However, I’m fairly sure that what I see as anxiety really is anxiety. Without solid, sound feet, you have no horse, so understanding hoof anatomy is extremely important. A simple test would be can he pivot on his back legs in a fluid motion? Getting a young horse familiar with having their hooves picked is started by two people; one holding the horse… Each day do it for a little loner, if they pull back then make a sound that is guttural or a firm NO and hold it then let the hoof down. Such caution is good, but in reality if you pick up a horse's hoof properly you provide him with no leverage or ability to kick you. I like it! Log In Sign Up. So satisfying Cleaning the hooves and the stud holes of Reintje the Friesian horse. When he got to the left front the horse didn't lean. In damp ground the packed in mud, holds moisture and softens the hoof. Try picking up your drafts hooves each day for a few minutes, tap on them, then let it go. One of the most athletic and versatile horse breeds! I have always had a hard time picking up my Percheron's hooves, especially the hind feet. It might just be Lazyitis. Horses kick out of fear or dominance. I know people who split their time between working in hawaii and working in los angeles, some of them are horse people. Farrier started on right front, rh, lh. Yes, I was not overly impressed by the quick non-diagnosis, but I figured, if Ahab has got EPSM, he should be on a high fat diet. A hoof that is trimmed too short can cause the horse discomfort and can impact its gait. When a horse demands to put it's hoof down, I chase it out on the lunge for 3 circles. lesion on Aria’s butt is a wart, when its clearly a sarcoid. But that doesn't mean that the resources you need don't exist there at all, it might just take more searching to find them. Once you have your hoof pick, you can begin. We're gonna get there, somehow! about careers press advertise blog. A horse’s hooves play a key role in its ability to survive and function. :runninghorse2:Ride Canada's National Horse-the Canadian Horse. Growing up I rode a school horse that did the same thing, but it was due to an old tendon injury. Picking Up A Horse's Hoof - By Jeffrey Rolo. Picking Back Hooves and She Nearly Falls Over Here’s a question: So when I started with with Aria, when I went to pick up her back hoof, instead of bending at her hock joint, she would cock her leg waaaaaay up—like she was getting ready to kick. Horse Breeds, Breeding, Genetics & Conformation, VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter, Suite 901, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. Can he easily back? Massage your horse’s legs, hose them off after a hard riding session, wrap them with care, etc. JC 5/19/85 - 12/9/14. As soon as he starts kicking though I let go, because there is no way you could ever win a fight over a horse. 1.First, stand on the left side of your horse, facing the horse's tail. Then it dawned on me, change the sequence. Lift from the front side the hoof closest to the front hooves and push the hoof backwards away from he horse. When picking out a horse hoof, debris such as sand, dirt, hay, and other foreign materials are removed. I have dealt with youngsters that will literally fall over when they are first getting their feet done with the farrier. I'd be busy trying shift his weight so he couldn't lean. my gelding had so much ice/snow packed into his front hooves he was literally walking on like balls of it. I have to lift it manually higher (not excessively) to work on it. This woman shows how she cleans horses' hooves and bodies and it's oddly satisfying 襤 Jump to Latest Follow Status Not open for further replies. Huh. Horse hoof picking. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. i tried to pick it out but it was so rock solid there was no way i could even scrape or anything at all, so i couldnt get it off. As the horse bends the leg to move, one can then catch the fetlock as the horse picks up the foot. If I hold it tightly, he tries to jerk it away. A forum community dedicated to horse owners and enthusiasts. Okay. Join. I have to lift it manually higher (not excessively) to work on it. So, I have been working on that. Has he/she said anything about it? Once his feet are up in your hand he rests his weight in your hand and then often slams his foot down when he's had enough. The best way to learn how to pick is by working with your farrier. The rest he was good with. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. JavaScript is disabled. The best way to solve that problem is to teach him that having his legs handled isn’t a big deal. Who knows but it worked ever after. He started to recover but had to be euthanized after a bad fall. EPSM and shivers are both draft ailments that manifest as general hindend weakness and instability. Laela will lift her back feet high and I just hold on to it until she relaxes it down so I can work on it. Foreign objects like dirt, mud, rocks, stones, and snow can get lodged in the frog and sole of the hooves, which not only causes the horse discomfort but can allow nasty equine diseases to develop and spread to other horses and humans. So, yeah. User account menu. First let me say that most people OVER pick a horse's hooves. But I really am doing the best I can. My horse likes to kick when I pick them up, but after tons of thumb into his butts, sore hands, and a tired horse, after the twentieth time then he gives up. Just because you aren't at a barn where there's a vet around 24/7 doesn't mean there isn't one willing to come out with their fancy gear to take a look. Come join the discussion about breeding, grooming, reviews, health, behavior, housing, adopting, care, classifieds, and more! Novia will barely lift her foot off of the ground, but she's kind of lazy. I believe some woo-woo things. Was trying to avoid a copyright issue by not stealing a picture of a horse off the internet. My gelding started doing it when he got in his mid 20's. Not trying to scare you, just sharing my encounter. Many owners only clean hooves when it’s time to ride or before the farrier arrives. A horse pick will help dislodge all the dirt, manure, and debris that gets trapped in your horse’s hooves. Horses experience this within the first couple weeks of life. Picking Horse's Hooves To pick out your horse's hooves, first you need a hoof pick. If he does not have EPSM, a high fat diet is the best diet for him anyway. www.horseforum.com/horse-health/hoof-lameness-info-horse-owners-89836/, https://www.horseforum.com/members/4160/album/chestnut-5339/pictures-128437.jpg, VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter, Suite 901, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. Reddit. *I* did not create a situation where this horse becomes aggressive with people who try and feed her or offer her treats. My trail horse was a pro at dropping his left shoulder and leaning most of his weight on the farrier. