New yearling - handling back feet???

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domane

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I have a gorgeous new hairy coblet yearling who will be a year next Friday. He's good to lead, tie up, groom and fuss over but he's not good having his legs and feet touched. At the moment I am running my hands down his front legs as far as his knee with no problems and that's what I can get away with without him snatching his foot up and away or even trying to kick at me with a back hoof. He has allegedly had his hooves trimmed once but whether this was done "under protest", I have no idea. If it WAS done against his will, it may explain his guarding now. I had another baby coblet before and I remember him being the same in the early days but I could never really relax around his rear end. To make matters worse, he was gelded yesterday too so he's obviously not happy with me being anywhere round his back feet at the mo. He let me groom his bum and tail today and once back in his paddock was really cuddly again.

I'm going to leave it a couple of weeks for him to heal and forget "bad thoughts" (lol) and then start again using a hand-on-a-stick to start with. I've started a routine of bringing him in daily, tying up, grooming and feeding a small feed - he's only in for 20 mins tops and then he's back out, being a baby, playing, grazing and growing.

Does anyone have any tips for me or is it just a case of being patient, calm, gentle and persistent? I realise that as a baby he won't have balance and that it's an instinct for him to need to have all his feet on the ground so that he can run from danger. Plus he's in a new location with a new mummy so he's way out of his comfort zone at the moment. I just wonder if it's better to allow him some settling time or whether to start as I mean to go on?

Thanks
 
Sounds as though you are doing all the right stuff so far. The hand on the stick is such a useful tool. Find his nice itchy bit at the top of his tail, or withers for his front legs, and work downwards. Keep it on him if he moves, reward him by taking it away when he stands still. Gradually work your way up the stick until your hand replaces the pretend hand. By degrees you'll be able to lift a hoof just a few inches and then put it down agani, and work up from there..Keep your energy low, lots of deep long breathy sigh type stuff, no eye contact with him. You have to seduce him into it basically! He might be a bit stiff and bruised from being gelded but that shouldn't stop you from playing with him and hand-on-a-stick this weekend. Good luck...they do need to learn how to balance as babies but as a yearling there's no better time to start, if you take a relaxed approach then so will he. Let me know how you get on.
 
well my yearling was ex\ctly like this.....she was straight from field...i found i couldnt even walk past her back end without her wanting to kick....but i followed montys principle, picked up back leg n didnt leave go til she stopped kicking...2 days later i could do anything behind her...the great thing about youngsters is theyre so open to learn so it doesnt take long ! now i can do anything to feet under belly tail etc, she knows by standing still shes making life easy ! she thinks she trained me 2 go away lol
 
As above, it sounds like your doing everything spot on. I'm in a similar position with a 3 year old. We're still teaching her to lead. Take it at his pace and don't try to do too much too soon, is my advice. Don't try to rush it.

Let us know how you get on.
 
I have exaclty the same problem with my yearling. Front feet - pick up perfectly. Back feet - he lets me brush all round and down his back legs but as soon as i go and try and pick up he kicks out. The farrier came yesterday and just picked it straight up, held it a little while he tried to kick and then my yearling just stood there while he trimmed his back foot! I have been trying all week!

I think the answer is to try and hold it while he is trying to kick. I am going try today, wish me luck. ;)
 
We use to have the same prob with every yearling that came into training ( racing yard) why nobody handles babies feet anymore is beyond me really is. What we do to stay safe is .... Once they have excepted you touching alround the legs/feet we use a lunge line which we put round the hoof and than stand back near the horses shoulders and gently lift the foot. Yes they will kick like hell but you can't get hurt and we let them kick away until we have worked our way down the line and holding their foot which is than picked out. 2 days max and we can pick feet up fine. 1- no risk off injury to you and just let rope go with them as they kick. 2- you don't let the foot go this way and they learn that very quickly. First day normally.
When you have 25 + tb yearlings to do everyday between the staff to play safe I wouldn't do it any other way. The worst I come away with now is jarred shoulders
 
you took the words right out of my mouth Monsters! Its definately the safest way to start them off and takes no time at all. I have no idea why feet are neglected in youngsters basic education. The other thing left out these days is standing in a corner and moving over when being mucked out. I get so pzd off having to shunt a half ton of reluctant horsemeat around-once upon a time they automatically moved over and stayed there. Boh!
 
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