Something I read in another thread got me wondering:
Do you pick all of your horse's hooves with the same hand, or do you use both hands? What I mean, in case that isn't clear, is the hand that is holding the hoof pick -- do you use the same hand on all hooves or do you use one hand on one side of your horse and the other hand on the other side?
I am right handed so tend to use the right hand for all four feet but can use the left as well when I want to.
Standing on the left side I reach down with my left hand pick up the foot and clean with the right, starting at the heel and cleaning out toward the toe. i was told to it this way many years ago as if you start at the toe and work back to the heel, if the horse tries to put his foot down, the pick can dig into the frog.
Standing on the right side I reach down with my left hand pick up the hoof and clean with the right.
I’m ambidextrous. I use whichever hand is the most convenient for the side I’m standing on.
I think you asked a similar question, awhile back, regarding hoof knives, and I answered that I have both left and right knives because I’m ambidextrous
Mostly my right no matter what side and facing. Recent injury means am on my knees resting her foot in my lap (super safe right?!) and using my right/safe side to pick still.
I think I use both, same as @JCnGrace above, but now I am second guessing myself and can't be sure. I will have to check next time I am picking out hooves.
I'm interested to see the number of people who pick all hooves from the same side. I never even thought of doing that! Do you have to put your body more under the horse in order to pick out the opposite side?
I switch hands, holding the hoof with the hand on that side, and using the other hand to pick. I make a conscious effort to switch sides for most things because I have back problems and the twisting motion from things like picking manure is very hard on my back. So even though I am right-handed and more comfortable doing things with my right hand, I make myself do things with the left as well. This includes rasping hooves, which I find very awkward with my left hand.
I have picked the opposite hoof by reaching under, but usually just because Rusty is being difficult and picks up the opposite hoof when I ask for the one nearest me. He does this on purpose, and consistently, so it is clearly intentional (if he puts all his weight on the hoof nearest me, I can't pick it up). I will reach under and grab it to pick it out just to teach him that this behavior does not get him out of having his feet picked.
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