Picking up her feet.

Sassychic · 10-26-2007, 06:18 PM

I have a had my horse for about 3 months now...and everyday I have worked with her on picking up her feet for the ferrier. Well she isn't getting any better and her feet really need to be done before the snow comes. Does anyone have any suggestions? Eachtime I pick up her feet she just imeditatly wants to put it down or she paws at the ground. I keep trying and trying, but we are not getting any closer

...So any advice or help would be greatly apprrecitated.

Sassy.

Sassychic · 10-26-2007, 06:18 PM

her feet are starting to look really bad and I really want to get them done before the snow.

Amber.Molly · 10-26-2007, 06:24 PM

I would suggest picking it up, and then YOU decide to put it down right away, and then slowly hold it for longer periods of time.

Nothing more frustrating than a horse that won't pick up their feet!

Sassychic · 10-26-2007, 07:11 PM

yeha but when I ask her to pick them up she does and then paws the ground agressivly...
And I dont know why...

Bernardo · 10-26-2007, 07:26 PM

IMO she should be scolded for that, teach her it isnt okay to paw.

What works for me sometimes, if picking up their foot and holding it for awhile. If they try to pull away I hold onto it, if they lash their foot forward they get scolded (that's dangerous and unexceptable), if they get it out of my hands I immediately pick it up. When they let me hold it for a bit without pulling (a bit can be 10sec+) then I let them put it down and give them a good pat.

Works with my yearling, he picks up all 4 feet realy well already, at least on most days.

superhorse · 10-26-2007, 08:18 PM

If she comfortable with you touching her legs and everything I'd pick up the hoof and hold it up quite high so she can't just pull it out of your hand and hold it there until she relaxes and then start to lower it down. If she starts messing about as your putting it down then bring it back up until she relaxes and try again.

Bernardo · 10-26-2007, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superhorse

If she comfortable with you touching her legs and everything I'd pick up the hoof and hold it up quite high so she can't just pull it out of your hand and hold it there until she relaxes and then start to lower it down. If she starts messing about as your putting it down then bring it back up until she relaxes and try again.

good advice

I do that ahah, when I pick it up to pick it out and they try and pull I hold it higher ahah.

I dont know why but I have about zero tolerance for bad manners. I don't mind a baby who doesn't know anything, I'm a little nicer to them, but once they've been told nicely a few times .....ahah.

Rising Star · 10-26-2007, 08:25 PM

My guy used to be terrible because he was dropped by a farrier when he was younger. I have been working with him everyday and hes alot better now. I would keep at him till he lifted it up, then I would either hold it, pick it out, or just touch it. As soon as he lifted it up I would tell him hes a good boy over and over. After I put it down he got a pat and a treat. If he was having problems with one I would take a leadrope and put it around his leg and lift that way. its alot easier and also good for a horse who keeps wanting to put their foot back down or one who paws out.

Rosie12 · 10-26-2007, 09:01 PM

My horse used to do this too...well, she tried to pull away, at any rate. I would hold on and either tell her 'easy' or shout at her to cut it out. Normally that works for her. But only now...after we worked on it.

What I would constantly do when she managed to get it out of my hands would be to immidiatly come up (which startled her) and then swat her on her shoulder *or her knee if I didn't feel like coming up*, grab her foot up again and hold it until she relaxed. Then, in the early stages, I would put it back down, but not after a while. After a while of doing this, I jst held it until I was done. But yes, make it your idea to put her foot down and do it consistantly on all four feet for a small while in one day so she gets the idea.

If she paws, make her stop! That is baaaaaaad manners. When she does this, take your foot and tap it against her knee. Lighter then a hit, but harder then a baby tap. Or give her a pop on the elbow.

One more thing would be (if nothing else works or if she's doing this too many times) to clip her to the lead rope and make her walk a hard walk (either lunge or back up; unless your up to keeping step with her at a brisk walk for her) Do this for a few minutes, then let her rest and ask for the feet again.

One of the things to keep in mind when disciplining a horse with anything is to make it unpleasant when they disobey. The consequences vary with the actions, but once they learn that "Disobey=unpleasant/Obey=comfort(/reward)" they will be more willing to listen to you.

cminor · 10-26-2007, 09:36 PM

^^What Rosie said. We had a big gelding that used to be horrible about picking up his feet. When we first got him he had to get sedated to get trimmed/shod. My friend, a trainer, worked with him some and it really helped. Anytime that he would act bad she would back him real hard and fast, try again, he would be bad, back him again over and over again, and he finally got it. Now he stands like a champ, no problems, if he acts the least bit silly at all I back him up once and he is fine. Right after this the farrier was here and I warned him what I was going to do if he was bad and he was, the farrier let him go and I backed the living daylights out of him, and then he stood fine. It does help if you use a rope halter to get their attention a little better as well. Maybe you can try this, most horses do not like to back and they will normally get the picture that either I stand here and let them pick up my feet or I am gonna have to back up. Repetition is the key. If you need more info just pm me.

