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Help with picking up hooves?

2K views 16 replies 13 participants last post by  SallyRC123 
#1 ·
My mare had a nasty stone bruise on her front right hoof, however it seems to be getting better. BUT she has gotten progressively worse over the past week with picking up her feet. When I ask her to lift each hoof up she gets cranky and tries to pull it away from me basically until she rips it out of my hands. I'm not sure how to deal with this, any ideas?
 
#2 ·
My mare does this too. I usually run my hand right down from her shoulder before pressing on her fetlock and bumping her at the same time. I don't bump her too hard, just enough to get her slightly off balance so she has no choice but to lift her leg. Then just keep holding it and if she tries to jerk it away say "no" firmly and hold tight til she stills.
 
#3 ·
Don't let her win. You get to choose when you let go of her feet. It's essential that you remain boss. I guess I'd pick feet up more than usual but for shorter time periods. I'd gradually lengthen the time. If she gets another bruise I would make sure I keep picking up her feet regularly. Do you squeeze chestnuts to ask her to lift her feet?
 
#4 ·
I agree with the above...as mean as it seems, my mare and I played this game when I first got her, except she would act like she was going to FALL if I didn't give it back to her!!! I felt so bad that I would, and then it was always her winning...well one day the barn manager told me to just keep a firm hold on and it let her fall if she tries anything...and she did!! She was okay and I felt terrible but by taking a stand, she stopped doing it and respects me now enough to hold it up and has stopped acting like she's going to fall!

It's hard when they try to jerk it away...she still does it with her front right one from time to time, but I always just remember to keep a tighter grip on that one so that she can't take it back! TAKE CHARGE, show her who's boss, and she'll stop doing it eventually ;-) Good luck!
 
#5 ·
my horse did the same thing after injuring himself and having to be poked and prodded on a regular basis. Basically they are sore and sorry for themselves but since you are the one picking up her foot and vetting it she has decided that hurts so to solve this pickle I'm just not gonna let her pick my feet up hehe clever but not so wise on their behalf :lol:
Make sure you spend plenty of time reassuring her that picking your feet up doesn't hurt, be very confident when you are asking her to pick it up and also if she tries to snatch it back hold on if you can, but the whole time talking to her in a soothing voice and making it apparent that nothing back is gonna happen if you do pick it up and let me do what I need to do.
When handling her, make sure you pick up her feet regularly ie for me out regular grooming schedule just about every step was followed by guess what picking up his feet, work on desensitizing her legs somewhat do this by running a whip or a stick down her leg. Lightly but not too lightly that is just like a fly if she kicks leave it there and just remain as calm as possible. Basically the end result of this is you should be able to rub this whip all over her back, legs etc without her moving. This will help with her being touchy as well. Well a bit waffly but I am bad at explaining things so feel free to pm me if you have any questions and good luck.
 
#6 ·
I agree with all the above. I also find that if you pull the foot out and brace it against your leg, it makes it much harder for your horse to remove their foot. Just watch out that you don't get stepped on! I use my thigh, which is much stronger than my hands.
 
#7 ·
Thanks alot guys, I'm so scared about being kicked as it has happened before with other horses and having a horse-shoe-shaped bruise on your butt is not a great feeling! I guess ill just have to man up and be the boss. And yes a girl I work with explained to me about the chestnut thing - her vet showed her! Its a great little trick and works everytime.
 
#8 ·
Something we found worked very well, especially with younger ones that had a sore foot or sprain was to do something that made them feel better, like soaking their foot, or messaging their legs with liniment. After only a couple times, they become very good 'patients', stood still while checking for swelling, applying ice packs, etc. even when they were obviously sore. I think it put the "he's here to make it feel better, not hurt me" idea in their head, and it carries over to regular trimming, etc. I suppose another demonstration of fostering trust.
 
#9 ·
Once I've ruled out an abcess or bruise out then it's a matter to get to quit pushing you around. My guy is a year and a half old and he's great with his feet but his baby nature comes up every once in a while and he randomly decides he wants his foot back. Tell her "No" and take it back. You can actually rest their foot (front or back) on the front of your thigh which will prevent them from taking it back if they chose to do so. If she were to have a balance issue, you would see it and then its your own discretion what you do from there but at least you don't let her push you around.
 
#10 ·
K, Im new to horse training/ownership/slavery, so take this with a grain of salt....

I love this forum, and have gotten alot of advice. Many people have given me the same "make sure you're the boss" advice as well. I concur as well.

About 3 months ago I got a foal and a yearling - neither had been worked with or handled much (if at all for the foal).
The foal would NOT let me pick his feet up,he'd pull away,kick, be a little bast....well, you know. I followed the same advice - be the boss. Hold on (easier said then done!) and be persistant.

When I started with him, he'd pull. So I'd hold on. That led to the "tripod" running away, and me on the ground.:evil: Then, he'd get his butt (not litteraly) tied to the thinking pole and we'd start over. Then he figured on kicking/swatting. It didn't take long to figure out the right places to stand and the wrong places to stand (There are more wrong then right places, BTW!!) After he learned that running, pulling and kicking doesn't work, he gave in. Every day I would do this. Once he'd let me hold his foot and not be naughty...I'd treat him (horse treat, rubbing his neck, lots of praise, or a combination). Within a week I could pick his feet up without the aid of the "thinking pole". He'd lean and push and wobble, but you could hold his foot. I kept working with him - even though the results were more then satisfactory already.

