Shoeing help!

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tangoharvey

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I have a 16hh clydesdale that i bought from a dealer, she is 100% in everthing but i cant pick any feet up, i can brush her legs but she leans with everthing she has to stop me picking them up! I had the vet out today to sedate her to be shod, which they did, she still leaned alot, and the vet said get rid of her, she wont get any better. The vet has 30 years experience with horses I trust him but cant believe I must give up on her - help me please?!
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Teach her to do it herself. I know a lot of people think it is fluffy, but with time and patience you should be able to clicker train her to lift her feet up. Many horses are very quick on the uptake with clicker/reward training.
 
What an unhelpful vet! People like that really annoy me!

She probably just hasn't been taught properly. Lots and lots of practice and praise and reward should do the trick. Every concession she makes of shifting a foot, holding it up for a moment, lifting it etc should be greeted with lots of praise.

My youngster hadn't really learned to lift her feet up at all when I got her. I was hardly going to shrug my shoulders and go 'oh well'.
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It took a while with lots of patience but she soon got the idea. Now she picks up each foot if i gently tap her fetlock. Even my 18yro arthritic horse who finds it hard to lift one particular hind leg has learned to rest that foot instead on command so clearly age isn't an excuse.

You've got 6 weeks or so before the next farrier visit, work hard at it between now and then and I'm sure you'll find it easier.

If she tries to lean once you have the foot up you can keep hold of the foot but allow the horse to kneel down if that's what they want. When they realise they're going to end up on the floor and you're still not letting go they quickly learn to stand up!

Also if she's refusing to pick up at all try getting her to move over to take the weight off the leg you want. Then quickly ask before she thinks to shift back!

Good luck, i'm sure you'll make progress!
 
thanks both, feel a bit better - i dont want to give up, she is only just 6 and has been hit i think too, but when the person who i believe the most says give up, it made me think!!
 
Orange Empire has gone into more detail, but basically I used the click/treat instead of lots of praise as my horse is very food motivated. I had already trained him to do other things using the clicker - including not mugging for food. Maybe with a Clydesdale sized horse, keeping food out of it would be safer.

Good luck, just be patient with her. You have got six weeks so do something everyday with her, even just a couple of minutes and always stop on a good note.
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thanks both, shes not got a nasty bone in her body so i feel she will be fine to have food as a reward, I am going to do everything I can to help her to get her hooves off the concrete!!xx
 
What did the dealer say who you brought her off about shoeing? Presumably you asked if she was good to hack, clip, shoe, etc at the time? What did he say as to shoeing? Just interested. Keep perservering, you will get there in the end, just mind she doesn't stamp her foot back down onto your toes - invest in some steel toe cap boots if you can! Good luck she sounds wickedly lovely x
 
i have had 2 horses that could and would not pick up their feet (they had never been taught) it took between 4-6 weeks to get them to slowly learn and pick them up, i did it with positive reinforcement i.e. a scratch in a itchy place or a treat now i have no problems and the farriers love them, all i have to do is touch the leg and they wave their foot around ready for me to hold.

Dont be discouraged it will come.
 
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