Nothing can spoil a young horse’s attitude toward farriers more than a bad early experience. And a horse with a deep-seated mistrust of having his feet handled can be difficult and even downright dangerous for the rest of his life.
Fortunately, it’s almost never too soon to get a foal used to having his feet handled. Focus on the following goals in early hoof-handling sessions:
1. Establish a relationship of respect.
Foals and young horses understand the concept of discipline. After all, it’s the foundation of a herd’s pecking order. A bold youngster who tries to have his own way gets put in his place by dominant herd members. Likewise, you need to teach your foal to respect you. And he won’t be allowed to nip, bite, kick or throw a temper tantrum when you pick up a foot.
2. Get the foal accustomed to all sorts of handling.
The first step in teaching a young horse farriery manners requires desensitizing him to being touched. Once a youngster is halter trained, teach him to accept your touch over his entire body. Go slowly and make it a positive experience. If he begins to become anxious, stop briefly to allow him to calm down, then resume your session. And make hoof handling a consistent part of his care routine.
3. Make him feel safe and secure.
When you first start picking up his feet, make sure the foal is in a position that allows him to easily balance on the other three legs. If necessary, help him shift his weight. After he is accustomed to balancing himself, try holding each hoof aloft for longer periods. If he tries to take the foot away, gently continue to hold it until he relaxes, then put it down. He needs to learn that you are the one deciding when to put his feet down, not him, or he will think he can jerk it away whenever he wishes.
4. Show him that farrier visits are no big deal.
When the farrier comes to the barn to work on other horses, bring out the youngster so he experiences the sights and sounds of hoof trimming and shoeing. If possible, ask your farrier to take a break and introduce himself to the youngster.
5. Don’t ask for too much too soon.
Take your time. A young horse, like a young child, has a short attention span and little patience. Start gradually extending the duration of your hoof handling sessions—and always try to keep your youngster calm and comfortable.
In your first sessions, focusing on getting the foal to let you hold up each foot briefly. Initially don’t lift it more than six or eight inches off the ground—this is less threatening. Avoid making him feel like his leg is “trapped” or that he has lost control of it, which may cause him to panic.
Once the youngster accepts having his feet lifted for a few minutes at a time, hold up each hoof as if for shoeing. Then use a hoof pick to gently clear off the sole and tap and scrape the hoof. This will help the young horse get used to the feel hoof handling. Once he is accustomed to having his feet held up for longer periods, he is ready to cooperate when the farrier needs to trim his hooves or apply shoes.
