Tips on pickin youngsters feet up please :)

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Carrots&Mints

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Hi all, as some of you might know I've bought a youngster. Hes a rising 2 welsh d :) anyhow, today I've been trying to pick his back feet up but he doesn't quite get what's going on so he kicked out sideways and clonked me on the side of me knee.

When I went to view him his previous owner picked all four feet up so I thought he would be fine. Obviously not haha and I don't really want to get injured! Oh and the other day the farrier trimmed his feet an he picked them up perfect so why can't I? Lol

Tips please :)
 
best person to ask is your farrier if he does not have a problem with the horse. just ask him to show you how he does it
 
One possibility is he wasn't balanced? Youngsters aren't as good at balancing on three feet. When we try to balance on one leg sometimes we have to wave the other foot to get balanced too. If mine kicked out I used to let go. She'd then adjust another foot to balance better and let me try again. Worth a try?
 
Have to agree with Goodshipblossem.

It might not be that he kicked out, more that he was unaware where or what he was trying to do with his leg. Got the idea that you wanted to move it/pick it up, possibly not sure where it was going when he picked it up.

My youngster used to be all over the place with her back legs when you tried to pick them up.
Keep an eye on his ears/eyes (get somebody to watch/hold him). If there was any malice, chances are it will show up in their expression.
 
Make sure he is standing as squarely and as balanced as possible before you even ask for a foot. If need be make him step sideways, backwards, forwards - whatever he needs to prepare himself. As others have pointed out it can take a long time for them to coordinate and figure it out. I have a very smart but very large 2 yo who still doesn't always know where his legs end.

Once you are sure he is balanced ask as normal, make sure you are gentle but confident. My farrier's tip was to rest their leg against yours once you have it, not so they are leaning but it gives them reassurance and stops the waving. Trust me, a kick from 2 inches hurts a lot less than from 2 feet away!

Make sure you keep hold as you place the foot back down so he doesn't find it dropping to the floor suddenly.
 
2 year old section D? I'd bet he knew exactly what you were doing and just thought "sod you".

Tomorrow, be prepared. Stand where you won't be kicked, i find in line with stifle, facing tail of course works best for me. Whatever you say to him to pick up his front feet, ie, foot, up, say it firmly as you go down his leg. Increase the pressure on his leg as you go towards fetlock. Don't be light fingered or he'll think you're a fly. When you get to fetlock increase pressure and expect his foot to lift. Do not let go now. hang on for grim death and be prepared to dance about a bit but do not let go. He will probably continue to be a bit of a pig for a few days then get bored and think of something new to do. If he flaps his foot about you should growl at him and tell him to stand up and behave. you've got to nip this in the bud, D's are strong intelligent animals who need to be kept in their place or you'll be walked all over by him!

PS. Keep some arnica handy :)
 
When I got my totally unhandled youngster I started by running a long stick down her legs so that she got used to the feeling and I could stay out of range! Once she was used to it then I progressed using my hand and then asking for the leg to be lifted just a little. Once this was established I began to lift them higher and rest them on things etc to get her used to the things a farrier would do. Obviously your horse is far more advanced but there's no harm in maybe going back a few steps and starting again.
 
Young horses bite each other's hocks when they play so they are a bit sensitive to having them tampered with. Your farrier will show you how to warn him of what you are about to do and that you mean no harm.

Meantime, you can do some desensitisation by stroking him all over, especially the legs and feet, with a long stick, then gently pick them up with a lead rope or walking stick. It is surprising how effective that can be as if they are continually kicking against thin air, they eventually give up (except for the malicious ones who have a vindictive streak!).;)
 
Thanks for the advice guys :) will try again tomorrow but like u all said he's probably not balanced. When the farrier came up pony was hopping about when he picked his back feet up so yeah defo not balanced! And defo wasn't malicious :) he's just a big baby!
 
i went through this last summer when my two boys came as yearlings, they had been picking up their feet for their handler at Blue Cross, but had to relearn with me.

To start with I got OH to stand at their heads to provide reassurance and keep the head up, then I made sure the pony knew I was there with voice and hand on leg, it actually took about a month before I could say it was sorted, but it was great once it was, they will now stand for me without having to be tied up whilst I do their feet.

Give yourself time for your new yougster to get to know you, and don't worry if it takes a few weeks to achieve.
 
Having had a few youngsters over the years, the best thing is little and often. Make it a daily event and initially just pick up the feet and put them straight down again. Don't try to hang on as you could frighten your youngster and knocked their confidence. I was always told to run my hand down the back leg as you go to pick it up. Get in close to the back end so if you do get a reaction you won't catch the end of a kick. Lots of praise when your youngster gets it right. AND ignore bad behaviour.
 
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