>>     But why only the front feet ...... and usually it's
 >> the left front when he REALLY acts up.
 > Okay, this is going to sound goofy, but here's an
 > idea.  The next time the farrier comes out to do his
 > feet, take notes!  Watch and write down exactly what
 > order his feet get done.  Note his behavior.
    Buddy says that he always goes the same way -- and the foot X acts up 
with is the second front hoof (left) .... BUT, SOMETIMES he goes from right 
front to right rear - THEN left front ..... and sometimes it's right front 
directly to left front ....
 > If he acts up when it's the left front foot, no matter
 > what order, then I'd suspect there is something wrong
 > there.  If it's a one-sided problem (left fore only),
 > then I think Meg is right -- it could be his shoulder.
    Could be but the horse chiropractor couldn't find anything wrong with 
spine, back, shoulder, legs, rump etc. She checked him over pretty throughly.
 >  I should have thought of that, but you hadn't said he
 > was worse on one side, so I said "spine" because
 > that's what might be troublesome to him on both front
 > feet.
    It only seems to be really the left front -- but he gets tired with the 
right front one somewhat -- just not as bad as with the left front one.
 > If he acts up on the first front foot, never mind
 > which way the farrier starts, then I'd be more
 > inclined to chalk it up as a case of the
 > "don't wannas".  You know, maybe after the second shoe
 > gets put on
 > he sort of resigns himself to the fact that it's shoe
 > time and you aren't going to let him off the hook
 > until it's done.
    I'm beginning to wonder if it's "I'm tired of this game now" ..... 'cause 
he's really good with the hind quarters (which are mostly done AFTER both 
front ones are done -- by that time he's resigned himself to "all right -- go 
ahead and do whatever".
 > It's good that the farrier gives him a rest, but as a
 > dental patient, I can vouch for the fact that a
 > practicioner doesn't always know how much of a rest is
 > "enough" to make the patient feel more comfortable.
 > 
    Very true ...... but our blacksmith is VERY slow  -- he stops and 
talks ... stops and gets a drink of coffee -- just plain stops .... I'm 
really wondering if X just gets tired of all the starting and stopping.  I 
really like our farrier but sometimes *I* wish he'd 'hurry up' 
 >>     Made a lot of sense ....... thanks for the reply.  At
 >> least it gives me something else to think about . Thanks!!
 > Well, that was the idea, to give you an idea about
 > what other questions to ask, and other stuff to look
 > for.  Hope this helps.
    Thanks again for your input .... I'll keep looking for answers .... X 
really is a good little guy -- it bothers ME that something is bothering HIM 
about this shoe bit.  Maybe I'll just take the shoes off for a while and see 
what happens.  (But I hate to do that as we do drive him on the pavement and 
would hate for him to wear his hooves down)
---
---------------