We need help Lifting feet.

C

cara

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Hi.
I have a new mare Cara she is 4 not handled very well.
She was to be broken when I baught her but the guy I got her off said she is two heavy in foal to be broken and that he will get her broken after she weans the foal. I held back 1000 of the asking price for her. Her FEET are in a bad way, I only got her 2 weeks ago, Had the vet here last Sat {I taught she might have a drop cause she was a bit lame} She has no drop but the vet said they are badly cracked and need to be trimmed every 3 to 4 weeks.
Now this is where I need Help. I am very nervous about lifting her legs my hubby has been lefting her front ones for the past few days and she was very nervous today when he was doing this. I hold her while he lifts the legs.

How do you even go about lifting the back legs??????? {without getting killed}
Her temperament seems good she is young and a little nerous but I dont think there is any badness there.

Sorry about the long post, I would really appreciate ye'r HELP.
Thanks
 
Have you thought about sending her away to be professional broken? It sounds like you might not have the confidence to deal with it.
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She must have had her feet down before by the farrier, so I imagine she is used to having her feet lifted. She may be nervous but unless she's showed signs of trying to kick I wouldn't worry too much.
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I'm afraid you need to be calm yourself, otherwise this may not be the best horse for you.
Having said that here is a method or two to help.
Make a false hand from a woolled glove stuffed with something and tape it onto a long stick. Stand at her head and talking to her slowly touch her all over, working your way down the legs.
Once you can do this without a reaction lead her forward into a long u shape of soft rope, and grasp both the ends standing at her shoulder, Slide the rope up until it is round her fetlock and holding both ends of the rope, lift her foot forwards. Once she tolerates this, stroke it still stood out of harm's way by her shoulder.
This isn't an overnight solution, we can have a horse picking it's feet up within half an hour, but we have done it lots of times previously. Don't back down when holding her leg up, and once she accepts that she will probably allow you to touch them. Do not jump out of the way! That's guaranteed to make her jumpy too. Remeber slow, calm and firm works.
 
I had a big fat heavy cob who was awful as a 2 year old with his back feet, took me 2 years to get him to pick them up nicely, he would lean, kick, stomp and rear, the key is to keep doing it, every day. ( he was an exception to the rule though)

If its just stroking the leg or getting her to be less nervous of you in general. As already said you cannot give in, it takes a bit of strength to keep hold when the horse is fighting, but Ive found as long as I stay close to thier body and out of the range of a sneaky sideways kick eventually it worked.
Time and patience is key, if your too nervous see if someone else can help.
 
I second Henryhorn's suggestion of using a rope around her fetlock or pastern. Praise and reward her when she does what you want. Good luck.
 
I agree with HenryHorn, this is exactly what we do with difficult youngsters at work. They soon get the idea that you want them to lift their feet up, and they need to balance on three legs! You need to get her sorted before the farrier comes though, its not fair on the farrier to expect him to sort her out for you. Also, wear a hat.
 
It might be a good idea if you can find a calm, confident person to help you to do this and show you how. A nervous owner and a nervous horse aren't the best combination. Perhaps, as you've got a good deal on her, you could use some of the money to book a riding instructor to help you with ground handling, giving you techniques and advice you can build on...we forumers are fab
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but we're not the same as a person next to you.
Hope it works out.
S
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Thanks everyone for the reply's. I know I sound a total novice but every other horse I have owned were trained to lifting their feet to get them done, So I just needed to know where to start.
I have no intention of breaking her, She will broken by a professional, But I want to get her feet right and I dont want my farrier to deal with it. I will probally give her a sedative for her first time with the farrier{ To take the edge off as she will probally need shoes to help the cracks}.
I do feel I am making a bit of progress as last week we couldn't even catch her.
I phoned the guy I bought her from and he said she has never had her feet done !!!!!!!!!! I partially guessed as she hasn't a clue why we are trying to lift her legs. I am going to try the method using the fake hand . Fingers crossed.
Is alot of it a trust thing as I dont think she trusts us yet.
Thanks again.
 
i'm all for using a rope around her fetlock or pastern, did this with a kicker it works a treat.
i always said lift at the same time now i just say lift or look at the leg i want
 
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