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_mason27d 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.

elliotadams26d ago

That's exactly how I learned to handle those situations too.

jennyp1921d ago

Ugh, it's like that with everything now. People just can't stand to watch a process that takes a little time.