Nervous pony wont let ne pick up near hind

kellybee

kellybee

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Hi folks, we are trialling a new pony with view to buy, lovely little cremello section A. He's only 7, great with the kids but had a rough time in a past home and can be a little nervous with adults. His current owner bought him through the sales and has seen enormous improvement in him since. I know her and the pony and can vouch for this.

By nervous i mean he flinches away from raised hands or fast movements but seems to have complete faith in the kids even when they're running around screaming. We've been working on his trust issues, and in the two weeks we've had him i've done lots of groundwork with huge improvements.

The problem is, he's funny with his feet. They were ridiculously long when we first had him so the farrier came out, trimmed his fronts but couldnt get near his hinds. We decided to leave it and work on me picking up his hinds. I can pick up the offside with no problems but he just isnt happy about the near hind. At first, rubbing him all over he'd be fine and cow kick with that one hoof when i reached his hock. I spent a few days rubbing him all over with a schooling whip which doesnt bother him at all, and can now rub all over and right down to his hoof with my hand. He'll let me touch the hoof, even put pressure on it but kicks when i try to pick it up. I havent smacked him when he kicks, just a firm no and move back to comfort zone.

The fact its one hoof and the same one every time makes me think it might be a psychological issue. He isnt lame, has no heat lumps or bumps and i can see when he rests that hoof that it's clean and dry underneath. I just dont know how to go about safely picking it up. Also, he has lovely temperament and doesnt kick at all in any other situation. His owner (has done allsorts with him until she found herself without a little rider) tells me he's always been fine with feet/farrier, although the length of excess suggests its been a few years since he last had them done, if ever. i've seen this pony work last season and he's fab. i dont want to send him back but nor can the children ride him until his feet are trimmed. Any suggestions?
 
I would pick his feet up untied, using a long line at least 10 feet so you are holding it in the outside hand. Start with the front and then go to the problem back, depending on how much you can do you may just have to start with running your hand down to the fetlock and as long as he doesn't react, step away and praise. I like to start my hand at the shoulder and firmly stroke my hand down to each foot so my girl knows where my hand is. The reason untied, so if there is any negative reaction you can quickly do some schooling, circles and backing up and then trying again, but it has to be 'right listen to me get those feet moving'. There should be an improvement each time and then obviously leave it on a good note, you don't have to be able to pick the hoof out on day one.

Yep it can be psychological initially but then once they kick out and you move away that is then learnt behaviour which needs to be broken. Good for you for not lashing out, it's really not the way.
 
I just wanted to add, probably be wise just to start with your hand on his shoulder and remove hand and step away as long as he's standing quietly, so you might just get your hand to his bum on day one. See how you go.
 
I have one at the moment who has not been taught to pick up his feet, he is now fine with his front but still have work to do on the back ones.

In the first week he would spin and try to get away from you if you tried to pick them up, I then put him side on to a wall so he couldn't spin at me (not ideal as they don't like to be trapped but was short on options!) and I ran my hand down his leg and held on to it just below the hock while he kicked out. I held on until he stopped kicking, then held the hoof, put leg down and repeated once more. I did this every day for 3 weeks and he now doesn't spin or run away at all, still has a little kick back but nothing much and is improving every day.

I assume he had a bad experience as in his last home, after being barefoot for 5 years they somehow got shoes on all fours- and I'm guessing they weren't sympathetic in their technique ! He settles as soon as you hold the hoof.

My other pony who I bought a while ago used to set you on a suicide mission if you tried to pick her feet up. Front one's she'd rear and charge, back ones she's kick out violently, just using patience and persistence she now picks them up for you before you even get there and holds them up! She is totally calm with it now, and will hold them up for ages while the farrier is there :)
 
My mare was like this, even down to one side being much worse. Previous owner was quite open about it and warned me that her farrier could only do two hooves at a time. Hinds were like saucers and on a wee pony, that's not good!

I used clicker training. I started with her front feet, which she was nervous with, but better. Rewarded moving the hoof when I touched it and shaped this to picking it up. It only took a session for that to be on cue (touching fetlock and saying 'hup!'). Back legs were trickier because it was further away from her head, so although she'd cottoned on, it was a bit messy because I was on my own, so if you go this route, you might want a helper!! She kept stepping backwards to get her treat before I could get back to her head, so we moved across the field with every click, lol! Once she'd upped her confidence, I removed the food and started to use scratches on her rump (no contortion required!). Proper, hard, digging deep with fingers scratches in her favourite spot (worthwhile finding out the best spots before starting, to maximise the reinforcer). I had her picking up so well in two weeks that both me and the farrier forgot we were supposed to be treating her like a youngster. No cow kicking. Nothing. She was worried about holding her hooves 'farrier stance' for a while, but soon got used to it. The trick there was making sure she was balanced and if she wasn't, put the hoof back down and then ask again. She's a doddle, now.
 
In which way do you mean kicks? can you keep hold of the hoof? i have a gelding very similar, nervous of everything, but was the same with his back leg too, same one i think, i just held on to it best i could and when he stopped (and i got my breath back) praised him everytime he would let me pick it up, just kept at it, and now he is 100% with his legs, he couldnt care if you were any where near his feet, and im training him that when i tap the back of his foot twice he lifts it him self :P hes very clever that hes picked it up almost straight away.

as he is that way with adults. i would asume he has had a right beating from an adult and this is why he is how he is. Go slow, but show him a fast movement doesnt exacly always mean a whack. I used a lead rope for this, and i say over when i throw rugs on his back, i dont faf by going slow with that, i shouldnt have to, nor should he be worried. be vigilent, and keep on and repeat repeat repeat. goes a long way and lots and lots of prase. You may never get him 100% with it but hey 80% is a bonus yea? x
 
I use a walking stick. I put foam and tape around the handle, turn it upside down, touch the horse all over when its used to the stick then move down the leg and gently use the handle to hook the leg. You will be a safe distance from kicking range and its always worked for mine.
 
Follysmum said:
I use a walking stick. I put foam and tape around the handle, turn it upside down, touch the horse all over when its used to the stick then move down the leg and gently use the handle to hook the leg. You will be a safe distance from kicking range and its always worked for mine.
Click to expand...

This ^^ or a lead rope is what we use when we get nervous nellies in.
 
Thanks all, am going to try with a lead rope this evening, i have a helper so will do in the paddock and see how we go from there :)
 
Just to update - we're now able to pick up all four and pick them out without a problem. Thanks for your advice - much appreciated :)
 
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