How to Make My Horse Stand Still for Shoeing

Training a horse to view you as a dominant companion helps you calm the horse for shoeing.

Horses have retained a strong, wild survival instinct that sets them apart from other domesticated animals. This instinct in the horse can work against the owner during shoeing, but if an owner can assert their authority the shoeing process becomes safer and simpler. Horses rely upon a social hierarchy within the herd. In times of food shortage, or limited space, horses will battle each other. Once a winner is decided, the violence subsides; it rarely erupts again unless a particular horse disagrees with its status. An owner can train a horse to respect her as a dominant herd member by using the horse's hierarchical system.

Instructions

1. Set up a daily schedule for your horse. Keep regular feeding, play and rest periods; this will condition a horse to expect these things at certain times. Once your horse begins to respond to a set schedule, you can set up an appropriate time for shoeing.

2. Tie the horse to an aisle or in a stall,. It should be alone. Horses are herd animals that rely heavily on the companionship of other horses. Setting aside a time each day for the horse to be alone reassures the animal that it can survive without the herd. This builds a horse's confidence, making it less likely it will try to break free during shoeing. This lesson will require weeks or months of repetition. Patience is key in horse training.

3. Reinforce good experiences within the shoeing area. Scratch the horse's withers, talk calmly to the horse and offer a treat. Horses often misinterpret smells and sounds as warnings of danger. Something as innocuous as the clatter of a farrier's toolbox can spook a normally calm horse. A horse remembers this sound, and is apt to react each time. Countering the flight instinct in the horse with positive actions helps numb the reaction.

4. Train the horse to lift its own foot. This step should only be attempted after you feel you have the respect of your horse, and the horse is calmly awaiting its shoeing. You can pinch the flexor tendon while stating the command "lift." The horse will automatically lift its foot. Do this a few times with each leg. Your command should be assertive and authoritative. Reward the horse when it does well.

Tips & Warnings

• Horses that are particularly nervous with shoeing can be dangerous. You may consider using tranquilizers, but this is only necessary as a last resort.

References

• Horsekeeping.com: Horse Behavior for Trimming and Shoeing

Resources

• Horses and Horse Informations: Horse Shoes
• Horse Training for Shoeing: Corrective Behavior Training