Getting young horse used to having legs handled

[spotty_pony]

I have recently bought a five year old mare who hasn't had much handling. She is quite nervous and one of the things she is nervous about is having her feet handled. Does anyone know how I can get her to become more confident with her feet being handled without risking being kicked? Also, has anyone got any ideas on things I can do to gain her trust?

Any advice much appreciated.

 

[Moggy in Manolos]

It really is about time and patience.
Is she happy tied up with a haynet?
If so, food is usually always good for keeping them calm and satisfied. I think its a good place to start.
Just take is slow, be firm but gentle when you try to pick up her feet, and also whilst touching her legs, you don't want to tickle her as this will not help. God firm and clean movement is needed. You need to keep nice and calm and make it no big deal, eventually she will find it the norm.

Also, if you have another good horse, it could be worth tying said horse up next to her and picking up their feet and make sure she can see, and perhaps let her sniff and have a good luck and see how 'normal' it is
Good luck with her

 

[Batgirl]

I would personally look at some basic groundwork (natural horsemanship type) they are fantastic to build trust and I use it to work with all sorts of problems as it takes their concentration off what worries them so you can get past it without incident and it becomes less an issue (a bit like making a child giggle when they want to cry). I would start with various groundwork etc and work to the legs but still doing the exercises.

If you want more explanation of the exercises let me know.

 

[Dexter]

I'll probably get slated, but I'd get hold of the foot and keep hold until she stops reacting then let go immediately. I'd position myself really close to her, in order that when she kicks out any blows I experience are minimal,. And rinse and repeat! until the point where she realises its ok to pick her feet up!

 

[SophieLouBee]

Stroke her all my youngsters learn to pick up their feet through stroking. I start from the cheek, go down the neck, to the shoulder, then down to as far as the leg as they let me without being scared. When they move away or flinch, start again In a few sessions I can usually stroke all the way down down to the foot! You could even do this whilst brushing

Same applies with the back end, start from neck, go all the way along to the rump and down (they usually take a bit longer with the back due to you being a bit out of the line of sight)

Once they are happy with you touching them all down the leg ask for a lift, if the horse isn't understanding, a gentle squeeze on the chestnut is a good encouragement! Just lift up the foot, hold untill you are ready to put it down (not too long). Then introduce the picking out!

I have always found this approach to be successful on the more wary youngsters.

 

[Fii]

I would start out with getting her used to being stroked with a schooling whip over her body, and then down her legs.
The trouble with doing it with youhands first is you are going to be in the line of fire if she kicks. You could try mocking up an arm and hand Monty style instead of the whip. Don't aproach her with the whip extended towards her but keep it close to you and use it as if it is part of you, if that makes sense, stand fairly close to her as if you were giving her a brush.

 

[Ellies_mum2]

Stroke her all my youngsters learn to pick up their feet through stroking. I start from the cheek, go down the neck, to the shoulder, then down to as far as the leg as they let me without being scared. When they move away or flinch, start again In a few sessions I can usually stroke all the way down down to the foot! You could even do this whilst brushing

Same applies with the back end, start from neck, go all the way along to the rump and down (they usually take a bit longer with the back due to you being a bit out of the line of sight)

Once they are happy with you touching them all down the leg ask for a lift, if the horse isn't understanding, a gentle squeeze on the chestnut is a good encouragement! Just lift up the foot, hold untill you are ready to put it down (not too long). Then introduce the picking out!

I have always found this approach to be successful on the more wary youngsters.

I did this with Bella when I bought her as an 8 month old unhandled foal. Within a couple of days I could run my hands all the way down to her feet without getting my head kicked in With gentle persistence it took another few days before i could lift her feet and another week or so before i could pick them out. Within a month of buying her I could do pretty much anything with her