quite wilful – in fact a typical mare. To get her own way she uses her
weight and strength against you. We had managed to get her to load very
successfully by using a “Be Nice” halter and we had mostly cured her of
barging out of her stable and “dragging” you to the field.
However the problem we never managed even to get near was over the
shoeing and for the 5 years we have had her she has had to have a vet in
attendance with pretty heavy sedation (After we had bought her we learnt
that she had had a very bad experience with farriers who by now had
become her worst enemies).Max had already successfully worked with
two other horses on the yard and we arranged for him to be there on the
day she was due to be shod – obviously with the full cooperation of our
farrier. Max duly arrived in the morning and spent a while with her in
her stable analysing her condition and temperament: he found that she
had a few trapped nerves which he eased by manipulation. He then spent
two to three hours working with her in the indoor school using his
halter.
The farrier arrived at noon and Honey B was presented to him. She stood
there meek as a lamb while all four shoes were replaced.
The real test, however, came 6 weeks later when we were going to have to
do it ourselves. He had shown myself and my father who usually looked
after her for shoeing etc, exactly what to do but more important we had
watched him work with her. Our farrier duly arrived and once again she
behaved impeccably for him.
We don’t know why it works – it just does. The important aspect seems to
be that Max is not just training the horse, he is training the owner. We
have found that his methods can be utilised to solve all manner of
behavioural problems if you go about it the right way. Honey B is in
line to become the best behaved horse on the yard!
Mandi |
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