horselady
Well-Known Member
By special request if my trimmer I need to teach my horse to lift its leg by tapping it or by vocal command. Anyone got any idea how to do this?
How do you train a horse to lift its leg on command?
- Thread starter horselady
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AdorableAlice
Well-Known Member
Just a gently pinch behind the knee and be ready to catch the toe as the foot comes up.
blitznbobs
Well-Known Member
Every time you pick the foot up say 'foot' ... repeat ad infinitum - doesn't take that long... I don't use a verbal command I just tap the back of their fetlock and I've never had an issue... pick their feet out at least once a day.
hibshobby
Well-Known Member
Echo the above - just do every day, even two or three times a day. My horse hadn't a clue as a newly acquired 5 year old, so I just used my voice - generally I said "up" , but whatever word you like, and ran my hand down the leg and pulled feathers to get the leg up, and reward. Never treats, just a "good boy" in soft tones when he obliged. It didn't take long, and now he'll lift a leg at the slightest pressure on the back of the leg and also any leg in any order. I think that's quite important as some horses will happily lift a leg, but only once the legs have gone in the required order. My old mare (acquired when she was about 18) would happily lift her off fore, but only once the other three had been lifted as that is the order she was used to.
dulcie_dustyxx
Well-Known Member
I taught my pony to say 'please' where she lifts her leg and holds it there for about 5 seconds, this is how I did it:
Step 1 lift her leg, hold and say whatever word you want
Step 2when they start to get the idea tap their leg, say the word, and any leg movement reward.
Step 3 repeat until you ca tap and they'll lift their leg.
Step 4 repeat 2 and 3 but with only saying the word.
Step 1 lift her leg, hold and say whatever word you want
Step 2when they start to get the idea tap their leg, say the word, and any leg movement reward.
Step 3 repeat until you ca tap and they'll lift their leg.
Step 4 repeat 2 and 3 but with only saying the word.
wowser
Well-Known Member
As above also look at the leg you want. once they understand if you look at a leg they will lift that one
SEL
Well-Known Member
I use "foot" and a tap. My gelding has a preferred order as I always left his dodgy leg until last so I knew I had at least picked out 3 feet before he threw a wobbly.
My mare knows the command but still doesn't always lift her leg. If she has a stone in a foot she will waggle that one at you until you've dealt with it. If her slave tries to do a different foot then she is not impressed.
My mare knows the command but still doesn't always lift her leg. If she has a stone in a foot she will waggle that one at you until you've dealt with it. If her slave tries to do a different foot then she is not impressed.
Leo Walker
Well-Known Member
When I bought him, mine came with quite bad issues with handling his feet/with the farrier etc. I clicker trained him and sorted it within a few days 
