Just had a nervous pony stand still for the whole trim

I deal with a pony that normally shuffles and pulls away when I try to trim his hooves. His owner usually stands right there, which makes me feel a bit on the spot. This time, I spent a few minutes just rubbing his neck and letting him get used to me. The owner gave me a look like I was wasting time, but I kept at it. The pony finally relaxed and let me finish the job without any trouble. It might not sound like much, but it felt like I turned a corner with him. Those little victories really keep you going in this trade.

3 comments

3 Comments

susan_mason7mo ago

You know, that bit about the owner giving you a look really hits home. I had a client once who would just hover and sigh loudly if I took a moment to let a dog settle before a nail trim. It got in my head so bad that I started rushing, which of course made the dog worse. Finally I just had to ignore them and do it my way, which was slower but actually worked. Sometimes the person holding the leash is the real problem, not the animal.