A critical part of the farrier safety equation is reading body language. Understanding where the horse carries tension and establishing a relationship of trust is vital, says Chris Cox, a professional horseman and founder of Chris Cox Horsemanship.

Horses carry fear in their feet, but that’s not where the anxiety originates, he says.

“I can show you instances over and over again that it’s not the foot,” Cox says. “It starts in the mind, moves through the body and comes out in the feet.”

Some of the simplest interactions can create the most stress for horses. Approaching a horse is one example Cox offers. Many people walk directly to a horse and rub its nose. It may not seem like a big deal, but think how would you respond if someone walked up to you and rubbed your nose to say hello?

“The sensitivity of a horse’s skin is about eight times that of a human,” he says. “Going up and just rubbing on their nose, you’re going to develop something. There are two places I start. I scratch them on their withers, just like a mother does a foal, and I place my hand on the side of their neck or their back so they can feel my energy.”

He acknowledges that some people might not believe in horses reading humans, but horses and their reactions to people are structured around body language and rhythm.

“You’ve seen people send their negative energy right through that horse, and that horse will start pawing or walking around,” Cox says. “It’s equally important in how you carry yourself into a situation, too.”

That starts with greeting the horse, he says. Most people — horse owners, veterinarians, farriers and trainers alike — skip introducing themselves to the horse and immediately reach to pick up a leg. Instead, Cox suggests touching the horse first to give it a heads-up, which signals to the horse, “Hey, you’re OK.”

“I relate to this a lot,” Cox says. “I remember one time my dad and I were coming off this mountain. We had a load of horses on this big flat deck. It was raining and that truck was going all over the road. He could see I was afraid, so he reached over and put his hand on my shoulder, and he said, ‘You’ll be OK.’ I grew armor and knew it would be alright.”

Horses are the same way. If you can reassure them that they’re OK, you'll be surprised how much you can get done, Cox says. This is especially important when adding a new horse to your schedule.

Learn More

Gain more insight from Chris Cox by reading, “How Horsemanship Keeps You Safe.”