am i expecting too much?

D

darkhorse123

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to ask my horse, or try to train my horse to stand in his field and let me pick his feet out there - loose, within his herd????
 
Not at all, I would assume that my horse would do that, if he didn't I'd be surprised, standing still is one of the first things I teach youngsters, along with being led, being tied up and having their feet handled, basic manners

What is he doing? Walking off?
 
Well mine all do it, but having said that you do need to assess the risk of injury to you being much greater while you can't see what's going on round you - mine are in a very settled herd and the other horses know not to come up to mine while I'm doing stuff with them.
 
I do that every day I am not fetching in. Have done it with all my horses at one time or another in their lives. Just make sure no others are too close and it's helpfull if they know what "stand" means. Start by putting a headcoller on and holding the rope whilst picking out. Soon you will not need to do that. I would not try it with a known kicker, or if the wind was up and they had it about them though. Also keep your eye on the others as if one comes over it can start trouble.

Best of luck
 
I daresay it's not too much to ask, but could be quite dangerous. Girl at my yard was doing something similar when the horse trampled her.
 
cinammontoast said:
I daresay it's not too much to ask, but could be quite dangerous. Girl at my yard was doing something similar when the horse trampled her.
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Agreed it shouldn't be too much, but beware...I try not to do too much in the field - she goes in, she stands still while I take her headcollar off and move out of the way then she's free to go. If I need to go in to rug or anything, I go in, and she stands still while I do it but I'd still worry about the other horses...doesn't take much to set a herd off.
K x
 
Hi

I have picked out my horses feet in the middle of the field but wouldnt necessarily do it all the time although he has never kicked me?! But I do always walk round him ie with a hand on him(rump as well with a good deliberate slap) to check him over which he is use to. I suppose if i was doing it daily he would be ok. But he is very good at standing ie to mount/dismount too. He is use to me checking him over as he lives out 24/7. Thinking too my sisters rugged mare was use to me checking everything whilst she stood still if rug had slipped. Sort of normal routine things .

However he can also very rarely be playful and I do tell him off dont tolerate it..big NO(growl). As one kick in head and your're a goner!

I suppose most of the time its safer to bring them in and if I have had to get off on a hack due to a stone in his feet, I have had to tie him up somewhere via reins to do that even.

But wear a hat to be doubly sure..sort of gut instinct that all is ok if that makes sense(trust etc), if you are going to do it just do it, get on with it. I am sure they will walk off if they are not going to comply!
 
ty everyone - this is why i am tryng it and asking so i can in the future do his feet mid hack if need be - to get anywhere we have to got up gravelly lanes and he is barefoot - i just want to be able to do his feet safeley anywhere and whenever i need to :):)
 
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