TECHNIQUES FOR HANDLING THE DIFFICULT HORSE


ing the horse to unload the limb and rebalance on the other three legs. Once that happens the lifting part may be up to you. With the front hoof loosely held between your legs


or the hind hoof laid across your lap it is helpful to adjust your stance to position the hoof as low and in parallel alignment with the horse’s spine as possi- ble. This will minimize any discomfort to the horse from the leg being held in an awkward position. The difficult horse may be categorized into the


totally unhandled, the untrained, the spoiled, the bully, or the horse that is painful such as the bilat- eral laminitic horse. The horse painful from laminitis, sub-solar ab- scesses, fracture, or soft tissue issues can be difficult to work with. Frequently the affected hoof is able to be raised when the sound hoof is on the ground, but raising the sound hoof with the horse bearing weight on the painful hoof typically is not so suc- cessful. General or local analgesics may be neces- sary when these conditions are bilateral.


6. Taking the Temperature of a Difficult Horse


When doing a physical examination on a horse it is common to do a TPR, noting the temperature, pulse, and respiration. The pulse is generally heard with a stethoscope or felt by light palpation and the res- piration is counted visually or listened to with a stethoscope, with all methods being very noninva- sive. However, taking the temperature usually in- volves inserting a well-lubricated thermometer through the anus. Most horses accept these proce- dures very well; however, there will be the occa- sional horse that lacks the training to accept the thermometer. The recommended technique for inserting the thermometer, as learned in veterinary school, in- volved standing facing the left hind leg, sliding the left hand over the rump down to the top of the tail, then grasping and lifting the tail, then with the right hand inserting the well lubricated shook down thermometer under the tail, through the anus, and slowly lowering the tail back to its original position. The horse who objects typically will clamp its tail


tightly against its perineum, swing his butt into or away from you, or swiftly kick you. Recognizing your necessary position, and acknowledging the danger you are putting yourself in, it is strongly recommended using an examination stock to contain


the horse. There is no temperature worth risking your health or life. All live horses have a temperature; few have a


fever.


7. Additional Considerations Each horse must be approached and dealt with ac- cording to the individual situation and the skill of the handlers, farriers, and practitioners. It should not be the veterinarian’s responsibility


to train the horse; however, there are times when a horse does not have the understanding and will re- quire additional time and patience from the veteri- narian to complete the job. Since most difficult horses are scared and, there-


fore, unpredictable, it is always wise to have a per- sonal escape route as well as an available avenue of escape for the horse (which hopefully does not in- clude running through or over you.) It is important to have a skilled handler that you


know and trust. Often on the big farms and ranches the horse-holder responsibility is delegated to the lowest person on the labor list, usually some- one of low skill, of short attention span, and limited aptitude. If a skilled horse-handler is not available it may


be more effective to work alone, encouraging the horse to focus his attention on you rather than being distracted by the handler. It is best to not tie a horse securely to a post, tie


ring, or rail, but rather tie in such a fashion that if the horse pulls back, the lead rope will slip a little but still be contained. If the horse is not familiar with cross-ties it might be better to secure them with a single lead rope since some horses get scared when their head is too confined and will tend to blow up with fright. Any activity that involves picking up a horse’s


hoof and holding it up for any period of time requires you to have some skill, some strength, and lots of patience. To make it even easier, the horse must be present, understand, and be capable of standing still and be able to balance on three legs. It is rarely easy.


Acknowledgments


Conflict of Interest The Author declares no conflicts of interest.


536 2014  Vol. 60  AAEP PROCEEDINGS


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