Cant get horse to pick his feet up

A

ApacheWarrior

Well-Known Member
Joined
12 May 2011
Messages
54
Visit site
Had my new boy 7 weeks now and anyone who saw my last thread will know we have had a few confidence issues to say the least. The blacksmith would not attempt to shoe him the other week as he said he wasn't quite ready for accepting it. (He was shod at his last home at least 3 times without incident by all accounts and stood quietly for it). I was told to keep picking his feet up and tapping them to get him used to it. At first I was able to pick his feet out but Now I can't even pick his feet up and if I do manage to lift a front leg he immediately drops to the ground - not jsut his leg - his whole body hits the ground. Its as if he can't stand on 3 legs. Is he just taking the mickey?
 
No he's not taking the micky. There is somthing wrong with him. It may be as simple as he has a large stone in the opposite foot and it causes pain when asked to lift it. Is he sound? Does his gait look right? Are his hooves at all hot?
 
I agree with Wagtail, if it has suddenly started, it suggests pain in another foot, meaning as the foot is taking more weight, it hurts. If he had never been able to pick his feet out easily, I would have said it would be a balance thing, as we bought a 4 year old that had really bad balance and couldn't really hold up his own legs, but improved massively with practice. However, if it's just suddenly started, that suggests pain to me.
 
he is only 4 so I thought it was a balance thing. While I could pick his feet out, he never liked to keep his leg up for long, but since the blacksmith told me to work on it every day he has been stamping his feet if I go near them and when I do manage to pick one up (if i catch him when he's relaxed in the field early on a morning he will sometimes allow it) as soon as I pick it up he tries to move away and drops to the ground. None of the feet feel hot.
 
So it is him trying to move away that makes him fall? You need to bring him in and tie him up. I had a similar problem with my gelding. He was absolutely fine until he was kicked in the field and ended up having an operation on his hock. It has taken a year for me to be able to lift up his hind feet again. It took a few months to even be able to pick up his fronts. He would snatch them down or fall over if I kept hold of them. So it was definitely pain related with him. I retrained him initially by clicker training, and not asking him to hold his feet up for long. Just a second and then I put the foot down and treated him. Eventually, we were able to shoe him again and now he can have his feet picked up and picked out all round.
 
Yep Im rewarding even for the slightest lift of the foot. Unfortunately one of our many developing issues is that he won't comfortably stand in the stable now that all the horses are out - so bringing him in to tack up or groom is a nightmare and no way will he be tied up. And picking feet up in the stable is a definite no no - he just backs up and stamps his feet. I know I need to work with him on our confidence and trust as this is the root of all his issues - my lack of confidence and nervousness around him - but it is a vicious circle - I am confident in the field with him as he is relaxed and happy to see me. In the stable its a different matter and it all goes to pot from there!!
 
i had a problem with my thoroughbred regarding shoeing although he was brilliant went cold shod he just detested having to be shoes with the heat so you could ask about cold shoeing or something? Although i would first maybe consult your vet and see what they suggest :)
 
Thanks Liz, we didn't even get as far as attempting any shoeing - he just wouldn't stand or let the blacksmith pick his feet up for more than a couple of seconds and his back was up and blacksmith decided if he started the job he certainly wouldn't get it finished -and wouldn't even attempt to do one at a time. Wierd as he has clearly been shod before at least 3 times and I have been assured by the breeder that he was good as gold. But then he was good as gold to tie up, tack up, ride out etc etc and now he is making such a fuss about everything. Maybe it's still early days having just had him 7 weeks and him just being just turning 4 this month. (He was used in a riding school the last 8 months).
 
Have his back checked, that could also make standing on three legs hard for him.

You could bring another horse in with him if he gets stressed on his own.

I'd do lots of ground work centred on moving him when and where you want but also stepping over poles etc one foot at a time. It will help you with control and also his strength.

Claire Lilly recommends teaching them to lift a hoof on their own rather than you picking it up, so almost like a dog giving a paw. I didn't try this but could be safer for you as you could stay out of the way on the end of a rope.

Also try a different farrier. We had one refuse to touch our horse unless she was fully seated by the vet. Another came and did her with no sedating or calmer or anything and said he thought the previous guy was overreacting. Just needed someone confident and willing to try calmly. Could you get the farrier who did him before out?
 
I have the same problem with one of my shetlands , if I try and pick her foot up in the field she'll almost go down on her knee and tries to snatch her foot away , but if i get some one to hold her with a headcollar on she will balance her self properly and is fine , so I know with her she's taking the micky , My IDx who's 7 wasn't very balanced and would also snatch his foot away , but with plenty of repetitive hoof picking and also starting with the same foot every time and going around in the same pattern each time has paid off as now he just picks each foot up in turn himself..I would say it's more of a balance issue than anything , make sure your horse is standing square , on level ground first. Balance will improve with age , try to pick his feet up as much as possible.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top