He started with her front foot on her right side. Of course she did perfect. He went for her back foot and that's when it hit the fan. She flew over sideways as soon as he picked her foot up (which she picked up willingly when he asked her) and held it there for more than a split second. Around and around she went. I had positioned myself so that she could only go one way and that way the farrier could keep up. He did great!
When she stopped, he made quick work of trimming that foot. He went around to the other side and I warned him this side has always been harder for her. He didn't think it would be much worse than the side he just did and boy was he wrong! When he went to pick up her back left foot she kinda kicked out trying to take it back from him. He asked for an extra lead rope to work with that back foot so he wouldn't get kicked. He picked her foot up using the lead rope and held it there while she danced around trying to take it back. Once she finally gave her foot, he released it. Then he asked for her foot without the lead rope and she did more dancing and when she gave in, he quickly trimmed that foot.
He moved on to her front foot on the left side and she did fine with that.
The thing I really appreciate about our farrier is that he never, not even one time, got upset. He just stayed with her and was very patient with her. If he would've gotten upset and got after her about her behavior, the next time he came out or any time we tried to work with her feet she could relate it as a bad experience and could become awful. We will just have to keep working with her and her feet so that the next time the farrier comes out it will go better!
Until next time!
Quote for the day:
"No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave."
-Calvin Coolidge
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