horse lying down when i pick its feet out!

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sj_mad

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Ok so bought a project mare 2 weeks ago and it has a rather strange habbit of when you pick its legs up front or back it will threaten to lie down :0
Anyone had this problem before? no idea why its doing this, it has a quirky temprement on the ground so maybe its took the pi$$ out of it old owners to get out of doing something? It doesnt seem to be in any pain, also what do I do?!? do I let it go down in the hope that she scares herself into not doing it again or give it a smack everytime it threatens???
 
Mine liked a good stretch if you pulled her front legs forward. She leans so far back that her bum is 60cm off the floor. Doesn't do it so much these days.
I'd let it lie down without getting upset and then encourage it to get up, and start all over again until it gives up!
 
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the first time it did it I let it go down but it doesnt seem to be working, it doesnt do it all the time but think i'll just have to keep letting it go down.
 
I have a thoroughbred who when I first got her used to threaten to lie down when I picked her feet up.
Her feet werent in the best condition and she had a large crack up a hind hoof which had been seared across the top with a hot iron, the hind feet hadnt been trimmed.
There was nothing actually wrong with her physically to make her lie down, so I ignored her tbh, and spent a lot of time picking them up and tickling them with a rasp to prepare her for my farrier.
The last time she did it with me she had one of her 'moments' and threw herself on the floor , I still had hold of her foot and called her a daft bag - she got up and never did it with me again.
 
Agree with getting vet to look. Flight animals don't usually lie down for no reason, especially in what is still an unfamiliar situation. Sounds very odd, good luck getting it sorted.
 
If you watch youngsters in the field the sometimes do this when the are play wrestling with each other. I would also check for a phsical reason if in doubt. I think "giving it a smack" will be counter productive, with foals/youngsters that do this I effectively ignore it. If I have to let go of a foot I do so then pick the foot up and carry on when the horse has stood up. Therefore there is nothing to be gained from the horses messing about, but I dont establish an association of feet being picked up and punishment. If this is a project horse you will need to establish trust.
 
I would call out the vet as well to rule out any physical problems.

If she's fine you may need to have another person there to hold her and make sure she doesn't try to go down when you pick her feet. Do take care, as it could potentially be a dangerous habit.
 
I've had a few horses threaten to do it to me - generally seems to be just a bit of naughtiness, to try and scare you into letting go.

I tend to growl at them to stand up properly, and give them an elbow if I can, usually makes them behave.

I wouldn't get the vet out unless it got worse or seemed to be due to pain rather than just trying it on.
 
'it' does this mare have a name, or at least use 'she', poor thing!!!!:D:D

I'd have her back checked out, just to make sure it is nothing to do with pain coming from somewhere.
 
One of my colts threatens to do this. when play fighting with my other colt they grap each others legs. I think they threaten to\lie down as a way of getting you to let go of the leg. Best is to hang on if you can do so safely. The horse wil then learn the tactic doesnt work.
 
Mine used to do this, with absolutely nothing physically wrong. She'd do it if you just touched her legs. Lots of repetition, and not making a big deal of it solved it with her, plus lots of praise when she didn't do it! It's a security thing, so telling them off is not ideal!
 
Do you know her past? Was she "trained" to do this at some point? I know lots of people who have quirky horses try and teach them various circus tricks to occupy their minds? As far as I know the cue for this is picking up and pulling on a leg?

Aside from that I'd get the vet out to check her back and pelvis in case shes uncomfortable.
 
you looking to selling 'it' on? you may have come unstuck if you have. 'it' may take alot of time and money to get right. if this is the case please dont palm 'it' off onto someone else leaving 'it' with an uncertain future. if you are looking for keeps then cool. how does the horse move? is it short or choppy? do you mind putting a piccy up?
 
At first our youngster would try and lie down or just collapse if i tried to pick out his feet- at his previous home he was just out in a big field never really handled. As he realised he could actually stand up for long enough on 3 legs and that it was going to be a regular thing he got better and better.
I would rule out any physical problem tho' just in case!
 
My horse has had some hoof issues lately which has meant that I have had to be picking up his foot and holding it for a couple of minutes to apply a poultice. The last couple of days he's been threatening to virtually fall over backwards and I've almost felt his full weight on my side as his knee gets closer to the ground and I've had to let go. Imo he's had enough of me messing with his foot and is trying to get me to let go. Today when my farrier came to put his shoe back on after threatening to do it him and getting growled at he managed to stand perfectly still. Maybe your horse is trying it on? However as you haven't owned them for long it might be worth while getting a vet to give them the once over to rule out any physical issues.
 
NOthing wrong with a horse having a bit of a stretch! All horses do it to one extreme or the other. A stretching horse is a supple one so hang on to your horse.
 
I have a mare that used to do it all the time was just trying to get out of having feet picked up time and patience and now she is fine 95% of the time but will still try and do it now and again.
I also found she felt more secure having her feet done in the stable, had the best results with her tied up with a haynet in the stable, and each time she went to go down i just held on to the leg (not easy with a 16'3" ID mare) and when she stood up i let it go and left for a few mins then picked it up again
 
I have had a couple of unhandled youngsters that have done this i think it is if they are not sure about their balance on three legs, once they were confident about their legs it stopped. I think its pretty common with youngsters we had one who used to try and lie down and bite you.

Just persevere and it will get better i wouldnt worry too much it will get better with firm but fair handling.
 
My horse used to do this when I bought him as a barely handled two year old. He was very sound and it was purely defensive. Horses legs are essential to survival and in the wild they will do anything necessary to protect them. I noticed he was less likely to react if my first contact was with the front of the leg from very high up, then gently moving lower as he got habituated, a bit like desensitising a head shy horse by approach and retreat. He soon became confident and forgot about folding like a collapsing deck chair every time my hand went near his legs.
 
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