10-26-2007, 06:18 PM	#1
Sassychic Full Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Washington Posts: 52	Picking up her feet. I have a had my horse for about 3 months now...and everyday I have worked with her on picking up her feet for the ferrier. Well she isn't getting any better and her feet really need to be done before the snow comes. Does anyone have any suggestions? Eachtime I pick up her feet she just imeditatly wants to put it down or she paws at the ground. I keep trying and trying, but we are not getting any closer ...So any advice or help would be greatly apprrecitated. Sassy.

10-26-2007, 06:24 PM	#3
Amber.Molly Senior Member+ Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 3,669 Images: 286 Blog Entries: 98	I would suggest picking it up, and then YOU decide to put it down right away, and then slowly hold it for longer periods of time. Nothing more frustrating than a horse that won't pick up their feet! __________________ *God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change* I've Been Snowball'd!!

10-26-2007, 08:25 PM	#8
Rising Star Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 2,469 Images: 459 Blog Entries: 1	My guy used to be terrible because he was dropped by a farrier when he was younger. I have been working with him everyday and hes alot better now. I would keep at him till he lifted it up, then I would either hold it, pick it out, or just touch it. As soon as he lifted it up I would tell him hes a good boy over and over. After I put it down he got a pat and a treat. If he was having problems with one I would take a leadrope and put it around his leg and lift that way. its alot easier and also good for a horse who keeps wanting to put their foot back down or one who paws out. __________________ Green Bay Acres Boarding and Training Stable Flinting 17.1hh 7yo tb gelding,, the love of my life Proud Member of the Thoroughbred Club

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10-26-2007, 07:11 PM	#4
Sassychic Full Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Washington Posts: 52	yeha but when I ask her to pick them up she does and then paws the ground agressivly... And I dont know why...

10-26-2007, 07:26 PM	#5
Bernardo Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,558 Images: 41	IMO she should be scolded for that, teach her it isnt okay to paw. What works for me sometimes, if picking up their foot and holding it for awhile. If they try to pull away I hold onto it, if they lash their foot forward they get scolded (that's dangerous and unexceptable), if they get it out of my hands I immediately pick it up. When they let me hold it for a bit without pulling (a bit can be 10sec+) then I let them put it down and give them a good pat. Works with my yearling, he picks up all 4 feet realy well already, at least on most days.

10-26-2007, 08:18 PM	#6
superhorse Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 1,322 Images: 107 Blog Entries: 2	If she comfortable with you touching her legs and everything I'd pick up the hoof and hold it up quite high so she can't just pull it out of your hand and hold it there until she relaxes and then start to lower it down. If she starts messing about as your putting it down then bring it back up until she relaxes and try again.

10-26-2007, 09:01 PM	#9
Rosie12 Full Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hm...define, 'live' Posts: 80	My horse used to do this too...well, she tried to pull away, at any rate. I would hold on and either tell her 'easy' or shout at her to cut it out. Normally that works for her. But only now...after we worked on it. What I would constantly do when she managed to get it out of my hands would be to immidiatly come up (which startled her) and then swat her on her shoulder or her knee if I didn't feel like coming up, grab her foot up again and hold it until she relaxed. Then, in the early stages, I would put it back down, but not after a while. After a while of doing this, I jst held it until I was done. But yes, make it your idea to put her foot down and do it consistantly on all four feet for a small while in one day so she gets the idea. If she paws, make her stop! That is baaaaaaad manners. When she does this, take your foot and tap it against her knee. Lighter then a hit, but harder then a baby tap. Or give her a pop on the elbow. One more thing would be (if nothing else works or if she's doing this too many times) to clip her to the lead rope and make her walk a hard walk (either lunge or back up; unless your up to keeping step with her at a brisk walk for her) Do this for a few minutes, then let her rest and ask for the feet again. One of the things to keep in mind when disciplining a horse with anything is to make it unpleasant when they disobey. The consequences vary with the actions, but once they learn that "Disobey=unpleasant/Obey=comfort(/reward)" they will be more willing to listen to you.

10-26-2007, 09:36 PM	#10
cminor Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hot Texas Posts: 2,690 Images: 336	^^What Rosie said. We had a big gelding that used to be horrible about picking up his feet. When we first got him he had to get sedated to get trimmed/shod. My friend, a trainer, worked with him some and it really helped. Anytime that he would act bad she would back him real hard and fast, try again, he would be bad, back him again over and over again, and he finally got it. Now he stands like a champ, no problems, if he acts the least bit silly at all I back him up once and he is fine. Right after this the farrier was here and I warned him what I was going to do if he was bad and he was, the farrier let him go and I backed the living daylights out of him, and then he stood fine. It does help if you use a rope halter to get their attention a little better as well. Maybe you can try this, most horses do not like to back and they will normally get the picture that either I stand here and let them pick up my feet or I am gonna have to back up. Repetition is the key. If you need more info just pm me.