Youngster hindleg advice

[golddustsara]

My 4yo connie was very unsure about picking his feet up, but in the last 11 days I've had him he's got so much better. I pick his feet up every day and even his hinds have become almost perfect to pick up.

But..... he is still really funny about me brushing his back legs and was even pretty ticked off about the front ones being brushed today which is unusual. He's fine when I'm rugging him and passing the straps round his hinds but any lower than his hocks and he starts kicking out.

Anyone got any tips for de-sensitising youngsters legs in a safe manner? I've heard the sock on a broom handle one - has anyone actually tried that?

 

[NELSON11]

I used to use one of those grooming mitts or those black grooming blocks on my youngsters, seemed to work quite well getting them used to it

 

[waterlily]

mine was the opposite, could brush legs no problem but got kicky as soon as you asked her to pick up as she just didn't understand. I used a leadrope looped around leg (holding both ends) so she had pressure there to get used to but couldn't get away from it, and I was out of kicking distance. Also, try grooming in different ways using different pressures, if i go gently down her leg all the way from the hock when i want to pick feet up now she gets funny, get straight in there at the fetlock with normal pressure she's fine. Maybe try just holding or touching his leg with your hand fairly firmly, keeping still at first then starting to slowly move down. Just my experience and musings, good luck