my horse has decided that he wont pick up his back feet

Splish & Masons mum

Splish & Masons mum

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This has happened fairly suddenly over the last week or so - he'll happily pick up both front feet to have them picked out, but has been a total g*t with the back two, hind left in particular.
He's 5, I've had him since February, and he's never been brilliant with them, I put a lot of time in at the beginning just picking up feet 2cm off the ground and giving him treats, and he was much better.
but I think it's to do with his balance - he's not the most balanced of horses yet, he has to readjust his feet to let you pick one up, then it's like he overbalances and has to put it down again. Now he wont even pick the back ones up at all - I've tried holding gently, and pushing with my shoulder to make sure all his weight is on the other side, but he wont even lift them off the ground yesterday or today.
Could it be the hard ground? he's only got front shoes on...
I've got my regular bimonthly back massage/behavioural lady coming out this afternoon, she'll check him for any pain, and she's been brilliant with any issues I've had so far, so I'm hoping she'll help out, but I wondered if anyone had any ideas?

Thanks in advance
 
I have the same problem with my 5yo coloured cob! :D

Ronnie is absolutely brilliant with his front feet and any faffing is easily corrected but his picking up his hinds is a real palaver and sometimes we even get some 'dancing' ;)
I have found that over the top patting, 'good boy's' and treats afterwards can help but from what you said you've already tried that and taken it slowly with him :(

If the lady coming does come up with an ingenious plan i would really appreciate it if you could PM me! :D

Good luck! x
 
As long as you are confident its not a pain/back issue have you tried letting him lean his weight against something solid eg his stable wall? When I'm getting youngsters to pick feet up (for me or for the farrier) they seem to be more secure if they can 'brace' against something. Obviously you have to turn them round to do the other side, but it does quite often help- he might be more willing to lift a foot up then.
 
Hmmm... My 5yr old cob can be awkward like that when picking up his feet. I think it might be a balance thing too. Have no idea how to correct it, but I have to really make sure his weight is on the 3legs I don't want before he'll consider lifting the one I want.
 
Couple of possibilities - pain - already mentioned. The Big Ginger Lad had a problem with this last year. The chiro came and he never did it again. She said that something had probably been "catching" as he lifted his foot. Another lady on the yard has the same thing at the mo with her welsh D. The farrier accidentally burnt his frog the last time he shod him and he's associating the pain. Only does it in the yard - no problem in the field where the farrier never goes! Also OK to do when he's eating...!
 
Thanks for the replies - maybe it's just a 5 yo cob thing!
Well, my back lady came last night and ruled out any pain, she said he's just trying it on and ignoring me, not helped by the fact that I am asking him inconsistently, and when I do manage to pick up his foot I'm holding it too low.

He did have an issue with the farrier one time when I wasn't there, the lady that was supposed to be supervising left him alone, apparently he reared, nearly went over backwards and pulled free, so I guess it could be memory from that.
We also discovered that he's a real fidget, and gets really stressed when you ask him to stand still, almost like if he can't move his feet he feels "trapped".
He was having his massage last night and was spinning all over the place, but he eventually succumbed and stood really still and relaxed.

So I don't think we've solved the problem yet, but hopefully I have a few strategies to try and get him more used to it and ensure that he doesn't kill the farrier in 3 weeks!
 
I read with interest the other day that it's actually harder for the horse to pick up and balance with front feet!!!!! Not backs, they are ment to be the easiest and can balance a lot easier on them but yet it's always the back feet people have problems with!!!! Could it be more us that are the problem and we feel that there's more chance off getting kicked???
To be honest once you have ruled out pain I would get firmer with him as a 5 yr old I would except all four feet to be perfect. A lot off people these days don't pick up horses feet early enough. We do them from a very young age so it's second nature to them.
Also if you are trying and he's getting away with it he wil know and there's a chance he could be taking the p*ss.
 
hi quick tip ,,,use a long rope,put it round the leg where you are comfortable to touch ,,then slowly lower it down the leg to the fetlock then ask the horse to pick up the leg, when horse picks up leg hold for few seconds then put down. keep practising this then eventuly u will be able to pick up back legs without being kicked, this method work for me ,,so hope this works for you:)
 
thanks roanygirl, that's exactly what my back lady suggested, we tried it a few times last night and he seemed fine with it, and by the end of the session I was picking his feet up straight with no problems.
Suspect we might have the same battle again this evening, but now I know that he's not in pain, and like someone earlier said, just taking the p*ss, I will win!
 
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