Farrier fears

QMy horse is terrified of the farrier and rears up – especially when smoke billows around him. What can I do to build his confidence? Alison Freeman, Worcester

AIssues coming from the interaction between farriers and horses can create a great deal of anxiety and disruption that can have an affect on both equine welfare and human well-being. As we know, horses are incredibly emotional mammals and they are also mirrors of us, reflecting back our emotions. They have amazingly developed senses and use this information to assess and interact with their environment. Also, as prey animals, they’re hard wired to react to perceived danger through a fight or flight response.