Stress
Tips for Easing Your Horse's Anxiety During Vet Visits
2 min. read time
Not every horse fears the same things. However, there are situations where many horses experience stress, posing a problem for both human and animal - one of which is the appointment with the farrier. It's a necessary appointment for every horse, yet for some, it's always associated with stress. A stranger comes, touches the horse's belly, back, and legs, and works on the hooves.
Practice standing still when the farrier arrives.
Especially if the horse is young or has had bad experiences with the farrier, it is important to practice beforehand to establish a sense of routine. A nervous horse that may kick or rear can be a danger to both the farrier or hoof care professional and the person handling the horse's head. Get your horse accustomed to being touched on the legs, belly, and back without any issues. If you are not familiar with your horse yet, you can start by using a whip to gauge its reaction to touches on different parts of the body.
To ensure your horse stands calmly on three legs during the farrier's work, it is essential that it is familiar with and proficient in giving its hooves. You can also practice holding up its legs, especially for young horses who may find it unfamiliar when the farrier picks up their hooves for trimming.
Fear of the farrier?
In stressful situations, horses typically react with a flight response. The challenge with nervous horses at the farrier is that they cannot express this instinctive response. To ensure the safety of the farrier, it is essential for the horse and the people around it to remain calm. The process can also be tricky during the initial shoeing. The handling of the iron, the burning smell, and the nailing can be stressful and frightening for young or inexperienced horses, or those with a sensitive temperament.Shoeing can put an inexperienced horse on high alert: the smoke triggers fear and panic in many horses initially. In a natural setting, the first reaction to such a situation would be to flee. Despite the horse's instinct to escape, it must stand still and tolerate the unfamiliar work. Therefore, strive to be a calming presence for your horse. Provide reassurance by speaking soothingly to them and rewarding them, so they associate the farrier visit with positivity. The calmer the people around the horse are, the less agitated and flight-prone the horse will be, making the farrier appointment more relaxed.
Provide him with reassurance by speaking soothingly to him and rewarding him, so he associates the farrier visit with positivity. The calmer the people around the horse are, the less agitated and flight-prone the horse will be, making the farrier appointment more relaxed.
Do you want to learn more about how horses react to stressful situations, how their flight instinct manifests, and how we as owners can make stress more bearable for our horses? Horses react differently to various stressors and exhibit individual behaviors. Download our new e-book with all stress symptoms now to gain valuable insights!
Equine 74 Gastric
The long-term solution
Buffers the excess acid in the horse's stomach instead of blocking it.
Equine 74 Stomach Calm Relax
In case of acute stress
Supports the nervous horse stomach in stressful situations.