not wanting to pick up hind legs

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Brenjack

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Hi
My 5month old has suddenly taken a dislike to having her back legs picked up. She now kicks out - and it's aimed at me - and I can't get hold of the leg to pick out feet. I have been running hands down them and walking away so she doesnt think I'm always going to pick them up - and she will stand quite happily for that - but as soon as I go to pick up a leg - WALLOP she shoots it out with such speed at me.
This is a new thing and she had been ok up til last week - having her feet done. I get the feeling she's taking the p**s but don't know what else to do to stop her ( i really don't want my head kicked in!!)

HELP
 
What is she like with your farrier? I find farriers are very good in situations like this if you are not confident to hold onto the leg!

I would have someone hold her and her tail then some one pick her feet up, she needs to learn now this isn't acceptable or you will have problems later on.
 
Take a lead rope and loop it around the fetlock and encourage her to pick up and immediately she does drop the foot and give praise.Gradually over time, lengthen the amount of time the foot is in the air.

By doing this you can remain at the head end to give encouragement and more importantly, stay out of the line of fire! Its also much easier to keep hold of the foot this way.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Take a lead rope and loop it around the fetlock and encourage her to pick up and immediately she does drop the foot and give praise.Gradually over time, lengthen the amount of time the foot is in the air.

By doing this you can remain at the head end to give encouragement and more importantly, stay out of the line of fire! Its also much easier to keep hold of the foot this way.

[/ QUOTE ]

Or a traditional hook end walking stick, which is what I used to teach my young 'un, lift it forward a few times until they get the idea then pick up as normal
 
Madmare I didn't say this is the farriers job to sort it out, just farriers are usually better at holding on legs if you are not confident to do yourself.
 
She was perfect with me and the farrier up until now. It's not that I'm not confident in picking it up and hanging on to it - waggling legs I can cope with - but she's shooting her legs out so flipping quick - I can't catch it to hang on to it.

This isnt my first foal - so i'm used to waggling legs etc but this is the first one that is a tad mad with her hind legs hehe.

I made a false arm tonight and she loves that - stands for hours. Managed to use it to lift up one leg and I was able to hang on to that one while she waggled it. The other one however was same as before - she shoots it out so quick - as I'm going down her leg to ask her to lift it - she shoots it out and she's aiming at me LOL - so I can't get it to hang on to it.

The walking stick is a good idea - I couldnt use the false arm to get her to lift the leg as no hook - so might try that idea.
 
Our older mare always had issues with her back legs(but never any soundness problems) and her now 2yr old filly went through a stage similar to what you are explaining. I think patience but consistent handling will work and she will come out just fine. Ours still sort of try to pull the leg away but we just stay calm and relaxed whilst still holding the hoof and they relax and ease the leg down.
We never used anything to progress the process just time and patience.
 
try havin some1 there to distracted her with something and then reward her for liftin it a little bit of the ground then take it from always go in a the same way about it like do the front near to the back near to the back offside to the front offside she will get the hang of it then there slowly but calmly is the way forward. my 5 month old colt was the same and after a week of rewards he soon started picking his feet up rather than kickin us in the head
hope this helps
 
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