how to get a horse to pick its feet up?

[jack9]

so in a strop today, (im very stubborn and persistant), my mare launched me accross the yard as i wouldnt give up asking with the feet. ok so i shouldnt have carried on asking but she knows to pick them up.... but with the back ones she dosent know what to do with them... (just holds them up)....

if she picks them up - she always gets a "good girl", pat and treat (if i have one)...i plan to try again later with some carrots.... but need some advice as i dont fancy another flying lesson....

so with babies (shes 4 but im going back to baby stages)... how do you start asking to pick feet up???

i just expect all horses to know this (my other 2 knew already)....so help!

 

[SirenaXVI]

No not all horses know how to pick their feet up, they have to be taught.

When Lluna arrived as a 5yo her feet had never been touched, I had to show her how, it was like having a 16.2 foal

Front feet are normally, but not always, the easiest to start with, back feet, being the kicking end are more tricky generally. With foals it is easier because you just do NOT let go, with a larger horse it is infinitely more difficult and a little trick I used was to get a lead rope and loop it round the pastern, I started by just lifting the leg and saying 'give' and, over the space of a week gradually lift it higher. The rope allows you to hang on without risking being kicked. Do not treat them, just give lots and lots of praise when they lift, do not expect too much too soon and do reward the tiniest of improvements with a lot of fuss. Dont get angry but just be quietly persistant and they soon get the hang of it.

 

[xloopylozzax]

first they are ok with me touching legs anyway (start with a brush on a broom if she is light hoofed lol)

im gonna go with all the little steps, im not mad just thorough! (advise having someone holding the horse, hat the works)

stand at side of leg, close as you can (less power if they do try and kick) stroke the top then run hand down leg to fetlock lean into them and say up- leg snaps up usually, dont let go just go with it (it will probs be waved about and threatened to be snatched away, dont pull back but dont let go either). wait until she "gives" you it, then put it back down to start with. praise etc. occasionally will need persuasion to bend the knee, your elbow niftily is about this level so you can nudge back to encourage it.

i dont ask for a lot (compromise on the height, even if it breaks your back to start with! shes just unsure of her balance) but enough, and insist on it happening.
may help if she is able to lean against a wall for security aswell.

the other night i helped someone pick an old arthritic mares feet out, shes sort of left (hasnt seen a brush for years, feet done once in a blue moon etc) so is green really and forgets she knows how to do it and puts up a fight.
all the above made the job quite quick because i made it easy for her to do the right thing (she had a wall to balance on, i did everything slowly so her joints were pulled and she didnt have to lift them too high)

 

[jack9]

thanks both

i will work on it - i even thought about clicker training her to do it? as shes very food motivated and i think inteligent tbh!!