Stubborn abt lifting hoof to clean...

[bsnlark]

Suggestions please...................

I am having trouble w/ Mr. Moe ( morpheous ). He does not like to and wont lift his feet for cleaning.
I finally figured out the rotation pattern and can get the 1st hoof ( rt front ) up off the ground to get most of the muck out before he leans or buckles and drops.
My problem is the Left front. For the life of me, I cant get that mutha off the ground. He puts his full weight on it, keeps the whole leg stiff and moves backwards before crashing.

Not knowing much of his history, I dont know if hes had an injury previously, if this is just somethng he does for his own amusement or ? One cleaning session we had, I had him backed into the corner of the stall, maybe having something to lean on helped..??
...........I have nerve damage in my hands, the arthritis in my hands ( i wish it belonged to someone else and would go back home ) is getting pretty ugly, herniated discs in neck, bad lower back, plus Im feeling mighty O L D.
So without cooperation from my buddy Mr Moe, his feet are getting bad ...

[cutiepiepmu]

When I have a horse that has issues picking up or holding up feet this is what I do.

First- i use a 100% cotton thick lead rope. I loop it around the pasturn area above the hoof - but DO NOT clip the rope. i make a loop then twist the rope so it fits snug, but will release asap if I needed it to. THEN - I stuff my pockets with my horses favorite treets and arm myself with my handy dandy stick(pink clinton anderson stick - but dressage whip would work)

I start off by grooming the horse, touching all over, loving on them. THEN - I pick the toughest foot - loop the rope around, twist and stand at the side of the horse facing ahead towards their head(so stand sideways next to the horse) Stand fairly close, but don't touch the horse. Then, I apply pressure to the rope while using my other hand to lightly tap the back part of the leg below the knee. I tap, tap tap tap tap gradually increasing the pressure of the tap all the while applying gentle pressure on the rope. the SECOND I get a response with the foot being moved AT ALL - I imediately stop all pressure from the whip and the rope around the leg - praise alot - and give a treat. I will do this repeatedly until the horse gets the idea - then, once they will easily pick up the foot with a single tap - I ask them to hold it up for a second. It takes a little time, but they get the idea and then hold the foot up when just tapped.

Use the rope, it keeps you from having to bend over or from getting tired trying to drag on the leg. It also turns it into a bit of a game for your horse.

work on this for about 5-10 minutes, then go do something else with them that he already knows - lunge or whatever else. THEN, come back to it. I do this every day with all of my horses - although, now I don't need the rope I just point to the foot with my finger and they pick up the leg and hold it up! The bonus here? My farrier LOVES working on my horses feet

i am sure others might have great ideas - but that is what has worked for me. i figured this method out working with ex-pmu mares that were drafts. They were skiddish and weird about their feet - AND they are BIG! LOL So, didn't want to have my head quite that close!

Take care,
Sara

[~figi~]

Could it be more like it hurts to lift he leg or have weight on the rt front? My old guy hurt so bad to have his feet cleaned. Maybe you could give him some bute the day befor. I like sara's rope idea if you have help you could also try walking him and try and grap his foot when he walks forward. If he lays down and will let you walk up to him you could try and clean them then. My mare hates it when I give her chestnuts a little pinch and will pick her foot up when I do that. Good luck

[bsnlark]

Thank you very much for the tip !!!

All the rest of the 'clan' are easier to deal with.
Buckwheat is the only one, tho , that will pick up her feet w/ the pointing method .
I think Mort will pick up the "tapping" method, he just puts full weight on the leg. Its like trying to pull a full grown alder out by its roots...

[cat67]

I have two mares that have bad knees in front and I always pick their hooves with them backed into the corner of the stall so that they can lean. It makes them feel safer, and gives them something to lean on that is not my aching back!

[Gingersmom-Tate]

With many attempts to find the best way to clean feet on Ginger with her poor knees, we found a great solution, Neil constructed a ramp, so her front feet were higher than her back feet, it shifts the weight to the back end and made foot work much better for her and me. For a horse with one foot hesitation, I find with Dixie, it's her good foot she does like lifting, because she dont like putting weight on the sore one, so that foot gets the speedy treatment.

[bsnlark]

Nov 14, 2008 13:46:31 GMT -5 cat67 said:

I have two mares that have bad knees in front and I always pick their hooves with them backed into the corner of the stall so that they can lean. It makes them feel safer, and gives them something to lean on that is not my aching back!

Thanks Cat, I think this may be his problem. Not having ridden him, and he doesnt show Knee problems or act like they bother him, it still could be the answer.

So, go stand in the corner, Mort ;D

edit to add :
Laughed myself silly this evening...Spent abt 20 mins with Mort trying to pick the ' just right ' corner to fit his butt.
and that was for just one foot...

We were successful ...............

Mort ran out in the mud to celebrate....sigh

Tomorrow he starts his first 'Tap' class...

I just hope he wont want shoes once he gets really good at it

[bsnlark]

Ferrier was out yesturday.....
Mort made a "liar" out of me....hahahha
Of course the ferrier had no trouble at all lifting his feet nor did Mort wobble...

Comes down to user error;had my backside out toooo far and apparently pulling his leg ( sotospeak) out instead of squaring up

[murph]

I have found that instead of struggling to lift the foot once they start to give a little, I just adjust it to put their toe on the ground, so they cannot put weight on it. I immediately back off as long as they will keep their toe on the ground. After getting comfortable with this, they are more willing to have it lifted because they are used to not having it for support, but don't feel "trapped" by my holding on to it. It doesn't seem to take long for them to make the adjustment after this and you can start picking it out while they have it pointed and resting on the ground. I just gradually work up to the lifting and holding. It has worked well for me with horses that don't like there back feet handled, kinda gives them a bridge between learning to give the foot and having to hold it up.

Edited to add: It would probably work for front feet too, I have just always had an easier time training those to come up. Next time I will read the post more carefully before I reply. ;D