I hope this it is alright to post here! I figured since you all deal with horses who have been rescued you might be able to give me some advice.
background info on the horse:
He is about 14 hh, gelded and has been handled lots. He got tangled in a straight wire fence and did major damage to his back legs. He completely severed the extensor tendon in his right back leg and has nasty lacerations on both back legs. He was treated by a vet, stitched, bandaged (right leg splinted also). Currently he is on antibiotic injections twice a day, powdered bute and has to have a topical antibiotic on once a day when I change his bandages. He is on stall confinement for 1 to 3 months and his worst leg will be splinted for up to 3 months depending on his healing process. He has been at my house since late in the evening of the 24th. So not only is he having to deal with the pain of his injuries and having his bandages changed and having needles twice a day but he is also adjusting to a new home, new people, new horses etc etc.
I need advice on the best way to handle building trust with him as I am the one who is hurting him by giving needles and changing his bandages. I have noticed that even in the couple of days he has been here he is getting friskier everytime I have to do something to him. I am worried he is going to kick me, partly because it's going to hurt him and partly because it's going to hurt me. Tonight I had a heck of a time getting his shot into him (in the butt). He was starting to kick out but more as a warning. I finally gave up and gave it to him in his neck (which I have never done before).
How is he ever going to trust me when I keep hurting him?
Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer!
~Jodie~
background info on the horse:
He is about 14 hh, gelded and has been handled lots. He got tangled in a straight wire fence and did major damage to his back legs. He completely severed the extensor tendon in his right back leg and has nasty lacerations on both back legs. He was treated by a vet, stitched, bandaged (right leg splinted also). Currently he is on antibiotic injections twice a day, powdered bute and has to have a topical antibiotic on once a day when I change his bandages. He is on stall confinement for 1 to 3 months and his worst leg will be splinted for up to 3 months depending on his healing process. He has been at my house since late in the evening of the 24th. So not only is he having to deal with the pain of his injuries and having his bandages changed and having needles twice a day but he is also adjusting to a new home, new people, new horses etc etc.
I need advice on the best way to handle building trust with him as I am the one who is hurting him by giving needles and changing his bandages. I have noticed that even in the couple of days he has been here he is getting friskier everytime I have to do something to him. I am worried he is going to kick me, partly because it's going to hurt him and partly because it's going to hurt me. Tonight I had a heck of a time getting his shot into him (in the butt). He was starting to kick out but more as a warning. I finally gave up and gave it to him in his neck (which I have never done before).
How is he ever going to trust me when I keep hurting him?
Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer!
~Jodie~