PSA: A simple trick for a nervous horse in the cross ties

I had a young quarter horse that would not stop fidgeting and shifting his weight while I was trying to trim his front feet. I tried talking to him and giving breaks, but he kept moving. Then I remembered something an old farrier said about pressure points. I started gently rubbing the spot between his front legs on his chest with my free hand for about ten seconds before picking up the foot. He let out a big sigh and stood perfectly still for the whole trim. Has anyone else tried something like this with a jumpy horse?

2 comments

2 Comments

victor_stone20d ago

That chest rub trick is a solid move. It works on the same idea as that TTeam stuff, just pressing or rubbing to get their brain off the fidgeting. Sometimes just leaning your shoulder into their neck while you pick up the foot gives them enough to think about. For a real wiggle worm, I'll rest the hoof on my knee and give the chest a good scratch before I even grab the nippers.

fiona33220d ago

Watched my friend calm a spooky colt by rubbing its shoulder while picking the back hoof.