Posted by Tom Neill on October 20, 2002 at 15:45:21:
Let me start by saying that I have learned a ton of stuff from the farrier helping farrier BB. You ladies and gents have greatly improved my knowledge about farrier work. That being said, here is my problem. Had a horse to trim today. 1/4 horse mare, 14-18 years of age, 14 hands. Does not seem to be mean. Does not seem to want back feet done either. Took some work to get fronts done, no drugs. Owner had happy juice that vet gave her a few days ago for when farrier came to do feet (red flag?). Owner said that when vet tried looking at back legs, mare kicked out at vet. Tried for 1/2 hr. to calmly get hinds; no dice. Gave medicine. Waited 12 minutes per vets instructions. Mare got glassy look to her eyes. Attempted to get hind leg. Kick was only 1/2 second slower than when undrugged. Went on for another 1/2 hr. Unable to get hinds (continueous kicks). Did I fail? Is that uncommon to not be able to get a horses feet when drugged? Has this happened to anybody else, or did I just drop the ball? Any info, advice, etc. would be welcomed. I cannot recall the name of the drug offhand, and the owner has almost no history on the horse.