Picking out back feet, Nervous as all heck...

[mandagirl26]

I've done Mister's back feet before when other horsey people are around, but now that he's home I'm having a heck of a time getting him to give me his back hooves! He pulls his foot back like he's going to cow kick and then sets it down way over so I really get nervous to go grab it underneath him. I feel like he's getting my goat so to say... I do his front hooves no problems. He's a gentleman about those..
He was just trimmed last week at the other stable and I'm thinking maybe the farrier hurt him? I was not present for it, I got there after and the barn staff told me he was already finished...
What could I do? I took him out after he refused and lunged him and was too nervous to try it again without anyone around.

[ANN H]

I think you just need to practice and perservere (and try to get in a position where you can't get kicked, if that's possible!!) He'd probably be better tied up outside somewhere than in the stable. Good luck.

[SupaTania]

Max sometimes does this too, And i just get as close to his thigh as possible (if he kicks it'll be a shove more then anything else), and i grab hold of his foot. Sometimes he'll swing it around while I'm still holding on, but if i just keep holding, eventually he'll stop and let me pick them out.

Its a little nerve-wracking, but I'd rather be shoved aside, then have him buck or such while i'm on him because something is caught in his shoe and is bothering him.

[*Sez*]

Mine are so good about feet now :D Jake used to be really difficult until my parents went away for a fortnight and I was left to struggle with him. I started squeezing is chestnuts, and eventually he learnt to pick his feet up nicely and not to rest his weight on me.

Salsa knows his routine so well that he picks up every foot before I even get to it and he's never even tried to rest his weight on me.

Can't say I've really had a problem with them kicking out or seeming like they'll kick when I do their feet. Jake occasionally gets stroppy and puts his foot down too soon and on the odd occasion when he has looked like he was going to kick out, he got a smack on the rump and a "naughty boy!" You're probably best to keep persevering and getting Mister to know the routine. Once you're more confident, you'll probably find he becomes more relaxed about it all.

[smaggi]

When I pick up my horses back feet, I let him pull it in toward his stomach a bit. Then I wait until he relaxes, just a second or so, and bring it back so that I can hold it. All of our horses prefer to have their back feet handled this way. Our ferrier showed me that a few years ago.

I forgot to mention that my hand holding it when he picks it up.

[Wobblydeb]

Don't forget to put your hand to the inside of the foot once he has lifted - then your arm is out of the way if he does kick :)

[sidesaddlelady1]

Don't get yourself in a stew about it - the horse will pick it up and be worse.

[angelfben]

Pick his foot up and hold it, if he tries to snatch it away just keep hold of it, get nice and close to him and to the side (and keep your head out of the way) then if he does kick out he won't manage much of a kick especially if you've got hold of his leg. I've got a horse who will let you hold his feet for about 15 seconds then just kicks out repeatedly, the only way to get the job done is just grab it and hold on, they give in eventually :D

[vimto92]

You do put your bum towards his head don't you?

[angelfben]

Little bit more advice - letting you have his foot makes him quite vulnerable so he needs to trust you and feel confident in you. So if you go in with a worried or anxious attitude he will pick up on that and think "oh dear, something to be worried about!!" and snatch his foot away. So you need to go in bold as brass and pick his feet up, if he tries to snatch them away just hold them firmly and say "No" in a low and firm but not aggressive voice. If he still insists on snatching them even after you are sure it is just him being awkward then every time he snatches them away tell him "No!" and poke him hard a few times at the top of his thigh, it won't hurt him but it will make him uncomfortable and make him realise that if he misbehaves it has consequences, you might have to repeat this hundreds of times but he will get the message :)

[Guest]

Oh Grady always trys to kick me when I go near his back feet, I don't mind as at least it means he'll lift his back feet off the ground so I can catch them mid kick whereas he roots his front feet to the ground and I practically have to push him over to get them up.
It's official I am crazy :D

[SupaTania]

Yup its always amusing seeing a Max kicking out when someone else is attempting to pick out his feet and they all retreat and get scared. I go over, take hold of his foot, get as close to him as possible, and let him kick out as many times as he wants, eventually, he stops kicking, I still have his foot, and I can then pick it out while lecturing him that it'd be much easier if he just picked it up and let me have it right from the start.

[mandagirl26]

I am such a wuss..! thank you for all your kind replies.
Yes, my bum's to his head and he likes to check it out..haha..

"Wobblydeb- Don't forget to put your hand to the inside of the foot once he has lifted - then your arm is out of the way if he does kick "

I stand towards his bum, right next to his thigh and run my hand down (not firmly or too soft) on the back of his leg, he'll lift it then quickly jerk it away before I get my hand on his hoof.. most of the time he'll move it so his hoof will be way under next to his other back hoof.. cocked..
should I be running my hand down the front of his back leg to grab the hoof?.. He's not struck out at me ever. He's a pretty easygoing could care less about everything. I do worry a lot about the manner in which I approach him for the feet.
Good advice everyone..

Good Idea Smaggi.. I shall try it! I gotta grab that hoof before he pulls it completely away. Maybe I'm doing it too slow for him... then let him relax it..
It's definitely unnerving for me.. he's most likely picking up on it... I will have to go for it confidently.

[SupaTania]

From the sound of it, He's just trying to get away with not having his feet picked - rather then threatening to kick you. Max sometimes will do the same, He'll pull his foot in way over towards the other hoof. I just go in after it, Grap hold of it and pick it out. Just keep close to him and keep your head out of the zone, so if he does kick out, you won't get much of a blow.

Don't let him win, grab hold of those feet and pick them out. Also if he does start kicking while you have hold of him, I would normally just hold on. most of the kicks are not very violent or large, mostly just a wiggle to try and get you off his foot. :rolleyes:

[Aphrodite]

Don't worry about it, just BE CONFIDENT! :) Easier said than done, but if he doesn't think he'll get away with messing about he won't even try. Keep a hold of it unless it becomes dangerous. I, like others, was also told it's better to stay close if there's a kick in store (unless you are SERIOUSLY FAST!!! :) )
as you don't get the full externsion of the leg and the full power of the kick.

Some horses don't like it as it's hard to keep their balance, particularly if they don't have enough rope to lower their head to help them balance. A horse at the old yard used to like leaning on he wall to have back feet picked out. Notsure if it was a balance issue or if he was just lazy though.... :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[Aphrodite]

PS: Make sure you wear your hat!! :)

[mandagirl26]

OKAY!! Yes, I did it!.. Terrible isn't it when you are afraid of something minor..
Thanks for all your confidence boosters.. he was thinking he was going to get away with it I'm sure! I wore my hat just in case!
I had him away from the stable, friend holding the lead rope, did his front left hoof, then went right to the back and did his left back hoof.. no problems.
Did his front right hoof, then went for the back right hoof and he pulled it out of my hand... I grabbed the lead rope and spun him around in a circle and said stand, and then had my friend hold him again, I did the back right hoof no other fuss about it...I think he got the hint..
It's much easier for me when someone's here.. gives me a bit more confidence that if I do get clobbered, someone will call 911..hehe..
He was tied in his stall the other time I tried to pick out his hooves, and that may be why he was being a pickle. Plus, I'm sure he read my mind, felt my body language and knew I was unsure and nervous....
Thanks everyone!!..Hugs..