[fanzroper]

Does anyone have a good suggestion on picking up a horses hind legs with out getting kicked. I have a horse that has one set of shoes on and has been trimmed but I am too scared to pick up his hing legs. He is ok with is front legs. He is a little jumpy not sure if I can trust him. Any suggestions?

[Blistering Winds]

Start by petting down the croup, down the hips and down into the gaskin area. If he's quiet, continue down the cannon, but then come up before any kicking starts.

Then, just pet down. Sometimes they will pick it up while you are petting the leg. DON"T grab it. Just keep it up. Then when you feel a bit more comfy, grab the foot. Just hold it for a few seconds and let it go. Many horses may bounce their foot. Seems liek they are kicking, but that is when they are testing and getting comfy. They usually quit after a second or two. Just one of those things they do to aggrivate you. They want the foot, but don't dare kick out.

And if he does, GET AFTER HIM.

[Lil_Ladie0027]

Here is something I do....If I encounter a horse that is uncomfortable giving up his foot, I take a rope gently loop it around the foot UNDER THE FETLOCK JOINT then verbally ask him for his foot, then GENTLY lift his foot by pulling the rope. Even if the foot only lifts and moves a tiny bit that's ok. Do this daily as many times as you'd like, the more the better. This build a trust, the horse will understand that you are trustworthy with his feet. If he kicks out during this process get after him tell him NO! This technique is good because your at a safe distance from those powerful back feet. Eventually you will be able to pick up those feet higher and eventually without the rope. I'll see if I can find an illustration of what I'm talking about. Here ya go!
http://www.naturalhorsesupply.com/feet.shtml

[AshsStorm]

Try using a cane.. You hold the part that is usually on the ground and put the curved part around the horses hoof like you would do with your hand.. This usually works pretty good with first time babies..

[CanadianWrangler]

Originally Posted by AshsStorm

Try using a cane.. You hold the part that is usually on the ground and put the curved part around the horses hoof like you would do with your hand.. This usually works pretty good with first time babies..

I would highly NOT recommend doing this with any horse. Larger horses will have sufficient muscling in their hind1/4 to over power most anyones grip on the cane. And if not then they will be kicking into a solid object and to them they will view it as a potential injury source.

I would have to agree with Blistering Winds on this subject. Time patience and consistent handling and working on the problem will be best.

Just to add to this I will tell of how to position yourself safely:

For lifting the left hind leg you should position yourself with your left hand on the point of the horses hip. In this hand you can also hold the lead rope if you don't wish to tie your horse. With your right hand do as BlisteringWinds instructed. With your left hand on the horses hip you can push back from the horse if it tries to turn into you or use it as an anchor point to lift your upper body away from the horses hind leg.

If he kicks when attempting to lift a hind leg give him/her a slap by the gaskin as punishment. Then start over again.

[Blistering Winds]

Yes, Please no cane. If the horse bolts or kicks out, the rope will not break bone!!! A cane can hurt the horse AND handler. Man, I can see being cane whipped!!!

A rope is good. Be sure it is COTTON as it doesn't burn like Nylon does!!!!

But just "Cradle" the foot with it. DO't wrap it, tie it, etc.

[gingersnaps2002]

Yeah,a rope just loosely slung around the pastern helps.Once the foot is up,then I just pick it up and hold it in my hand.A tip is to NOT hold around the whole circumference of the pastern,just cradle it in your hand.I have watched a show about taht and said if your hand is around the whole pastern,it makes the horse want to get it out more than if its just cradled loosely. If the horse pulls it away or tries to kick,smack him on the leg or hip,then try again.

[Blistering Winds]

At first, it is best to hold the cannon. Until they learn you aren't going to eat their feet.

THen, as they progress and stop kicking out, then move into the pastern area and mess with the hoof.

[lozzie_1]

if your horse is nervous when you try to pic up his back feet then jus fuss around with his hind legs by jus brushing them all the time and running ur hand dwn his leg but dont try and pick his hoof up until he's comfertable with you runnig ur hand dwn his leg.
This is what i done with my pony as she had been battered by previous owners and was teriffied if you went past her flanks. So all i done was kept brushing by her flanks and smoothing her by there and moved a little bit futher towards her hind legs each day. I finally maneged to brush right dwn to her fetlock joint it takes a while though but its worth it as ur horse will gain more trust in you if you take ur time rather than jus rushing straight in an grabbing his hoof.
hope it all works out for u and good luck.

[QHlover]

First of all, make sure that you are calm and sure about the situation first. Your horse can sense your tension and apprehensiveness about picking up his back hooves. And like BW said, take time with this. Start with just rubbing down the legs without any intentions on picking them. Then start asking for your horse just to lift his leg for you. I like to run my hand down his leg and if he doesn't life it, squeeze the skin on the top of the hock (the loose skin) until he lifts it then release and rub his leg. Eventually, he will lift his leg for you as you rub down his leg. This works for me. My mare, all I have to do is rub down the back of her leg and she knows to pick it up for me or I will squeeze her hock. But make sure to be consistent. A verbal cue is really not necessary. Your horse will learn that when you rub down his leg, you mean to pick his hooves. Hope this helps.

-Bekah-