he wont pick his feet up..!!!!

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sophieellis77

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I have a 3yr old thoroughbred, he was a rescue new years day he had bad feet, worms under weight, lice and chest infection he was also a stallion, he has now been cut and feeling and looking better up to now he has been very calm and kind nature. Daily ive been fussing his feet encouraging him to pick them up we have managed to get the front left up for a short period, when i moved to the right i can stroke and sllight lift then he panics and goes back and up in the air. Farrier came out tuesday managed the left side front and back when he got to the right he threw himself up and against a wall repeatedly does anyone have any advice or methods? thankyou
 
Would you consider clicker training? I've used it with horses that reacted badly to having their feet handled - changed their attitude completely.
 
My sisters rescue mare doesnt like doing her back feet, we can still only pick one up but the other we struggle with.
I used pony nuts, every time i managed to touch back feet or do anything with them without her flipping out, she got a couple of nuts. Start first just stroking/brushing legs and get him really used to you touching all the way down, rewarding with a couple of nuts when he lets you without fuss. And build up from there.. you'll get there :)
 
It might be worth having a vet check him. The horse I was considering buying had issues with handling her hinds and it turned out that she had mild lameness.

More likely though it is just lack of practise. My welsh foal took months before he stopped rearing when I handled his fronts. With him it always seemed a game rather than panic. He got tired quickly. Little and often is the key and always wearing a hat. Dn't lift the feet too high at first and be sure they don't bang when you put them down.

If there isn't a physical problem I'm sure he'll improve with practise. I think along with tying up it's a tricky early lesson.

If he's not used to picking feet up then standing for the farrier could be a big shock and not a very positive experience.
 
My young girl was not used to picking up her feet and kicked out with the backs and simply did not want to lift the fronts. I have successfully got her lifting all 4 by rewarding for good behaviour, she is not 100% with them but come a long way with the rewards, now I can just give her a nice pat as a reward as opposed to the treats I was giving her
 
Toast said:
My sisters rescue mare doesnt like doing her back feet, we can still only pick one up but the other we struggle with.
I used pony nuts, every time i managed to touch back feet or do anything with them without her flipping out, she got a couple of nuts. Start first just stroking/brushing legs and get him really used to you touching all the way down, rewarding with a couple of nuts when he lets you without fuss. And build up from there.. you'll get there :)
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This is good advice. Even if you don't want to go down the clicker route, incorporating some well-timed rewards can work wonders - along with the patience and quiet, sympathetic handling.
 
Could definitely be pain, imagine somebody trying to make you stand on your left foot if you had a broken toe.....

Try bute for a couple of days then try picking them up, if hes more willing then its def pain.
 
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