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Strange Stance for Shoeing

Apr 10, 2015
Q: Whenever the farrier is working on my gelding’s feet, he stretches his head straight out in front of him and twists it to the side. If I’m standing in front of him, he’ll rest his head on my shoulder. This is the only time he does this, and he’s done it with every farrier he’s had since I’ve owned him. He’s not naughty, and he doesn’t move around when the farrier’s trying to work. Is this just a strange habit he picked up at some stage?
 
A: Without seeing the behavior, it would be difficult to say. I would be more inclined to be considering whether it was helping the horse balance, which would raise the question of why. Does he stand normally when you lift his feet? You might ask your veterinarian to have a look, or if you can get me a video clip, I could have a look along with our neurologist and possibly have some ideas to share.
 
Source: TheHorse