Minor problem with new girlie

[Cazza525]

OK,so she's settling in just fine after the initial shock....we're only 10 days down the line,and I'm really pleased.

Now then,bit of a problem....one hind foot,she will NOT pick up,well,she will,but snatches and is generally very sensitive with it,even if I start moving towards it!

I don't especially want to get kicked,so could do with some pointers please

 

[LaurenM]

My horse did this when I got him to the point that I was worried he was lame. The farrier checked both hinds and he was fine..just testing me. He's stopped doing it now - I just kept persisting.

Maybe worth having your farrier check as it may be down to shoeing etc.

 

[galaxy]

Can you brush it?


I had a youngster who was very sensitive and I spent loads of time just brushing her legs and then I found picking it up was no problem.

Maybe back off picking it up as you've "scared" each other and spend time brushing and touching her leg.

 

[Cazza525]

Ok,here lies my next problem...she is unshod,6 years old,recently broken and been heavily produced in a showing yard.

I'm really not sure that she's taking the p***. She's gonna need the farrier at some point and I have recently changed farriers and don't fancy him getting kicked.....was hoping to sort this little problem before he comes out....

 

[Cazza525]

Can you brush it?


I had a youngster who was very sensitive and I spent loads of time just brushing her legs and then I found picking it up was no problem.

Maybe back off picking it up as you've "scared" each other and spend time brushing and touching her leg.

Yes,she'll let me brush both of her back legs,although I am wary....

 

[starsnrunes]

Get a farrier to check, warn him of the danger (tho to be fair he'll propably be used to it)

I had a horse who's foot I could physically not lift. It wasnt hot and he wan't fussed about me touching it, it turned out he had nail bind (i know your horse is bare foot but there still might be a problem) on one of his front feet, and wouldn't lift that one as it put too much weight on the sore foot.

 

[wilsha]

my pony does that to test me he puts all his weight on the ide im trying to pick up and trys to have an itch on me just push her weight over and/o get someone to hold her head

 

[galaxy]

Yes,she'll let me brush both of her back legs,although I am wary....

well just continue until you trust her. If you continue in a tense worried way it'll get worse. Brush her leg and run your hand down it until she and you stay calm and relaxed!

 

[Angelbones]

We had a pony like this - couldn't even brush his hind legs without snatching and he was VERY quick with it! What we did was - always picked his feet up in the same order. Pick out the ok feet properly, but with the snatchy ones we only picked them up and then let them down again, until he was prepared to stand properly. Yes it was a few weeks of not picking out his feet but eventually he didn't panic. I think the act of picking up his foot and having to hold it there whilst we 'fiddled' was all to much to start with. With brushing we made sure we used our spare hand to place it firmly on his leg further up whilst we brushed further down so he didn't feel us 'tickling' and 'fiddling' on his leg - it was a firm feeling that remained constant. This helped with the picking up the feet - on each leg run your hand firmly from top (shoulder at front, and hip at back) to bottom rather than grab from the side which can be surprising for them.

Hope you get it sorted.