How to help a horse who struggles to stand for the farrier

There are many reasons why a horse might struggle to stand for the farrier. Sometimes it’s related to difficulty balancing on three legs, or pain in the hooves or elsewhere in the body.

There are many physical issues that can cause this, such as laminitis, PSSM, ECVM.. the list goes on. If the horse has a problem like this, it needs to be addressed before any changes will be seen, and in the meantime, a sympathetic and skilled farrier is essential: someone who is patient and understanding, flexible and happy to give the horse back their hoof frequently for rest breaks. Using a hill can be helpful: For example, I had a horse with arthritis who found it much easier to hold up his front feet when standing facing downhill. Resting the hinds on the ground while the heels and frog are trimmed and only picking them up to rasp the toe and walls can help.

Some horses struggle to stand on three legs simply because they don’t have the balance or lack the confidence or body awareness. I have had a lot of success with curing this problem using slow walk work. Because this method works to bring relaxation, release braced muscles, improve balance and posture and increase body awareness, it often results in a lightbulb moment for the horse where they are able to work out how to easily balance on three legs. I often find that horses become much better for the farrier after this work has been carried out.