Also, sorry to derail the thread.

On the subject of picking up hooves, I have always "pinched" that back of the pastern a bit until they pick up the foot. Not in a way that will hurt them, but enough to annoy them. Hold the foot for about 10 seconds and then put it down. Move on to the next foot, wash, rinse, repeat.

Once he learns that you will put his foot back down without him moving all over the place, he is likely to stand still for you.

Right now you're teaching him that when he wiggles, you put his foot down -- not a thing you want him to learn.

After being consistent and persistent in asking for his hooves....you will find how easily he will do it. Once you establish that, it will be easy for you to recognize when something is wrong ie: he is in pain or being a pill, since it will not be normal to act like that any longer.

My mares seem to know that as soon as I turn to face their legs and bend down, to pay attention, because I will probably want their feet. If I want their foot, I will run my hand down their leg and tell them, "Foot". At this point, they will pick it up, sometimes before I even ask. Sometimes, I want to scrape the mud off of their hoof before picking it up. When they pick it up, I tap the top of the hoof and tell them, "Down" and they put it down until I ask for it.

This all happens fairly quickly, once you are consistent and persistent. Be sure you don't switch and change the ways you are asking. Stay consistent with one cue/reprimand/reward.

My mare started getting pushy and obstinate with her feet. Part of it was our new partnership and my inexperience, but it was also due to pain. I did some groundwork with her to help her manners and respect on the ground. I do always tie her (not cross tie though) as when she's untied she sometimes tries to move around. After the groundwork, she stood more still, but on the opposite leg causing her discomfort, she resisted to picking up of course due to the added stress on her other side. But light tapping at the back of her hoof prompted her to pick up. I was then sure to give her breaks to keep her from getting too uncomfortable. Now its rare I even need to add the light tap to get her to pickup, and she always picks up the others just as soon as I ask her. Hope that helps!

Easiest way to solve this: Take a training stick (the hard kind, not the floppy kind) and start tapping behind his leg lightly, tap 4 times and increase pressure. Tap 4 more times harder and keep tapping him harder and harder (counting in fours) until he either picks his foot up or moves it. Then stop for 3 seconds, pat him on the neck if that's what he likes (whatever you do to reward him without giving him a treat he can eat haha), and start over. If you've already tried this and it didn't work, then I'd say to try the rope method. Tie the rope on his leg and use it to pick the hoof up and hold it a few seconds.