Do you pick your horse's feet out?

[muff747]

At the moment, every 2-3 days as I'm ill and havnt the strength to fight a nearly 17 hander who doesn't want to pick his feet up. On good weeks its done every evening with or without a fight, I just keep trying until he gives in , however long it takes, sometimes a good 20 mins for just one foot
Horses !!!

Is you 17 hander a youngster? Have you wondered why he is reluctant to lift his feet? Is it possible his other foot is tender or sore? If you can only pick out every few days it's possible he could have a touch of thrush which makes their feet sore. If his feet have any smell at all, that's what it will be

That's usually the reason I have difficulty lifting my geldings feet, his weight bearing one is sore.

 

[Kat]

At the moment, every 2-3 days as I'm ill and havnt the strength to fight a nearly 17 hander who doesn't want to pick his feet up. On good weeks its done every evening with or without a fight, I just keep trying until he gives in , however long it takes, sometimes a good 20 mins for just one foot
Horses !!!

With not a lot of effort you can train them to pick up their feet without you having to lift them.

My horse wouldn't pick up her feet at all when we got her but with the use of treats she will now (most of the time) pick them up in turn with very little effort.

She does tend to lean a bit while you are doing the back feet but the front ones just need a little bit of support and she is normally ready and waiting for you when you finish the previous foot.

There is no need for it to be a hugely difficult task. If you want to you can train them to rest their foot on a box for you or to hold it up for you.

 

[Brandy]

I do pick their feet out, less often now that they live out. (used to do it every am before gettingout of stable, and every pm before putting back in.)

'Should' do it more often. This morning they were all muddy and ashamed to say I left it.....

Also tend to do the shod horse more than the shoeless. God I'm getting lazy.

 

[wattamus]

God i'd forgotten about this post Ebony picks her feet up automatically as soon as i bend down with a hoof-pick in my hand. She used to be terrible though. her previous owners spent the first two months with her just getting her to pick her feet up It is possible, it just takes patience xx

 

[Brandy]

All mine pick their feet up automatically, and the ex polo pony you pick out all feet from one side. Thats just how he does it!

 

[Damnation]

Once a day.
When she is out I do it because of stones etc. When she is in for a few days due to weather conditions I do it to deter thrush because she is so messy in her stable she has next to no bed and matting and ends up stood in her own poo (Yes she spreads it ALL OVER the stable, not one bit of clean stable left!!)

 

[madeleine1]

yes, every evening when he has his feed. someone said about not doing it because they would justt get filled with mud again, but it is mainly done to get rid of any stones or pieces of wood that may have got stuck. my friend found a piece of wood down the side of her ponies frog and if she hadn't off picked them out it was lickely to have gone in.

if it was me, i do pick them out if i ride or if i dont ride i do it once a day the same way i check her for cuts but i dont do it twice a day or anything to fussy but i do check her field for stones or wood or metal or any rubbish really.

however if anyone wants to do more then thats fine x

 

[FanyDuChamp]

My horses feet are picked out almost every day in winter when they are in and everyday in summer when they are out, they are also picked out before and after riding or exercise. Captain's are also scrubbed and purple sprayed once a week because he had issues with an abscess last year. Fany has amazing hooves/frogs etc and only has hers picked out. Caps is excellent and gives his feet when you say "paw" but does insist on placing it himself, if you place it he picks it back up and places it himself! Fany is a nightmare and hates having it done, takes 3 x as long to do her as to do Captain.

FDC

 

[Tangled]

I pick my (share) horse's feet out when I bring him in from the field at night. Also before and after a ride. Can never be too careful as they say "no hoof, no horse".

In summer when he is out 24/7 I will do it once if not riding and if riding twice before and after ride.