Three-Way Communication: The Mechanic's Role in Hoofcare

When we are working with our giraffe in hoof care settings, we have 3 individuals making decisions that affect the session. One is the person at the head, the other is the person at the hoof, and the third is the giraffe. We all work together to make sure each participant has a voice. The person at the hoof has a very unique role in that they are constantly looking for cues from the animal, deciding which tool they need to use to accomplish their hoof care goals, and adjusting what they do based on the input from the other two participants. The person at the hoof, who we refer to as the mechanic, plays a very integral role in this 3-way communication system. This talk will cover what this person is responsible for and how they adjust their behavior in this dynmaic environment.