Teaching to pick up feet

MissSBird

MissSBird

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Hi guys

I have just bought myself a lovely new pony, and have discovered that he doesn't seem to understand picking out feet. I've given him some time to settle now, and its not changed. He's alright-ish with the front feet. Lifts them with a bit of persuasion and just about holds them though he occasionally puts his weight onto you.

The back ones are awful though. Everytime I go to pick them up he pulls them out my hand and walks sideways from me.

This isn't a problem I have encountered before, so looking for all tips and ideas. He's only 3, so it could be possible that he's just not sure what I want him to do.

Thanks in advance!
 
It just sounds like he has never encountered someone who acually wants to pick his feet up!
Practise, and more practise with the fronts, lots of praise, and rewards ( maybe bits of a licket bar?) and each time he completes the task give him a pat and a bit of treat.
Once you have mastered the fronts, you might find he has the idea when you ask for the backs.
If not a leadrope can be used almost like a sling under the fetlock, to lift the foot without the risk of being walloped!
 
try and keep hold of then if you can , if not try a lead rope put round the back leg to hold hoof up but defently try and hold it there for a couple of min gradually increasing time followed by a reward , the more his feet are handled the better
 
I had this same problem with my new youngster, I found his favorite scratchy spot and used this as a reward, instead of treats as I had no idea how long the process would take.

My boy didnt just try and move away but cow kicked! I just gradually asked for more and more, and now I pick his feet up whenever I need to.

At first get him being happy touching his legs (mine was okay with fingertips but hated the whole hand around his leg) and then pick his foot up for a few seconds along with a verbal command and reward with a scratch, when you are both happy increase the time eventually moving onto a pick out.

P.S if he is moving sideways and getting out of the way of the contact of your hand try using water from a hose or the side of your crop and move wherever he does to teach him that no matter how much he moves he is unable to get away from the touch and eventually he will stop!

P.P.S If you go with the rope idea bear in mind that he may still kick out because it is a rope and not a hand

Good Luck!!
 
[ QUOTE ]
I had this same problem with my new youngster, I found his favorite scratchy spot and used this as a reward, instead of treats as I had no idea how long the process would take.

My boy didnt just try and move away but cow kicked! I just gradually asked for more and more, and now I pick his feet up whenever I need to.

At first get him being happy touching his legs (mine was okay with fingertips but hated the whole hand around his leg) and then pick his foot up for a few seconds along with a verbal command and reward with a scratch, when you are both happy increase the time eventually moving onto a pick out.

P.S if he is moving sideways and getting out of the way of the contact of your hand try using water from a hose or the side of your crop and move wherever he does to teach him that no matter how much he moves he is unable to get away from the touch and eventually he will stop!

P.P.S If you go with the rope idea bear in mind that he may still kick out because it is a rope and not a hand

Good Luck!!

[/ QUOTE ]
with the rope idear it gives you abit more help in holding onto the leg ,yes he will still kick but once he gets use to it he be fine , its like hand idear you dont have much strengh to hold leg for a period of time and also a very high risk of getting kicked more easier by just using hand method
 
Make is a two person job at first - one to hold and reward, the other one to work the legs. I have this problem with my 16.1h girl, and we are just taking it real slow, with positive rewards for every small movement in the right direction. We are getting through a lot of carrots bit it is working, with a horse this big you cant force her to do it! I get really fed up about this but it was thanks for all the advice from the nice people on this forum that made me realise we will get there and that theres no such thing as a quick fix. Good luck, you will sort it..
smile.gif
 
Hi

My mare was not good with her feet at first and it has taken 6 months of patience and hard work to get her to the point where she now lifts them up when I ask (most of the time). I used the reward trick for her with lots of pats and loves as well.

I think I read once somewhere that all any horse really needs is time so I kind of stick to that philosophy (sp) now.

Good Luck.
 
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