basic question - picking out hooves

[K&K]

there's a pony at my barn that i have to deal with often. she's all around a well behaved pony (13.3hh), but she refuses to pick up her left fore. i've tried different techniques like leaning into until she shifts her weight and i can pick up the hoof while she's trying to keep her balance, leaving that hoof until last, etc., etc., but she's sooo stubborn. any suggestions?

thanks!

[Speedy]

Try pinching the chesnut between thumb and forefinger and she should lift her leg up

[Piaffe]

IS she being stubborn, or is there a problem with her leg/foot?

She may have pain in the opposite leg or foot and be reluctant to put all her weight on it.

My friends horse for a long time would not lift up one of his front feet - she thought he was being stubborn too. But one of the farriers looked at him and found he had an abscess in the foot!!It is worth having her feet/legs checked.

If she IS being stubborn, try running your hand down the back of the front leg, grab her by the fetlock hair, lean into her shoulder and bring the leg up. Be careful that she doesn't stamp her foot back down onto yours though!!

[lamprellsarah]

yeah she may be in pain it's owrth getting it checked.

if she's being stubbon, apparently horses have a area on their knee or hock which is like our funny bone!!
i actually tried squezing her hock when she was being awkward and her foot did come up!!!
i really can't find the web page at the mo at show you where to squeeze!! i will carry on looking!!

[Dizzy]

If she picks up the other three feet with no problem, I'd say she has pain in her right front foot/leg. I'd be very surprized to see a horse pick up three legs and then be stubborn about the fourth for no good reason.

Lesley