Hoof pick kicking

[Peglo]

Hello
I joined the forum short ago and been reading great advice, opinions and suggestions on other threads and put a lot of my worries at ease without having to post a thread myself. But thought it was maybe time to ask your thoughts.
I’ve posted in another thread of my covid crises purchase. I was looking for a horse for a while (nothing “fancy”) and in my budget they were too old, can’t do this, can’t do that, has 3 legs but has great paces etc.. so I found a haflinger that I fell in love with for some reason and bought her without a viewing and got her shipped from Italy. I always wanted another haffie so I went with my heart. Crazy and stupid I know but here we are.
I got her home in April and other than me worrying about everything as I want to do best by her, she has been amazing. She’s clever, cheeky, willing, hungry and so much fun. She just turned 6 and settled so well and gotten accepted into a very well established herd of 4 although now she is in weight watchers with just 2 others.

Ever since I got her and first picked her feet she’s been ok with the rest but sensitive with her back left. Nothing dangerous but kicking back and forth (not actually kicking at me) so practice makes perfect and we do lots of picking up feet. Since then she’s gotten very used to it and almost has her feet ready when I ask and although she picks up the back left, she still kicks it about. It had gotten slightly better but tonight she did a lot of kicking with it. The question is could her hip/back or something be sore or could it just be bad experience with it? She doesn’t do it with the other back and although can be teenager like with all her feet sometimes I don’t know if I should be concerned. I will regretfully admit I have gotten frustrated with her a couple of times and tried to block any movement of the hoof altogether and this made her very upset and hop around where as when I let her move it back and forth she stands and does hold it still, after a few kicks, to get it picked out and of course it only gets put down when she has held still. Only recently I noticed she’s been branded on that leg so could it be memory of that? I’ve not done loads of riding but done some hacks (longest was 4 miles) and she’s gone great and she runs around after the other ponies in the field and seems really good but I know sometimes there can still be an issue. So any thoughts or experience would be great. ?

 

[Carrottom]

I would have a vet or recommended chiropractor or similar professional to check her. It could be something that happened in transit that a bit of treatment will sort out.

 

[Casey76]

By hanging on to her foot and fighting it out you’re going to create a vicious circle. You need to put her foot back down before she starts fighting, even if it is only a couple of cms off the grind and for a second or two.

Why she is fighting with that one leg could be for a multitude of reasons, ranging from frog infection (so it hurts to pick the foot out) to stifle/hip/SI pain.

Personally I’d get a vet out just to rule out any joint pain/issues.

and in the mean time Ben Hart has a great shaping plan for picking up feet, which is purely positive reinforcement training.

 

[Peglo]

Thank you for the replies.
I’ve maybe made it sound like more of a fight than it is. She tends to pull it forward and spring back and holds it while I pick it out, which she is fine with. But sometimes she repeats it a few times before holding it. If I’ve already picked her feet that day I sometimes just ask her to pick them up and set them down again.
I did consider her doing something in transit. She had shoes on when I got her home but managed to pull 3 off before I got the farrier to her and she was pretty stressed about him doing her feet. He got the last shoe off and got a wee trim but she was so unhappy so had me wondering about her farrier experience. But at the same time everything was new and wouldn’t be surprised if it was settling in nerves.
I will check out Ben Hart and I think I will get someone out to have a look at her. Thank you ?

 

[ponynutz]

Agree her only doing this with one foot is kind of suspicious, might be best to call out the vet (or if she's actually not lame, next time they come to do jabs/teeth get them to have a quick check - I think a lot of people call the vet for every little thing and although we'd all love to as well, vets are bloody expensive!). You can also ask the farrier what they think, and whether they would recommend the vet, they have to come out regularly anyway.

See how it goes though until then, the memory of branding does sound like a likely (and possibly more favourable) theory - they're animals at the end of the day. I had trouble with all four feet to pick at first with my pony and it just took trust, persistance, and a bit of growing a pair and telling her off (watch your farrier - that'll give you some tips on that last bit lol) and she's over it now.

Good luck!

PS - glad you've had a positive experience here, I agree it's nice to get a lot of different opinions and advice so quickly.

 

[rabatsa]

I had a welsh pony that was iffy with one hind leg. It all dated from when a farrier pricked him with a nail. 15 years later and he was still waving it about instead of holding it still.

 

[Trouper]

It sounds as if she is uncomfortable lifting that particular leg which could be anything really in another part of her body. I might be tempted to get a physio/chiro out first to check if she is tight/sore in any other area as it could be a simple fix if she has tweaked something in transit which has not yet settled.
If it continues, however, I would be getting the vet out.

 

[Peglo]

I cheekily asked her to pick up her feet this morning when she was having breakfast, she didn’t have a head collar on and free to run about the field, and she obliged but did waft her leg but also did it on her other hind about the same amount this morning. I’m leaning towards her just doing it because she can’t be bothered or unsure but I agree with everyone and think I will ask the physio out to see her as I was thinking of getting her a MOT anyway.

rabasta, being a native pony, being switched on and having lots of opinions this is what I thought to start with too. So although I hope nothing bad has ever happened to her, also hoping it’s not from soreness. Thank you for your replies

 

[Peglo]

Just a wee update since you were kind to give advice.
Physio was out last night and she was happy that nothing untoward is going on and she’s moving well although a bit tight in some hind muscles. Got a few exercises to work on that. So looks like it is behavioural although I will keep an eye on it. Thanks everyone

 

[meleeka]

just because there’s nothing major it doesn’t mean it’s behavioural. Tight muscles can be painful to do certain things. If you’ve ever had a twinge you’ll know that certain positions hurt!

Good that you have some exercises and hopefully will improve soon.

 

[paddy555]

my haffie was like this with just one hind leg. I started picking them up at 2 when he came but it took several years before he was happy. I concluded he couldn't balance. Start with just picking the foot up and keeping it 6 inches off the ground. Don't try and pull forward. If necessary get down and clean the foot that way.
Your mare may need a lot of time to "get it" and may just need to gain confidence.
Once mine had "got it" the problem never returned and we had far more problems persuading him to keep his feet on the ground. You only had to approach a foot and he helpfully held it up in case you wanted it.

 

[Peglo]

my haffie was like this with just one hind leg. I started picking them up at 2 when he came but it took several years before he was happy. I concluded he couldn't balance. Start with just picking the foot up and keeping it 6 inches off the ground. Don't try and pull forward. If necessary get down and clean the foot that way.
Your mare may need a lot of time to "get it" and may just need to gain confidence.
Once mine had "got it" the problem never returned and we had far more problems persuading him to keep his feet on the ground. You only had to approach a foot and he helpfully held it up in case you wanted it.

My physio actually said she was fairly unbalanced on the back legs because shes lacking muscle in some areas so this sounds very similar. She is ready for me when I come round to pick them but does still do her kicking thing. This is great advice and will try that and see if that helps her. Thank you so much.