Spree has never been all that thrilled about having her hooves picked. Her owner's been working with her on it (as have I) but she wasn't ever trained well in it. For awhile, the worst issue I was having was that she would try and pull her hoof away. We were able to work past that, and it mainly just took patience and my holding onto the hoof for dear life. She has continually been pissy about having her back feet picked up though, and will always try and circle. I usually work on picking her hooves outside, so when she moves I can just keep her circling. But, I also do try it when she's tied, because we're working on her patience while being tied and just standing.
A new issue, however, has come up. She doesn't mind my picking up her front hooves (she won't try and yank them away) but she's leaning! She'll start swaying heavily from front to back, eventually leaning so far back that she has to step down onto the foot I'm holding to keep her balance. Her owner wonders if she's actually having balance issues, but I think it's more she's figured out another way for us to let go of her feet. This is happening while she's tied.
Should I go back to working on picking her hooves while she's outside, so if she does that I can send her moving? I do want her to be able to tolerate this while she's tied at some point though. Suggestions welcome!
A new issue, however, has come up. She doesn't mind my picking up her front hooves (she won't try and yank them away) but she's leaning! She'll start swaying heavily from front to back, eventually leaning so far back that she has to step down onto the foot I'm holding to keep her balance. Her owner wonders if she's actually having balance issues, but I think it's more she's figured out another way for us to let go of her feet. This is happening while she's tied.
Should I go back to working on picking her hooves while she's outside, so if she does that I can send her moving? I do want her to be able to tolerate this while she's tied at some point though. Suggestions welcome!