Check out these tips on how farriers have successfully dealt with horses that don’t stand well for footcare.

1 Listen to what the horse is trying to tell you, as bad behavior is often due to poor communication between animals and humans.

2 Be compassionate in regard to a problem horse, but don’t accept responsibility for a horse’s poor manners.

3 With 80% of the horses that don’t stand well, there’s usually something wrong with the shoeing conditions or the way a farrier approaches the animal and holds the feet.

4 When starting with a problem horse, assume they are well behaved, speak softly and move slowly, as most horses will respond in kind.

5 Be polite and professional at all times, even if it means strolling out to the truck for a sip of water to cool your temper.

6 Ask yourself a few key questions when working with a problem horse: Is this a problem that can be solved today or is it going to take more time? Is the client willing to let you work with the horse and pay for your time? Is the client willing to work with the horse between farrier visits? Is sedation an option?

7 When working with problem horses, sometimes it’s better when the owner leaves. An…