[bishopsangels]

When I try to clean Honey Bea's feet she always tries to lay down. I keep picking them up and clean them as I can...It takes me almost 20 minutes to do one foot. I haven't had a farrier out...
Any suggestions for that?
I can do anything else with her legs, tail, body...just not able to hold her feet up for cleaning.

[TrickPony]

Well... there are a few things I would try.
If you're not on hard gravel - just drop her when she goes to lay down (don't try to "hold her up")
After she falls a few times - she'll stop trying. Don't make is some gentle landing either.
If you're worried about that technique - you could also try keeping a small bat and smacking her in the stomach every time she tries to go down. This is really a pretty dangerous habit, particularly if she's tied (try both of those suggestions when she's untied BTW).
Good luck!

[dallasbarnone]

if shes older(dont know how old she is) arthritis can make them like that- if she is young she might not know how to balance. I dont know the details so i can 't help much.

[linds]

If this is a new habbit, check that she isn't lame....otherwise I agree with Trickpony's advice

[TrickPony]

Originally Posted by dallasbarnone

if shes older(dont know how old she is) arthritis can make them like that- if she is young she might not know how to balance. I dont know the details so i can 't help much.

Good point dallasborone... do make sure there's no medical reason for this behavior. I assumed it was just her being stubborn/lazy, but you may consider having her vetted if you're unsure.

[Blistering Winds]

If this is a young horse (2 or more) that is being stubborn ...........Pick her foot up with a rope and hold it, when she tries to lay down, Just keep holding it! When she "falls" as a few do, let her have the foot. Usually they don't do it again after the fall. I usually do this with a saddle though and use the saddle horn to pully the rope. Also, a great way to hobble your horse while you quick get off and do something.



Make sure you do this in a grassy paddock or soft dirt as not to hurt her. And untie her.

[AQHA_Gizmo]

We were having that problem with Gizmo when his shoulder muscle was sore. He kept trying to pull back, but we just followed him. Letting them have their feet is only giving them what they want. Horses are not dumb enough to fall down. BUT if you do have a young horse, be careful because they often do not have the balance of older horses. Above all though, use common sense. If the situation makes you question whether you are putting your horse in danger by keeping his foot up, let him have it, and try other methods. All the ones described so far are great though!

[bishopsangels]

This is Honey Bea...she is 15, The time I tried this is before I found out she was with foal, so maybe it was a balancing thing with the weight of the foal. (Which I just thougt about). I have tried to get a farrier out...but it seems no one wants to come... I have called four! I am going to try again this weekend to get a farrier out or do it with hubby's help!
If I can keep her and the baby together long enough...as (for a 3 day old) he will travel out of mommas sight so she has to go chase him down.

Thanks for the advice and I will let you know the results!

[lucky_pine]

My two year old tries that trick, laying down when picking up feet. It all started off when we taught him to do it. Imagine what the farrier thought when up came Tags foot, down came Tag, and down goes farrier. Yeah. So we ended that cute little trick fast. Everytime he tried to lay down when his foot came up we wacked him on the butt with a whip. Not hard, just enough to make a pop to get the point across. Now he will hold his foot in the air without you touching it for you.

[Blistering Winds]

Ok, you said the horse was pregnant? Or recently had a foal?

The uneven weight distribution and excess weight is probably leading her to an unbalanced issue.

Set her one side against the barn. this is what we had to do with the mare that I care for who needed her feet done bad. She was able to lean against the barn while we worked on the one foot. Helped BOTh of us out a lot.