How to teach horsey to pick up feet nicely

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minkymoo

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Now we have had horsey since sunday and she is settling in really well and being really good. However, she is not brilliant at picking up her feet. it is not that she is rude, I just don't think that she "gets" it. When I run my hands downs her legs she doesn't pick up and I often have to gently push her to the side to give me her foot and even then she still doesn't really understand what I am asking of her.

How can I encourage her that this is the good thing for her to do?

Any ideas? Thought about clicker training... do you think it would work?
 
clicker could be good, when i got my boy i used to tickle his armpits and he lifted his leg as if a fly was there then i just caught his leg and hey presto! they soon get the hang of it.
 
Clicker training to ask a horse to lift it's feet?

Hmm I'd think that if you are doing her feet every single day, she will not take long to figure it out LOL!!
 
yeah I guess that does sound stupid now I look at it Tia! and I promise you that I do her feet everyday though she has no shoes on which I hate! I might try your way lizzieuk1, how do you do the back legs without getting kicked then?
 
When we got Beau he had a rep for breaking people's toes and feet when they tried to pick his feet out.

He would either slam his foot down, or lash out forwards with his front legs when doing his fronts, and try and kick you with his back ones when doing them!

All I can say is patience is a virtue.

It took me 2 hours to pick out his feet on the first day, but I didnt give up until it was done, I just held onto his leg no matter where he put it.

He tried planting them too, in which case slightly tugging or tickling the bit of feather really helps tell them what you mean.

I never smacked him but I did shout at him when he was lashing out with his fronts. They soon learn life is easier and it is only a 1 minute job if they are good!

Within about 4-5 days he was picking his feet up beautifully, and he does it now, even holds it up for you, he has big feet!

Treats always go down well too! and praise!
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Not stupid, I just thought it was a bit OTT for such a mundane job.
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Does the horse kick out then when you pick her back feet up?
 
My horse was clueless too when I got him & used to stamp about.

My tip would be to wear your hat while there is a likelihood of hooves flying about, & gloves too when she's shod - I got a gouge from a nail when he snatched his foot away.

Then carry on with what you're doing, picking her feet out daily, calmly & in the same way. Mine took about 4 to 5 weeks to get the hang of it.
 
Perseverance works.
I usually say 'hup' as I run my hand from knee down. If they don't pick up I push against them to put their weight on the other front. Then praise them when they do lift. Within a few days she'll pick up easily when you run your hand down...a few more days and she'll anticipate and lift them for you.
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if she is kicking out at you then pick her feet up with a rope, ie run a lead rope down to back of pasturn and pull hoof up, its much safer this way, if she kicks out just hold on to the rope, when she is quiet place hoof back on ground for her reward, works a treat!
 
My boy needed to know exactly what I wanted of him (he was quite nervous and got worked up if he didn't understand what you wanted him to do) and so I literally spent an afternoon running my hand down his legs and saying up when I wanted them up and down when he was to put them down. I was patient with him all the way and after a couple of weeks he was anticipating what I was going to do. Praise goes a long way with my pony, so something similar might be helpful for yours.

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I would wholly agree with that because our cob was a bit nervous with his feet -especially front- when we got him but patience and praise coupled with the routine of doing the feet in the same order soon had him sorted. Now he will actually start to lift a foot before you even get to that one which is great imo.
Cazx
 
Lol I just panic sometimes when I see a foot lifted when it is not supposed to be lol like when he is being bathed etc as he seems to dislike being watered on his back legs
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I agree with those who said just do it, she'll get used to it as you do it so often! I always ask my horse for "feet" when I pick them out, and after about four or five months of owning her she'd pick up whichever foot I was nearest to every time I said "feet" in a particular tone. So a voice command could be a good way to go. Much safer as well, if the horse is rude and kicks out you're a safe distance away if you can use a voice command and then catch the foot!
 
lol I do most of the time but we are not really supposed to hose at the yard ( water meter) so I brought them both up home for a wash the other day lol.
Got a few strange looks from neighbours but to be honest they were both well behaved under the circumstances ( only second time at home) and Mcfly was better behaved with the hose than I thought he would be
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