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Horse Behavior and Training

Collapsing while cleaning hooves

By:

lclark

Date:

2010-Nov-05 at 10:51PM

Our mare has started to collapse herself when you're picking her front hooves. She just leans backwards and down, forcing me to drop her foot. I've had a bit of success of watching for her movement and elbowing her in her armpit but I'm wondering if anyone else has had this happen and any ideas on what's going on? Her feet and legs are fine; no injuries that I know of....
thanks

vicci - UK (North Wales) 2010-Nov-06 at 01:17AM

Please stop 'elbowing her in her armpit' this can cause her pain and she will increase her desire to find ways of not letting you pick her feet up!

Can I suggest that you look at Monty's 'Advance and retreat' method and go back to the beginning as if you have never picked her feet up before and gradually increase the timeyou hold her feet up...the reward being the release/you moving away when she stands quietly. I suggest you also invest in a Dually so you can utilise that to help (again please study Montys DVD that comes with it very carefully).

Once little tip that may help start things off...I assume you always pick the feet up in the same order and her front feet while facing her tail (most of us do!). First change the order of feet...may distract her attention so she doesn't know which foot is next till you get there. Second try facing her head and run your hands down her front legs and just gently take the weight of the foot in your hand and then put it straight back back down again - see how she responds. You will of course need to eventually go back to the 'usual' way (i.e. facing her tail) but this is just a way to get things started and to avoid her anticipating what you are doing. If you are not absolutely confident about getting the timing right on the 'advance/retreat' method and/or using the Dually, please consider getting some professional help in.

This is a problem that is relatively easy to resolve if handled correctly and nipped in the bud, otherise it can escalate to a serious level and I promise, elbowing her will not help :-)

Good luck.

Jessy 2010-Nov-06 at 02:08AM

I just posted a comment today about a new horse I am training who reaches to bite my rear when picking up her left front foot. I have turned to face her head instead which did work the one time I tried it. I left the leg alone after that today as a reward and will try again tomorrow.The other times my response has been to back her upa few steps.?.