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Discussion on Trimming a new BLM horse | |
Author | Message |
Member: Peggyr |
Posted on Wednesday, Oct 15, 2003 - 2:02 pm: We are bringing home a 3 yr BLM gelding Saturday. He has been with the owner 1 year and is gentled and has had basic halter and round pen training. His hooves desperately need to be trimmed before we do anything with him. He has been trimmed several times per the owner but they have been lax for several months. What should we expect from this horse? Should we wait until he is accustomed to us before trimming? Does he need special type of trimming? Our farrier is 65 with shoulder problems and I don't want to put him at risk. Are there farriers that specialize in dealing with wild horse feet?Thanks for any input.. |
Member: Sunny66 |
Posted on Wednesday, Oct 15, 2003 - 3:48 pm: My friend used to regularly take BLM horses. To get the horse used to it's surroundings, I've seen her just feed and clean at certain times of the day for the first few days just so the horse has a schedule, it seems to work well, eventually the horse will anticipate and come to you without you going to him...that should indicate he's ready for a "little" attention...she takes it very slowly at first. |
Member: Westks |
Posted on Thursday, Oct 16, 2003 - 1:42 am: Please look at KBR horseworld. for other tips on mustang. I would wait a few days at least and let him get to know and trust you first.I would do alot of grooming and just spending time with him not necessarily asking him for any work per say but do make sure he treats you with respect.These hooves have been let go for a reason at least make sure it is not a behavioral reason first so no one including him ends up hurt or with a bad experience right off the bat at a new home. here is the link for KBR : https://www.kbrhorse.net/ |
Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Thursday, Oct 16, 2003 - 7:35 am: Hello Peggy,We do not know what to expect from this horse and I would recommend before you buy this horses that you be sure you can deal with his feet and trimming. You may be worried about nothing or you may have a problem here you are not able to deal with: find out before you bring him home and pay to have the horses feet trimmed to see what you are dealing with. DrO |
Member: Peggyr |
Posted on Thursday, Oct 16, 2003 - 3:52 pm: Thanks to all for your input. Janette I had been to that website before but had not followed the articles string. They have alot of good information I can use. I also wanted to tell you that your previous advise on trailering by donkeys was right on. I was able to train both to load freely within a week and our trip was great! They now have a new home in the Great Smokies.I have been able to get my hands all over this new guy so I am hoping all with go well but this will be our first experience with a wild horse. I've handled several jacks so I guess that helps. Thanks again. |
Member: Cowgrl |
Posted on Thursday, Apr 1, 2004 - 1:25 pm: I know this a very late and your mustang is probably picking his feet up just fine for you but I wanted to relate my experience on hoof handling with my mustang. I also purchased him last September from the people who adopted him. They did very little work with him and hadn't done anything in several months before I got him. He knew how to lead and release his hindquarters but not much else. He would only let me touch him on the face and only if I had a hold of him. When he trusted me enough to let me handle his legs, he definitely did not want his feet picked up and would back up as an evasion. I eventually asked a friend who has experience with mustangs to come over and work with him. He and Dakota bounced around for a while but he was able at the end of get him to pick up both front feet and hold them up without using force or intimidation. He said he would come back to work on the hinds but I just went ahead and started picking them up and he was just fine and still is. Dakota's problem was that he figured it worked with me by going in reverse but realized it wasn't going to happen with Steve and that ticked him off. When he was good, Steve released the pressure Dakota relaxed.Make sure your horse is solid on picking up his feet before asking your farrier to come over. It won't hurt him to got a little longer while he gets used to havig his feet handled. Be very lavish with praise when he does good. Lot's of happy voice and nodding and smiling. Horses are very attuned to expressions so don't feel silly if he's a good boy and you make a big fuss. I subscribe the pressure and release method that lots of natural horsemanship trainers use. for instance, Dakota had a fear of having his ears handled or touched so I would bring my hand up there and just place it near his ears. Of course he would try all of the evasion and escape methods he could but as I had a hold of his lead, he couldn't go far. I would keep my hand up there and as soon as he stopped reacting and started thinking, I would remove my hand and turn away. He'd relax and then I'd do it again. It's taken a long time (weeks) but he finally realized that I wasn't hurting him and it actually felt good to have his ears rubbed. He's still a little nervous if you abruptly bring your hand up to his ears and probably always will be but he's 100% better now. You can apply pressure and release to almost any aspect of working with him. Keep up the pressure until he stops resisting and then release the pressure immediately. Just have lots of patience and act like you have all the time in the world. My boy was a little more sensitive than most but now he and I are best friends and really enjoy each others company. I just started riding him and he is a joy. We have lots of fun out on the trails and he is a very fast learner. My husband thought I was nuts to take on this project but even he can't believe the swift progress we've made. Once you gain a mustang's trust and bond with them, they make the most loyal and faithful companions. Good luck with yours and enjoy the training, it's a great experience. Happy Trails Holly |
Member: Peggyr |
Posted on Thursday, Apr 1, 2004 - 4:33 pm: Thanks Holly for your post. My Scout is doing very well with the farrier. He will stand quitely for the fronts but is a little tense with the rear. Our previous farrier only trimmed the front the first two times and was hesitant about doing the rear even though he would allow his feet to be picked up. We now have a new farrier, a young cowboy, who is confident about working with him and everything has gone smoothly both times.Scout is quite a handful and full of energy. We have decided to reduce his feed to once daily and only a portion of what he was getting. He has full turnout with plenty of grass and hay. He has been so full of it I had to move my other gelding to another pasture. He is 20+ with arthritis and Scout plays too hard. He likes to chase and when I saw the older one take a fall last weekend I moved him out. Scout has been agitated since the move but he has two donkeys for company and can see everything from his pasture. Hopefully he will settle down soon. Peggy |
Member: Cowgrl |
Posted on Thursday, Apr 1, 2004 - 6:03 pm: Mustangs are notoriously easy keepers. Their bodies are used to having less feed and lesser quality from being out in the wild. I feed my guy 4 flakes of grass hay a day and only about 3 handfuls of grain once a day. He's got plenty of energy for whatever I need him to do and plenty of weight. I was giving Dakota 1/4 to 1/2 scoop a day (about 1 lb) and had to reduce it when I noticed he was getting a little cresty. I couldn't believe it.I also had Dakota in with my quarter horse gelding for a while. They got along great but everytime I'd try to work with Dakota, Woody had to get in on the act and Dakota wouldn't concentrate and was harder to catch. I moved Woody out so Dakota is by himself now but he can still see the others. It's definitely made a difference in how he relates to me. He looks to me for companionship and his training has moved along really quickly. I'm sure your Scout will settle down now that he doesn't have his playmate with him. Have fun |