Picking out back feet with dodgy arm?

[sandi_84]

Ok my 5 yo is getting better at having his feet picked out now (at first he was a bit confused about what I wanted bless him, not sure it's been done much before he came to my yard) but I did something to my right arm about a week ago - maybe pulled muscle, i'm not sure - and it is quite painfull to do even light lifting atm. So... I'm having a bit of difficulty in picking up his off hind which is not really helped by the fact he's not really giving me a lot of help yet Any suggestions on how to make my life easier other than asking someone else to do it for me? P.s I'm still a bit wary of the hind hooves after being kicked years ago cowardly custard that I am

 

[jenki13]

Pulled shoulder = ouch, hope it gets better soon (keep heat on it, take ibuprofen & keep it lightly mobile).

Re kicking - make sure you keep your body tight into the horse, almost resting your right shoulder into it's bum, standing with your right foot in front of the hoof. I have not found a horse that can kick in that position & had a few near misses especially when I first got my mare.

Picking up the feet - When my shoulder was dodgy I adopted the above position & then used my left hand to pick up the hoof - then rest the hoof on my leg, hold with left hand & pick out with right hand.
Or got to lift with right arm but only using "signals" i.e run hand down leg & grasp feather but don't actually lift (saying "up" helped me) if didn't lift then use my left hand to lift/tap under fetlock & hopefully get them to lift it by themselves. Then rest hoof on leg as above.

 

[ChwaraeTeg]

Personally, I wouldn't confuse my horse if she were still learning or skittish.
I have times when my left side will not work. At those times, I ask for help,
if none is forthcoming, it's not the end of the world if it's not done for a day or 2.
(It's a ##### nuisance, but there we are)

Hope your arm is soon improved Sandi84
Teg

good reply Jenki13, sorry I must have been typing same time as you

 

[noblesteed]

When I broke my arm I am afraid to say horse's feet only got picked out when someone could help!

 

[jenki13]

Personally, I wouldn't confuse my horse if she were still learning or skittish.
I have times when my left side will not work. At those times, I ask for help,
if none is forthcoming, it's not the end of the world if it's not done for a day or 2.
(It's a ##### nuisance, but there we are)

Hope your arm is soon improved Sandi84
Teg

good reply Jenki13, sorry I must have been typing same time as you

Thanks - I should have put if the horse is likely to jerk (kick backwards) when you have the hoof in your hand it would probably be best to leave it for a day or two as if you are picking up with the right arm it will make it worse & if picking up with the left it will probably pull the other shoulder. Depends on your horse.

I think it is worthwhile to teach the horse / yourself to pick up with the opp arm when feet picking out is established in case there is sometime when it is urgent that you need to pick out the feet & can't use the normal arm - im not sure when this might be but I like to cover all eventualities! haha

 

[sandi_84]

Cheers everyone!
Thanks Jenki, will give that a try tomorrow and if all else fails will shout for help from my big sister ha ha!
Just to point out Loki didn't kick me it was back when I was in my early teens (soooo long ago now i'm the grand old age of 27 ) and he has generally good manners so I'm not really worried he'd kick me but I always go for better safe than sorry when it comes to stuff like that
Also, just a wee side question... When I pick out his front feet he tries to lean on me (my sister's horse used to do this for a while but doesn't anymore) and when I move away slightly - being carefull not to twist his leg mind - so he can't he starts to drop his shoulder like he is going to fall over. Is this a bit of a lazyness/ not much muscle/ take the mick combo or is it just a "i'm still not sure what this woman is asking" thing? There isn't anything wrong with him, he's just been vet checked but he is lacking muscle atm.

If I could send virtual mince pies and polos I would as you deserve it for reading this epic post ha ha!

 

[YorksG]

If your arm is sore and likely to be made worse by picking the horses feet out, get your sister to do it. My sister got her sister, who has a dodgy wrist (me, long term tendon damage) to wrestle the big girls feet this evening, because I am ambidextrous and she couldn't co-ordinate to do the off side feet! On a more serious note do look after your arm, the reason I have long term tendon damage is from doing far too much, both riding and work around the horses, plus car driving, when I broke my arm three years ago.

 

[flirtygerty]

Similar problems, I have tummy problems and both our boys let me take the weight when picking out hooves, that and mucking out/poo picking anything that involves stomach muscles causes severe heartburn, not pleasant.
This is all down to long term arthritis medication, so anyone on Diclofenic be aware it can cause problems, even mimicing heart attacks

 

[sandi_84]

Cheers everyone!
Also, just a wee side question... When I pick out his front feet he tries to lean on me (my sister's horse used to do this for a while but doesn't anymore) and when I move away slightly - being carefull not to twist his leg mind - so he can't he starts to drop his shoulder like he is going to fall over. Is this a bit of a lazyness/ not much muscle/ take the mick combo or is it just a "i'm still not sure what this woman is asking" thing? There isn't anything wrong with him, he's just been vet checked but he is lacking muscle atm.

Sorry for the re-post but interested to know what opinions are on this and how you would go about combating it

 

[YorksG]

Re the leaning, if it is safe to do so, then drop the foot, the horse will put its foot down and take its own weight and eventually learn that this is what happens when it leans on a squishy human!

 

[canteron]

Ouch - arms can take some time to get back to full strength so it might be worth clicker training the horse to lift up the feet when you point at them - this can have the added benefit of helping the horse find his balance, not a bad thing.

In the meantime, I wouldn't fret if your horses hooves aren't picked out quite so regularly for a few days. I would try and get someone else to do it when you can and give your arm the best chance to heal quickly.

 

[sandi_84]

Re the leaning, if it is safe to do so, then drop the foot, the horse will put its foot down and take its own weight and eventually learn that this is what happens when it leans on a squishy human!

Okey dokey, thank you! P.s "squishy human" made me laugh