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. 1) If one is using this technique then one would stand opposite the horse's right shoulder facing backwards. I’ll work with her a bit more and see if I can find something that works better for her physiology. You very well could be dealing with a physical issue. Daily observation — including picking out all four hooves — is one of the easiest ways to know what’s happening with your horse’s feet. The horse, if you were in a strength battle, will always win. Treating for hooves with thrush, then turning the horse out into wet, muddy or manure packed ground conditions is counterproductive. Stand next to one, again facing the opposite direction of the horse's face. Press J to jump to the feed. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. “A lot of people don’t even put eyes on their horses’ feet every day. She just sees me going towards her foot with a hoof pick and she picks her foot up now.....so it is possible and not a 'typical' draft thing like I have also heard before. It will also make your horse more comfortable. thats helpful. Aug 6, 2016 - Q: Sometimes when I’m picking out my horse’s hooves, he tries to put his foot down. 4 years ago. “If you ask a horse to do more than his physical conditioning permits, then, as he fatigues, his risk of stumbling and not picking his feet up high enough will increase,” she says. Close. Novia will barely lift her foot off of the ground, but she's kind of lazy. Because I’m a bit inclined to think this is 80% bad habit, and only 20% physical. It sounds like classic draft horse stuff: legs like immovable posts; if I leaned on him to shift his weight, he leaned back harder. You must have a farrier you use, right? I never used it for picking up his feet, as we started than when he was just a baby, so it was never an issue. (I know this because I sent a picture to the vet.) I will admit...it never occurred to me that horses needed to be “taught” to lift their back hooves. If your horse has weak hoof walls consider trying one of the many feed supplements that claim to benefit hoof growth. Using Reddit. They need to have their animals in peak condition for idiots who want to ride a horse in hawaii and being a business they probably have access to those resources. This is what I want her to do. While he didn't have any pronounced arthritis he did have general stiffness. 4.9m members in the oddlysatisfying community. R.I.P. made me think of these guys. It sounds like classic draft horse stuff: legs like immovable posts; if I leaned on him to shift his weight, he leaned back harder. This is better for the horse. I have three horses and they all lift their feet differently for picking and trimming. Is that just part of her hoof when I pick it, is that normal, is it a fungus or something to be concerned about at all? Once his feet are up in your hand he rests his weight in your hand and then often slams his foot down when he's had enough. Not that you'd expect a farrier to do that on a horse who wasn't very well trained, spook proof and gentle. There may well be a physical component. If you have a good farrier who is patient and quiet with the horses, you can line up the horse along a stall door and that gives them something to lean against the first couple of times when they learn to get their feet done. Support the ankle with your hand and pick it like you did the front. The equine hoof is extremely complex, but you wouldn’t know that just by looking at it. I get what you are saying about the resources. Horses' hooves are very sensitive, so it's important you know what you're doing before you try to trim them. i pick my horses hooves out in the mornings to get rid of any ice or snow build up they might be walking on, and boy oh boy this morning was a doozy. JavaScript is disabled. There's a gal on youtube who taps a draft horse's hip with her pick and his picks up and holds his hoof high for her to clean. For those little things that are inexplicably satisfying. So, farrier’s medical advice is not to be taken too seriously. My farrier would do the same except rest the top side of the hoof on top of his boot to trim. The idea of picking up a horse’s hooves can intimidate some owners since a well-placed horse kick would really hurt! 687. I'd call the touristy horse folks and get a clue from them. She always follows with a treat.Horses quickly figure out that if they lean or drop a hip some dumb person will hold the leg up for them. You made my life better. This was pretty much how I taught my first horse almost everything, and it was very effective. Posted by 4 months ago. A hoof pick and be found at any tack store, or a store that sells supplies for horses. 687. Picking out the dirt can help prevent infection from bacteria and fungus. Laela will lift her back feet high and I just hold on to it until she relaxes it down so I can work on it. If I were there trying to take on some horses, and needed better resources I'd try calling them and ask who they use. My farrier says he is just being a "typical draft". You might have to teach your horse to … 2) Bend forwards slightly enabling your right hand to slide down the back of the horse's right leg. However, it didn't take too long with me being consistent for her to respond very well. 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