Going down when asked to pick hoof up.

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scewal

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Second time it has happened in a space of 8 weeks. My 5 year old mare starts going down once her front foot is picked up.
It hasn't happened while i have picked her feet out but two of my friends who have ridden her have experienced her doing this.


Anyone heard of this before? Will get my vet to check her as am a little worried by it.
 
Had horses that have really leaned or "wobbled"........could be lots of reasons (tiredness, stiff, got a strain or sprain somewhere) - definitely get the Vet to check and rule out anything untoward.
 
I wouldn't get the vet until you've watched your 2 pals picking your mare's hoof up. It sounds to me as if they don't have the same technique that you do. An easy mistake, especially in a young horse, is to go to pick the hoof up without first checking that the horse knows what you're going to do and is balanced correctly to be able to do it! I just give a gentle shove with my shoulder as I go to pick the hoof up, this makes a horse rebalance for his weight to be on just 3 legs instaead of 4. If it's the only thing "wrong" with your mare I honestly wouldn't get the vet out! Watch your pals do it and show them how to help your mare to be balanced ready for the hoof up action.
 
Thanks for your replies. I think it may be a balance thing. Both ladies are experianced with horses, but mare is very lazy by nature.
Farrier is out Monday so will see how she is during his visit.
 
My mare was exactly the same when I first had her. She is a 9 year old ex broodmare and hadn't had her feet picked regularly. She would literally go almost belly down on the floor when a front hoof was lifted. The trimmer said it was just balance and like someone said before, give her a little push so she balances herself. If she does try to go down, (if safe, my pony is only a fine 14.2hh) keep hold of the foot if you can and she used to re balance herself. She only does it on occasion now, but I was really worried to start with.

Good luck. x
 
My youngster went through a phase of doing this out of sheer naughtiness! She didn't much like having her legs and feet handled, so she'd throw herself onto her knees. Patience cured that one. She then did it again about six months later, without the accompanying stroppy attitude, and it turned out she had the start of an abscess in her hoof. It could well be a balance thing for your mare, but it might be worth trying the tap test or hoof testers, just in case.
 
My friends horse would threaten to go down when you picked up his back leg, as far as we knew we could find to physical cause for it, we think it was phychological. The owner would panic every time she lifted his foot as he'd threaten to fall down and as a consequence would let go of it straight away. He soon got wise to this little trick!

One day she made a deep bed in her large stable and I asked her if I could have a go at picking up his foot. As I suspected the horse started to collapse as I held his hind hoof to pick it out. So I just let him, - there was no way he was going to play games with me. I think he expected me to let go like so many others before me had but I clung on with sheer determination. So you can imagine his suprise when carrying his threat out he actually found himself on the floor, something he'd never considered would actually happen!!! He didn't hurt himself, think he was more shocked that I had 'forced him' to fall over!

But I tell you something, that horse never threatened to go down again when you picked out his foot!!! :)
 
Thank you all, feel reassured now. She hadn't had much handling before she came to me, so i expect it is a balance issue.
 
Both my yearlings have done this and still do now and again, the younger less trained one still does it lol! time and patience will cure them though, plus doesnt help when you have a novice sharer who doesnt check to see if the horse is balanced properly before she picks his feet out lol!, sure he has tickley feet ! but older horses i would maybe ask a vet but if its with all four i wouldnt
 
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