Problems with picking out hooves

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horseyperson

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What should I do when a pony kicks out when shes having her feet picked out?
Shes quite good with the front but the a lot of the time I can't even do the back because shes kicking out so much. She is quite young. Any tips?
 
We had a yearling tb colt come in at work that had never had any handling. As soon as you went slightly below his shoulder he would just collapse, you couldnt touch any of his leg without him just trying to fall straight on the floor. He slowly got better with steady constant handling and got to the point you could get to knees n hosks without him panicking. I ended up spending over an hour a day gaining his confidence, ever so slowly inching my way down below his knees/hocks with a brush. as soon as he let me touch him below even for a second i would take away straight awya and him him loads of praise and pats. Then i started doing the same with my hand, eventually i was able to run my hand the whole way down his legs by the wed afternoon and loosely get a pair of front boots on (he was on the horse walker daily for sales prep), thrus he had boots on on the walker for the first time and could briefley fold feet up. As soon as he took the weight off i would pretty much put them down and it was a couple of days before i started touching his feet with the hoof pick then start picking them out.
Basicaly what we found was as soon as they do the slightest bit right step away and praise, your not a threat then and they soon realise its easier to do wht you ask.

Good luck steady consistenet work should get you there.
 
I found an old fashioned wooden walking stick with a crook handle invaluable. I got the yearling used to being "stroked" all over with it then slid it down hind leg and round the pastern and gave a gentle pull and say "up". the second there is any give release the pressure. eventully you can lift the leg. he kicked out a lot but i just hung on to the stick,its not diffucult and you stand out of harms way at the shoulder. when they give up kicking release and praise. do daily until horse raises leg without kicking or snatching. then you can use your hand. then progress to the hoof pick too.
 
Get light pole about four feet in length. Stuff a glove with straw or shavings and tape it securely to the end of the pole and use that to rub down her legs so that you can stand out of kicking distance. If she kicks out keep the hand on the leg or quickly push it under her so that t is touching the other leg. Do not punish the kicking just let her figure it out that she is not going to be hurt and kicking has no point because the hand is still going to be on her.

The other way is to get a soft rope around her pastern so that you can lift the leg whilst standing by her shoulder and keep hold of it when she does kick. When she lifts without kicking you immediately allow her to put it back down. Gradually you can get her to hold it up longer and get nearer to it so that you are holding her leg rather than the rope.
 
Mine used to cow kick when I tried to do his hinds. He was 5 and had been pretty much untouched for a year.

I used patience and persistence, gentle strokes, carrots galore, a friend at his head with polos. It took ages, but now he's fine. Just be aware and keep yourself safe!
 
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