Today, you can walk up to him, hold your pinky out about 6" below where a girth would go and say "Jake, gimmie your tootsie." and he will pick up the correct front foot and place it on(or atleast darn near) your pinky, and let you hold it - well, at least his fronts. The backs you still have to touch the front of his 'ankle' (??) and apply a small amount of pressure...up up and away!

So far, I have 2 more trained to do this, and working on the third.

Now...learn from my mistakes. The only thing I would do differently.....DONT CALL IT A TOOTSIE! Everybody gives me chit about that! :cool:

Seriously though, All of that isn't neccessary, BUT it did come down to "be the boss." Persistance is a must. Apple slices help a bit too.
 
#11 ·
Some horses really do get picky about how their ankles are bent and that makes them pull or play mean games. The adice about being the boss is completely on point as far as I am concerned. If you find that your horse will give you their foot, but doesn't want you to keep it, it may be the angle. Placing it along the thigh or, better yet letting them rest it at an angle they prefer on the top of a bucket or hoof stand often helps keep them content. Some ferriers carry these stands for just this reason, plus, its easier to work on a foot when you can move around some.
 
#12 ·
Use a lead rope to get her to pick up her feet for a couple times before you actually pick it up. Put a lead around her fetlock then pull it toward the front of the horse to get her to pick it up and then try it the way you normally would. If she leans on you then you need to drop her hoof. Then try again.
 
#13 ·
My foal tried the whole 'walking away' thing when I was teaching him to pick up his feet as well. Then he started to stretch out and bow, almost as if he was trying to get me to have pitty on him that he was about to fall over or something. lol. He had a very calm disposition though, and me and him had a very good bond... So he never tried anything rash. In no time I could just walk up to him without haltering him and pick up all 4 feet.


Before this we've had horses that wouldn't pick up their feet, and we did exactly what the others wrote to do. Don't let go. They'll usually fight you on it, and try to step away, but you still have to have hold of that foot. As soon as you let go when they do either, they are going to keep doing it; they got away with it before, and they'll want to get away with it again. As soon as they stop fighting you for a second or two, you can guide their foot back to the ground. (Don't just 'drop' their foot; it banging against the ground isn't going to help with them giving you their feet. ie: you want them to give it to you nicely, then be kind back. Makes them more willing.) Then as the others have said, just slowly increase the amount of time you hold their feet.


Now, for a horse that takes more than 'a few steps', consider having someone else hold the horse for you until they get better about picking their feet up. This limits them to only being able to take a step or two, instead of flat out 'leaving'. Then, once they get better about that, then you can simply drape the leadroap over the horses neck/back, that way if they think about stepping away, you can give them a light pull on the leadrope to remind them that you didn't say they can go yet (I also tell my horses to 'stand' when picking up their feet. Then they know that I want them to hold still. lol). It's kinda one of those things you want to make sure they get down really well before you go to the next step. Just because they do it for you once doesn't mean they are 'cured'. ;)
 
#14 · (Edited)
Oh... And since she just started getting really bad about it since she had the stone bruise, she's more than likely fighting you about giving you her foot because it's sore. (whether it be messing with the sore hoof, or the other one.. Which can be just as much of a issue, considering horses bear the majority of their weight on their front end. Picking up the non bruised hoof results in extra weight on the bruised one.) Like if I'm sick in bed with the flu, my friends coming over for an unexpected visit to hang out and 'see how I'm doing', though very nice and thoughtful, is probably on the bottom of my list of enjoyable things. lol. I've never really had experience with stone bruises much... but I'm guessing that just letting it heal up before wanting to deal with her feet is a good bet. Once it's better, then try picking up her feet. Once it's better, there should be no excuse for her not wanting to pick up her feet, and then you could do what everyone's suggested above. Just a thought. :)

Good luck!
 
#15 ·
On a sise note to Amanda's post, I agree with what she said about guiding their foot to the ground....I just wanted to add, you can also say "OK" or "alright, down" when you set their foot down - this tells them that 'hey, this is MY idea to put your foot down, not yours.' Just another indicator that you are the boss.

How are you progressing with this, BTW.
 
#17 ·
Thanks alot guys,

Candy is 4yo QH and was broken during the year she was 2. I'm fairly sure she was trained by the lady I bought her off who is also my instructor.

She was acutally reluctant to pick up her sore foot which I thought was strange as common sense tells me that taking the weight OFF it would make it feel better? Anyway, my trainer/instructor came out to have a look at her and picked up all 4 feet (with some fight) and even though Candy was hopping around she held it there until she stopped then placed it back down.

This is was most of you have suggested so I have been doing that and she is getting better, great on the front but still funny with the back ones. I try to pull her back leg out so it rests on my thy but she doesn't like this so it's kinda hard!
 
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