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My Madeline came to me in December 100% unhandled, never touched by humans save to load her in a trailer to bring her home, with the use of panels and gates and a lot of prayer. I put her in a 60x100 pen and asked myself, "what the heck are you thinking!!!" :lol:
The first month was spent gaining trust, in small steps. After a month I was able to pet her forehead and offer her food from my hand. In February I started working a lot with her on accepting haltering, and within a few days had her haltered and leading.
She is super smart- but scared. Before coming to me, she simply had no positive experience with humans. It has helped very much that she now has a buddy horse who has showed her how to mooch for treats.
Fast forward- I can now touch her everywhere, she stands tied, leads. I can back her up, turn her in circles, and lead her forward. I can pick up her front feet and clean them and have started tapping on her soles a bit with the nippers so she gets used to the feel of them.
The problem I am having is her hind feet. I just can't seem to get her to accept me picking them up with my hand. I can loop a leadrope under her pastern and pick up the hoof while I stand near her ribs, but if I get close to her back foot with my hand, she strikes out.
I spend at least half an hour a day grooming and working with her. She will be 2 years old in August. If anyone can offer me a safe solution or suggestions, I would be thrilled. She NEEDS her hooves trimmed badly and I feel horrible asking my farrier to work on her and risk being kicked. When he comes out next week he'll do the fronts which are the worst, but its my job as her owner to have a safe horse for him to work on.
The first month was spent gaining trust, in small steps. After a month I was able to pet her forehead and offer her food from my hand. In February I started working a lot with her on accepting haltering, and within a few days had her haltered and leading.
She is super smart- but scared. Before coming to me, she simply had no positive experience with humans. It has helped very much that she now has a buddy horse who has showed her how to mooch for treats.
Fast forward- I can now touch her everywhere, she stands tied, leads. I can back her up, turn her in circles, and lead her forward. I can pick up her front feet and clean them and have started tapping on her soles a bit with the nippers so she gets used to the feel of them.
The problem I am having is her hind feet. I just can't seem to get her to accept me picking them up with my hand. I can loop a leadrope under her pastern and pick up the hoof while I stand near her ribs, but if I get close to her back foot with my hand, she strikes out.
I spend at least half an hour a day grooming and working with her. She will be 2 years old in August. If anyone can offer me a safe solution or suggestions, I would be thrilled. She NEEDS her hooves trimmed badly and I feel horrible asking my farrier to work on her and risk being kicked. When he comes out next week he'll do the fronts which are the worst, but its my job as her owner to have a safe horse for him to work on.