How do you pick up a horse's feet?

[Skib]

Well anyone? How do you pick up a horse's feet?
What are the safety rules?
And do they differ between the UK and the USA?

I got OH to watch another of Leslie Desmond's excelent videos for children. This time the one on leading, picking up feet etc.

It seemed to be advocating the opposite of what I remembered from the Pony Club Manual. But when I looked at the Pony Club manual, even with the photos it didnt seem clear.
And picking up feet isnt properly described in my Stage 1 book either. No wonder me and my student escort got confused when she was supposed to be showing me last summer.

Perhaps eml or someone on NR who teaches children and is up to date with what the BHS wants, could post simple instructions for both front and hind legs? I'd be very grateful.

It is not that I cant do it, in the way I think safe. I do it all the time. It is that I cant be certain what is the correct way to teach someone else.

[coss]

let the horse know your there (think thats the obvious one)

fronts
run your hand (the one closes to the horse) down the shoulder and down the back of the foreleg. gently squeeze the feathers and/or slightly pull the feathers upwards. when the hoof is picked up catch it in your hand and pick the hoof out.

hinds

to move from front to back you should officially run your hand along the horse, as long as the horse knows where you are ;)
make sure when you go to pick up the hind hoof that you go down the inside of the hind leg from the front. do NOT go down the back as if the horse kicks out it can break your arm :eek: support the hoof again and clean it out.

hope that helps, my explanations are never all that clear :o