New horse with Bad feet

[PerchJouster]

My mother purchased a 10 year old perch/belgiun mare. We think she was originally Amish, so she doesn't pick up her feet. Unfortunately, she has bad cracks most of the way up her feet. We had her trimmed by a local farrier but when our appointment came around he blew us off. A friend of ours suggested that we take her to some Amish farriers in IN a round trip of 4 hours. We took her up there and got her shoed. They had to put her in stocks and she threw a fit. Her neck looked like a snake. By the time they were done her lip and nose were bloody. But she had shoes.
I have put her onto some hoof supplement but I am not the most knowledgeable person about horses. All I want is to make her feel better. I know the best way of getting her feet better is having her trimmed/shoed every six weeks but I can't find a farrier who's willing to put up with her that is close enough to go to every six weeks. So, shoeing her is worse than not. We are willing to travel. She doesn't seem to have any lameness, but we feel bad working her with such bad feet. Any Advice?

[Dave Purves]

train her to stand for the farrier.

buy some stocks to keep at your house for the farrier to use.

[buzzratley]

I would suggest perhaps to spend some time with you horse to work on her feet. Train her Every day - rub her legs and play with her feet, pick them up hold them put them back. Get her used to it. Reward her for good behavour - Rubs and Pats, and your choice of treat. slowly your horse will become more comfortable with having her feet handled, as well know that good behavour begets a reward hence she will be more liable to behave. Within 6 weeks before the next visit you could most likely have significant head way.
other options are on Shoe Day try one of those Anti Anxiety suppliments that are available for horses. that should calm her down some too.

[FrankLaursen]

Hi Folks
Shoeing and trimming a draft or draft cross in a stock is not a bad thing, it is safer for the farrier and horse! I have a percheron and she is the sweetest horse as long as you don't ask for her feet, I have had this horse for 2 yrs and constantly worked on the foot thing. When she goes into the stock she throws her little fit on the first foot and after that she is fine I also have 3 other drafts here at the house and they are same way I also have a whole mess load of drafts that I shoe on a regular bases and always shoe in a stock The secret to a good experience with the stock is that they learn they will not get away with any behavior issues.
Make sure the chains are tight and that the feet are completely immobileized (nothing loose) now that the first time is over for you she will get easier in there for you.
Working with drafts and draft crosses is a whole new world and is wonderful but have to maintain the upper hand cause they are so big this is nothing like the world you left of small horses and the attitude has to change with it

Frank

[Red Amor]

All the tricks and gimmicks , twitches , lip chains stocks and drugs are a poor subsitute for good training form the instant the new born horse hits the ground

they are all designed to subdue the unwilling horse , thus provideing the possibility for the user of such items to be hurt

I will persevear with an uneducated ,or frightened horse and even try to adjust the attitude of an unruley horse
but there is a limit and I will not hesitate to pack up and go home , getting hurt just isnt worth the bigger bucks you may get for getting the job done or maybe not
the owners will whipe you like a dirty arse if you get hurt , and you know it