07/08/2025
🦸Standing still is a SUPERPOWER! 🦹
Horses will need regular hoof care throughout their whole life - teaching them the key skill of standing, relaxed is the best gift you can give them.
❗Can your horse reliably stand for their routine appointment? ❗
This foundational skill requires practice, practice and more PRACTICE!
🏆The benefits are absolutely worth it:
✅ Safer!
✅ Less stress for the horse, farrier and owner
✅ More efficient hoof care
✅ Earlier detection of discomfort and proactive management
🐴 Set the environment up for success:
✅ Shoeing area should be clean, dry, level, with good lighting and enough space to move
✅ Free from distractions. Avoid busy times like feeding and turn out times. Free range children, animals and friends with a pocket full of polos should be kept out of the way
✅ Manage the flies!
✅ Have a buddy horse nearby (temperament dependent)
✅ Get the horse moving before the appointment. Exercise to loosen off muscles and burn excess energy. Turn out if you can clean and dry legs in time
✅ Use appropriate restraint if necessary. Talk the options through with your farrier which could include holding the horse, cross ties, Horslyx to reward standing still or sedation
“SAFETY IS NO ACCIDENT”
⛔ 80% of farriers reported at least one injury requiring hospital treatment in their career
⛔ 46% felt injury was avoidable if the horse had better handling
⛔ 30% felt injury was avoidable if the environment was better managed
(BFBA FARRIER INJURY SURVEY (2021))
