Lark Equine Services

Do you know the differences? Do you know why different choices are made?

These are purposefully broad categories and the details of each depend on the individual horse, plan of action, teamwide understanding, and other factors that professionals have to consider.

I'd love to hear your thoughts 🐎

❔️ Did you know?

Horses have the right, and desire, to work with hoofcare professionals who value their consent and voice in the process. Horses who are difficult to work with, for a wide variety of reasons, oftentimes end with a different quality result than those who are able to stand still and in locations with favorable conditions.

🐴 What are some reasons a horse won't stand still?

💫 Pain: Typically the first thing we explore, and most common reason. Older horses, rehab horses, horses of all walks of life, respond with tension and pulling or kicking when dealing with pain. Sometimes this is anticipatory pain! Horses who have known pain for a while during a trim or shoeing may generalize and assume each interaction is the same. Consult with a team of your vet, farrier, and bodyworker to rule panlin out first and foremost.

💫 Fear: Young horses, horses who are new to husvandry practices, horses who have been out of the routine for a while, and many others may react out of fear when being handled. It's important for farriers and owners to work through things with understanding and not take it personally if a horse strikes out. It is the farrier's discretion to time when to continue or when to give breaks, and a successful interaction heavily rests on the adaptability of all parties.

💫 Unmet needs: A horse who has been on stall rest, or who hasn't experienced the same normal social time, can be easily agitated and respond with intolerance to handling. Once again, meeting the situation with adaptability and understanding often leads to success!

These are a couple broad reasons, and there are others that fall under these umbrellas. Things like tension from exercise, travel, sale, vaccines, etc all matter. Meeting a horse with understanding and curiosity is the best way to raise success and comfort. It is more important to have a quality relationship and a functional trim than it is to push a horse past its limit for our own chase for esthetics.

What are your thoughts? I'd love to discuss and hear your own stories.