Yalla! had her feet trimmed for the first time today!
I hadn't fed the horses yet when my shoer showed up. He is notoriously early rather than late as is the custom of most of the farriers I've known. So I gave them all a quick feeding of grain and soaked beet pulp figuring that would hold their appetites while they got their feet trimmed.
Since Yalla! doesn't really eat much, I thought we could start with her. I took in the halter, hoping that she wouldn't give me much trouble putting it on. I found out that if I try to slide it up over her ears she fights me more than if I just unbuckle the poll strap and bring it up from under her head. She came right over and took the halter really well this morning. Since it was so muddy around, we decided to just trim her right in the stall with Annie.
She chewed a lot and once she pulled back rearing when he was working on her back foot but the shoer was very patient and quiet. I brought her forward and she settled right down. I held her next to her mama and a few times she even backed into Annie. Annie was very good and patient. I believe that because Annie is an older mare, she is much more patient with her foal than some mares. There was a time when I would have been very worried about backing into Annie's hind end because she used to kick a lot.
Since Yalla! was the very first horse to be trimmed, I was rather proud that she behaved as well as she did. I often work with her, picking up her feet but I don't hold them long.
He said her feet were good and strong and that they had grown more than he expected for her 10 weeks. He cut away almost all of her newborn baby hoof. Awwww...
She was very curious about all the tools
Since I didn't have my camera on me, these were taken with the cell phone so you'll have to excuse the poor quality.
I hadn't fed the horses yet when my shoer showed up. He is notoriously early rather than late as is the custom of most of the farriers I've known. So I gave them all a quick feeding of grain and soaked beet pulp figuring that would hold their appetites while they got their feet trimmed.
Since Yalla! doesn't really eat much, I thought we could start with her. I took in the halter, hoping that she wouldn't give me much trouble putting it on. I found out that if I try to slide it up over her ears she fights me more than if I just unbuckle the poll strap and bring it up from under her head. She came right over and took the halter really well this morning. Since it was so muddy around, we decided to just trim her right in the stall with Annie.
She chewed a lot and once she pulled back rearing when he was working on her back foot but the shoer was very patient and quiet. I brought her forward and she settled right down. I held her next to her mama and a few times she even backed into Annie. Annie was very good and patient. I believe that because Annie is an older mare, she is much more patient with her foal than some mares. There was a time when I would have been very worried about backing into Annie's hind end because she used to kick a lot.
Since Yalla! was the very first horse to be trimmed, I was rather proud that she behaved as well as she did. I often work with her, picking up her feet but I don't hold them long.
He said her feet were good and strong and that they had grown more than he expected for her 10 weeks. He cut away almost all of her newborn baby hoof. Awwww...
She was very curious about all the tools
And she watched intently as he trimmed her mama's feet.
She even tried to nurse a few times while Annie was getting her feet done but I wouldn't let her. That's just plain unfair to Annie! Yalla! can wait. I think she wanted to nurse for security rather than hunger.
Since I didn't have my camera on me, these were taken with the cell phone so you'll have to excuse the poor quality.
I asked about how her legs seem to turn out slightly and he said that was normal for foals. It's called a foal stance so that they can nurse. He said her legs would start straightening out in time. (There's always something to worry about, isn't there?)
touch my pretty little feet - song: Chilly Down, artist: David Bowie, album: Labyrinth
5 comments:
Yay for Yalla!
You've done a great job getting her ready. A friend of mine didn't have near the positive experience getting her first trim done.
That's great that Yalla did so well. I've watched a few of my friend's foals get their feet trimmed for the first time, and there was a lot of rearing and pulling back. The first time my farrier worked with Gabbrielle as a yearling, I thought he'd never come back. We had to keep changing our strategy, because she'd fight her way out of everything. After an hour, he gave up on trimming the back feet. I quickly figured out why the breeder wouldn't trim her before I picked her up. He claimed he had a back problem. He probably did, and she probably caused it. She's very well behaved now, though. My farrier adores her, and she knows it.
Brave girl Yalla!
Good Yalla!! Sounds like she did fairly well for her first hoof trim!! She'll be an ole pro before you know it!
Yalla is so cute! Yes, her leg will be fine and it has to do a lot with how the farrier trims. Also how patient they are with the little ones. Romeo was really good when he was little but I attribute it to all the imprinting we did when he was born. He still is better for me than my hubby! LOL! I always picked his feet up and held them....tapping on the bottom of the hoof and didn't let go until I wanted to...never release when they are fighting it or trying to take it away...I'm sure you've already heard that. Then they learn not to pull away from the farrier or you. It works! Good to see your cutie! Luanne
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