Learning a horse to pick up hind legs?

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NicoleS_007

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Were having a bit of trouble with the new beasty and the picking out of the hind feetsies!! She'll be 4 in April, is fine with the front feet and has front shoes, no back shoes. Shes fine with the back legs being groomed and stroked but as soon as you put pressure on and click to ask her to lift it she lifts it right up and almost cow kicks! I've started stoking down her legs to get her used to it and then drooping a leadrope around her pastern, gently put pressure on and click to ask her to lift it so i dont get kicked! The first couple of times she kicked out but then after a wee while lifted them perfectly. The vet also had a bit of bother with the flexions when vetting her on thurs :o Is this a smart method of teaching her to lift them or not? Anyone any ideas?

Thanks :D
 
teaching a horse not learning a horse. You teach, the horse learns.
Sorry, do carry on....!
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ah the back legs! Yes i have cracked this!
You need her tied up so he cant move too much, you are doing the right thing in moving the hand down the legs when she picks it up,you NEED to hold it, dont let go- Even with the kicking, talk to her praise her (possibly person at her head fussing her) Once she has stopped the kicking (she will do) count to 2 and let go - than make a HUGE fuss of her - a rub along the mane or between the eyes (they love that)

The move on to the other - this will take strength and will hurt like **** when she starts pulling away - but the rewards WILL be worth it.
 
or another method that keeps you out of harms way is to thread a lunge line around the back leg so that you have both ends in your hand, stand near the front leg on the same side and take up the slack, keep increasing the pressure until she picks her leg off the floor, initally release the leg straight away and fuss, treat horse, keep doing this asking for her to hold it a little longer each time the aim being to not let her get to the point when she cow kicks, however if she does you will be out of harms way and can continue to hold the leg in the air, when she settles straight away put leg down and fuss/ treat. She will get the message soon enough and you will remain safe :) then you can move onto doing this with your hands :)
 
queenbee said:
or another method that keeps you out of harms way is to thread a lunge line around the back leg so that you have both ends in your hand, stand near the front leg on the same side and take up the slack, keep increasing the pressure until she picks her leg off the floor, initally release the leg straight away and fuss, treat horse, keep doing this asking for her to hold it a little longer each time the aim being to not let her get to the point when she cow kicks, however if she does you will be out of harms way and can continue to hold the leg in the air, when she settles straight away put leg down and fuss/ treat. She will get the message soon enough and you will remain safe :) then you can move onto doing this with your hands :)
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Thats what im doing atm but with a lead rope :) my discription wasnt very clear :p Il do this every day then and see how she goes, Iv been doing it for 2 days now and she was alot better today than yesterday! Luckly this is her only flaw she really is a sweet little lady :D
 
The way we teach our horses to pick up the hind legs, is to place your hand on the hock and gently squeeze until it lifts or attempts to lift its foot. The moment it does lift or attempt to lift it stop the squeeze immediately, then when it puts its foot down repeat. After a few goes they will pick the foot up and hold it up themselves when you put your hand on the hock.
 
queenbee said:
or another method that keeps you out of harms way is to thread a lunge line around the back leg so that you have both ends in your hand, stand near the front leg on the same side and take up the slack, keep increasing the pressure until she picks her leg off the floor, initally release the leg straight away and fuss, treat horse, keep doing this asking for her to hold it a little longer each time the aim being to not let her get to the point when she cow kicks, however if she does you will be out of harms way and can continue to hold the leg in the air, when she settles straight away put leg down and fuss/ treat. She will get the message soon enough and you will remain safe :) then you can move onto doing this with your hands :)
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this didnt work with my mare at all! so good luck!

BTW - wear a hat!
 
Dancing Queen said:
this didnt work with my mare at all! so good luck!

BTW - wear a hat!
Click to expand...

Yes wear a hat! No you're right it doesn't always work, but sometimes the safer option to try first with a cow kicker.

Re: leadrope, try and get yourself one of those 12ft ones, that is what I would ideally use. Also what breed is your mare, if she is HW with lots of feathers this can make them a bit pissy with the old legs, I had a mare like this once, fixed the problem by taking her feathers off.
 
queenbee said:
Yes wear a hat! No you're right it doesn't always work, but sometimes the safer option to try first with a cow kicker.

Re: leadrope, try and get yourself one of those 12ft ones, that is what I would ideally use. Also what breed is your mare, if she is HW with lots of feathers this can make them a bit pissy with the old legs, I had a mare like this once, fixed the problem by taking her feathers off.
Click to expand...

Il use the lunge line then :D Shes a ISH more light/middleweight with thoroughbredie feathers.

Avatar isnt her lol thats the old boy :D shes a coloured mare in may last thread :D
 
I always have an old walking stick, turn it the other way up, wrap it in insulated foam, tape it round to make it very soft.

Rub the stick up and down the horses legs, after a few times hook the leg until you feel comfortable to try without stick.

I find it a much safer option.
 
just keep trying!

my 4 year old gave me a flying lesson the first time i asked her to pick up feet - but i had kept pushing her ..... so i got flung lol!

now she picks them up lovely - becuase i kept trying :)
 
on the other hand, if you do go the 'die hard' method of grab on for dear life (which also works too, but I only used this with the tart Ebony and small ponies) then stand as close in to the mare as possible, helps you dig in more and if she does kick you it is said to hurt less because there is less power behind it... ooer! :)
 
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