Finally!

[beckybee]

So My Little Manny has been a total pain in the butt when working on his feet.

Since I have had him (over 2-1/2 years), trimming his hooves has been an adventure

I've had 5 different trainers, farriers, trimmers, etc. try to work on his feet

Each one was chosen because they all said they never got frustrated, never hit a horse, never met a horse that couldn't make progress with

Until they met Manny. Circles, backing, whacking with rasp, yelling - none of it works on Manny. He'll circle faster, back farther, then rear, kick, stomp - you want a fight? He'll give you a fight! Try to find a little give, relax, response to reward - ain't gonna happen - that's just a window of opportunity for futher antics. And if you tie him to work on his feet and use a hoof stand? The perfect storm!

(The first one made it the farthest, actually completing 3 whole feet )

After each appointment I would have a month or two of getting him calm enough again so I could even pick up his feet without it escalating.

He's usually such a happy guy and tries pretty hard, so I felt it's been fear and/or pain. I try to keep the foot sessions short, not hike his legs up high, show him that if he just "asks" to have his foot back he can have it. Am I just falling into his game or am I being considerate of his discomfort

It really sucked when I broke my leg because no one could work with him. I couldn't walk for 2 months and I've been pretty tentative overall since then. Then late last fall, the source of his pain became apparent and he had surgery to clean up an infection from old wounds (although I believe there is still something else going on)

The other night, Manny was being a pest and wanted be right on top of me, so I started messing with his feet. He seemed game and I got all 4 of his feet nipped in under 15 minutes!

He still needed to be filed, so yesterday evening I hauled him into the arena, tied him (did I mention he's standing tied now!?) and filed all his feet! Even the obsessive compulsive "just a little more here, and here, and here, maybe a little more here" ;D

He was so relaxed that he was even napping towards the end! I actually called my hubby from the house to see if he thought Manny might be sick

I know this is something we should have gotten nailed years ago, but I am so happy we had an uneventful mani-pedi session regardless of how long it took to get here.

Thanks for listening to my brag

[piopico]

Congratulations. I guess it's a case of 'all good things take time'. But still, if it was me, I'd be SO frustrated........you must have the patience of an angel.

[tireddog]

Becky, this is awesome! I am so proud of both of you. What a team!

Would you ask Manny to talk to Abigail (Ivy/Soot), please? She has about a 15-minute period she will give and then she is DONE. I am fairly sure a portion, if not all, of this has to do with her past. She has a crack that desperately needs tackled. We trim every four weeks, but she is growing so fast and needs a chill pill.

And it's not mani-pedi, it's Manny Pedi! He has a special name for his special time with Mom now.

[pnp4kidz]

awe, can I bring my farrier?
he has a great 'tool' he uses to soothe the beasts...
only if needed, and then judiciously... (or it won't work!)
he got shoes on the 10 month old Sundance!

I'm VERY impressed Becky! what do you think did it? the pain relief?

Congrats on any level tho!

[beckybee]

I think Manny has wired into him "you're going to take my foot and not give it back and I have to fight you until I get it back."

This was either due to how he "trained" before getting to the feedlot and/or resistence due the pain caused by his wounds. And also because he's a punk!

When I worked on his feet, I kept them low to the ground and up give him frequent breaks. I would also do it while he ate, keeping it pretty low key.

The farriers and trainers (by the nature of their business) make a big deal about it. Usually they wouldn't let him eat and sometimes they required that he be tied.

Well crikey - when I first got him he would freak out just being tied! Not that he hadn't learned how to be tied - it was apparent that he had been tied and bad things had happened and wanted loose!

I've also worked with Manny to let him know that if he asks nicely to get his foot back, he can have it. Rather than Manny going "I want it back now. Now! NOW!!" we do "now?" "just a sec - okay." Over time, "just a sec" has gotten longer and longer.

No one gave him the benefit of the doubt that he hurt (even the vets) so they felt that the best thing to do was hold a foot up until he gave up. I think they were reinforcing Manny's fears that when his feet got held, he got hurt.

They felt I was too easy on him, because he can sometimes be a punk. He does try to make things interesting if you are being tedious or repetitious.

I guess that's the biggest hurdle with horses - how do you decide that if a horse is resistent to something it's because they are just being contrary/lazy, or if they have a legitimate issue (pain, fear, etc.)?


mta: Beth, I remember when you wrote about your farrier and his nerve line. I was tempted to try it myself, but was scared of doing it wrong.

Dr. Robert Miller has a "Safer Horsemanship" DVD that shows a bunch of these "tricks" (nerve line, hobbles, etc.). It's really crazy that many vets/farriers aren't familiar with these techniques that use instinctual physiological and psychological responses to the benefit of the handler. "Stand still while tied and submit" is what many count on.

[pnp4kidz]

I completely understand! I am not sure I would be quite as good at the nerve line myself, but my farrier is a champ at it...
between that and not losing his temper... it's all a wonderful ending...

It is amazing that people react to the thought of using a nerve line as if it was a barbaric torture device, but think nothing of using a whip or round penning till they can't breathe...
it's way less invasive than either of those, and gets the point across instantly, in a language the horse apparently understands...
but you are right, you are always riding the line of is the pain enough to warrent this behavior.. or not... I know your pain... you should see our trim days... LOL!!!