Hooves and Boots

I cannot stress how important it is to teach your horses to feel comfortable having their feet handled. This isn't just for the safety of the farrier, but also the safety of the horse, owner, and veterinarian. What happens if a horse jerks while a knife is put to their sole or a nail is being hammered in? The farrier can be seriously injured but so can your horse. What if a veterinarian needs to look at their feet or legs and they aren't comfortable? It will be difficult to get a solid diagnosis and get ready to have to pay extra for those sedatives. What if you as the owner needs to treat a leg injury or abscess? Your world just got a whole lot more dangerous. Good luck getting the barn staff to want to help. They don't want to get kicked. Teaching a horse to lift their feet takes minutes and you only need a few days a week. This is a client who I am visiting on a weekly basis to help her.

Happy Independence Day everyone!