Picking up feet

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Hovis_and_SidsMum

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Hi
Well my first challenge with Hovis has presented itself. Picking up his feet!
Being the baby on the yard (he's only 4) everyone keeps standing outside his stable fussing him etc so to help him concentrate on what we're doing I've taken to tying him up at the back of the stable facing away from the door to pick out his feet. This seemed to work ok and I can just about get his front legs up but he does "flick" his feet out at you in the process.
But his back legs are nigh on impossible. He plants and won't move them at all. When he does finally get the idea he kicks out so violently it's impossible to catch his feet as they go past. Its not aggressive as such but he's not too happy with the whole process. He moves forward as soon as you go towards a leg.
Last night I just ran my hands down each of his legs to assure him I wasn't trying to hurt him. Bags of praise etc.
Anyone got any other tips?
He's my first young horse and I don't want to cause him a problem with picking his feet up but with all the mud about I've got to clean his feet properly.
 
My mare is very difficult with her feet. I'm not quite sure what you mean when you say he 'flicks his feet' - do you mean towards his tail, front or upwards? Mine snatches them back towards her tail and I find I just have to be ready for it and not hold on too tight! I also find with the front legs, lifting them higher gives you more control.

The back legs are more difficult. I'd start by just lifting them slightly off the floor and putting back down again - several times a day. Don't ask for too much, just take it steady. Good luck!
 
I had the same thing with Brooke, she had no idea! I found that always doing them in the same order helped, and just being really patient. And I would give her a treat when she would pick up all 4. Not v helpful, but good luck, I was so thrilled the day she did all 4! It felt like a massive victory!
 
Beau was terrible with his feet when we got him, broke his old owners toes more than once!

he would yank his fronts forward then stamp them down as hard as he could, with his backs he would just try and kick so not as bad, but the fronts were a nightmare because his legs are so big!

Basically I didnt give him an inch, he stood there 3 hours if thats how long it took to do his feet, and once he lifted it if he started messing around i held onto it , if possible, until he stopped being an eejit!

with in a couple of days he realised he was better off cooperating, think he got as bored as us so figured it easier to oblige!

now you just have to look and move towards a foot and he lifts it.

Just be firm and patient,priase whe its due, and practice loads!

I also found treats handy at first. Funny how food concnetrates their mind!
 
I have found the best thing to do with a horse like this, is to get a piece of rope, like a leadrope or something just take clips of etc put it around the horses leg in a loop behind the fetlock, lift up the leg and hold on! he wont be able to kick you this way, let him thrash about and kick with his leg and when he stops put his leg back to the ground and then repeat, so you are teaching him be nice and your reward is your leg gets put down again! good luck.
 
Glad I'm not the only one who has picking up problems
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B was a nightmare (still can be) as she had handling issues and balance problems. I used the rope trick and it saved me a lot of bruises!! Also, try to spend a lot of time just touching his legs and feet without picking them up.
 
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