Picking up feet

[Boyblue]

Hi all hoping I can get some advice on this!
I have a cheeky, stubborn 7 year old cob who for the last few years has picked all his feet up with no issues.
this past week it’s been a real struggle some days I can’t pick any up and others it might be one but it’s never the same one! One day He did eventually pick them all up fine for someone else.
I have never dropped him or anything like that so I’m not sure why he’s being like this he either snatches it back quick or will walk away as far as he can from where he’s tied and continue to do that the more I try to pick his feet up, I often go off and do something else and go back and once or twice he’s picked one up and other times not at all

It’s not often there is someone else there to try so I need a way to work on getting him to do it for me

Does anyone have any suggestions?

thank you

 

[ycbm]

At this time of year and him being a cob, I would suspect a bit of foot pain from early laminitis. What's his weight like, compared with a proper scoring chart, not compared with his stable mates ?
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[Boyblue]

He’s had laminitis before and would never pick them up at all he’d just plant he’s got no heat or digital pulse and been on a bare field. He’s very slightly overweight, his weight was a big problem last year and he’s lost 160kg since then

 

[ycbm]

If this is new behaviour in the last week and he is still overweight, then I'm afraid I would still suspect lami because he is a previous sufferer and this is the most dangerous time of year, according to my vet.

Can you keep him in for a few days to see if he goes back to normal?
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[Boyblue]

He won’t be happy about it but he’ll just have to get on with it!

 

[ycbm]

Just a couple of days, and if he changes, you'll know he needs it. Don't forget to keep him to a max of 2%of his correct bodyweight in food, preferably soaked.
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[Boyblue]

Yeah I always weigh his hay and it’s always soaked

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Even if it's not laminitis, I would say that it is pain somewhere, so a vet check would be a good idea.

 

[Boyblue]

It’s just odd he picked them up for someone else, I took him for a ride after and he was fine

 

[ycbm]

It’s just odd he picked them up for someone else, I took him for a ride after and he was fine

Horses can be very compliant with people who are dominant enough. If you didn't change your behaviour, but he changed his, then something is going on with him not wanting to pick up the leg, or with him not wanting to add weight to the other one.
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[lynz88]

At this time of year and him being a cob, I would suspect a bit of foot pain from early laminitis. What's his weight like, compared with a proper scoring chart, not compared with his stable mates ?
.

Immediately thought foot pain as well. Mine will do exactly this when he has pain in his feet

 

[lynz88]

It’s just odd he picked them up for someone else, I took him for a ride after and he was fine

Sometimes they just respond differently to different people. Doesn't mean there isn't pain or any other issues affecting him.

 

[Boyblue]

He’s just picked them all up with no issues but I’ll still get him checked

 

[Boyblue]

Just to give a bit of background in case it seems like I have no clue what I’m talking about ?
He’s the first horse I’ve owned I’ve had him since he was a baby and didn’t know anything about laminitis until he got it for the first time last year I’d heard about other horses on the yard having it but not any great detail.
hes known for being incredibly stubborn so it’s not uncommon for him to refuse to pick up a foot or 2 without persisting and trying a couple times.
I thought he’d have more symptoms than just not picking his feet up which is why I didn’t automatically come to the laminitis conclusion, he’s been lame and had heat both times he’s had it previously guess I’m still learning ?.
I will be getting the vet to check him out ?
Thanks for your replies it’s much appreciated

 

[lynz88]

These things are constant learning games and every horse will present slightly differently. When mine had an SI issue, he did not present as any other horse I've known and stumped everyone for a very long time (until I suggested the SI and turned out it was). If it makes you feel any better, mine is inherently lazy and has a history of minor napping so for the longest time I thought his behaviour was him just being lazy when he became stuffy and eventually napping quite a bit. On the lunge he would move quite alright except for 1 part of the circle so thought there was just something funny about that part of the circle. Turns out it was all because of various aches and pains. Treating the pain led to a dramatically different horse. It took years to figure this all out - now I know instantly when he's NQR (I should also say mine is a neuro horse, confirmed EPM via spinal so makes it even more complicated to determine what is pain and what isn't).