I also have to just hold it until she relaxes but she has gotten better at not being so nervous with this over time. lesion on Aria’s butt is a wart, when its clearly a sarcoid. 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. Jump to Latest Follow Status Not open for further replies. I have always had a hard time picking up my Percheron's hooves, especially the hind feet. Reddit. 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. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. A simple test would be can he pivot on his back legs in a fluid motion? If the hoof is not picked and a stone becomes lodged in the hoof, it's possible the weight of the horse could push the stone right through the sole, which can have serious consequences. So, I have been working on that. This is what I want her to do. 1) If one is using this technique then one would stand opposite the horse's right shoulder facing backwards. Not that you'd expect a farrier to do that on a horse who wasn't very well trained, spook proof and gentle. Horse hoof picking. In damp ground the packed in mud, holds moisture and softens the hoof. I will admit...it never occurred to me that horses needed to be “taught” to lift their back hooves. Horse Breeds, Breeding, Genetics & Conformation, VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter, Suite 901, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. Come join the discussion about breeding, grooming, reviews, health, behavior, housing, adopting, care, classifieds, and more! Not to mention, the farrier uses food to get Aria to consent to this...which isnt my favourite since the horse is a bit food aggressive to begin with. 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. It can be very subtle and the first sign could be nothing more than a change in his head and neck position when you ask for something.. My farrier says he is just being a "typical draft" and my vet checked him out fairly briefly, flexed a hind leg, and said she saw no evidence of EPSM or stiffness, although she didn't rule out is having a touch of arthritis (Ahab is seventeen). Many owners only clean hooves when it’s time to ride or before the farrier arrives. The best way to learn how to pick is by working with your farrier. If I hold it tightly, he tries to jerk it away. my gelding had so much ice/snow packed into his front hooves he was literally walking on like balls of it. If she did lean I would take the end of a hoof pick and shove it into her ribs with a NO, not hard enough to hurt her but enough to make it uncomfortable so she wouldn't immediately lean. Star will yank her feet up really fast as though she's afraid if she doesn't she'll be in trouble. 15.4k votes, 900 comments. Was trying to avoid a copyright issue by not stealing a picture of a horse off the internet. 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. However, I’m fairly sure that what I see as anxiety really is anxiety. thats helpful. Who knows but it worked ever after. The rest he was good with. Farrier started on right front, rh, lh. So, farrier’s medical advice is not to be taken too seriously. *I* did not create a situation where this horse becomes aggressive with people who try and feed her or offer her treats. Then it dawned on me, change the sequence. A horse pick will help dislodge all the dirt, manure, and debris that gets trapped in your horse’s hooves. 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. Using Reddit. 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. I picked my horse's hooves and sometimes I noticed this white crumbly substance. 2. 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. As the horse bends the leg to move, one can then catch the fetlock as the horse picks up the foot. 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? How can I make picking out feet easier? So satisfying Cleaning the hooves and the stud holes of Reintje the Friesian horse. 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. A forum community dedicated to horse owners and enthusiasts. It will also make your horse more comfortable. 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. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. ... For those little things that are inexplicably satisfying. Posted by 4 months ago. My farrier would do the same except rest the top side of the hoof on top of his boot to trim. Keep a watch out, it could be something as simple as sore hocks to something as severe as a neurological issue. Farrier had worked on the gelding a lot of years before it got to the point he needed some extra considerations so knew him well. But I really am doing the best I can. :runninghorse2: I used to own a gelding that became unbalanced and would stumble when you picked up a hind hoof, long story short the vet diagnosed him with epm. JavaScript is disabled. Huh. 4 years ago. I know people who split their time between working in hawaii and working in los angeles, some of them are horse people. This is better for the horse. Horses experience this within the first couple weeks of life. The best way to solve that problem is to teach him that having his legs handled isn’t a big deal. By watching our informative videos, you will learn everything about Friesian horses. EPSM and shivers are both draft ailments that manifest as general hindend weakness and instability. Every horse I’ve ever picked had already been taught to do it right. Horses' hooves are very sensitive, so it's important you know what you're doing before you try to trim them. Massage your horse’s legs, hose them off after a hard riding session, wrap them with care, etc. A hoof pick and be found at any tack store, or a store that sells supplies for horses. Because I’m a bit inclined to think this is 80% bad habit, and only 20% physical. One of the most athletic and versatile horse breeds! I'd be busy trying shift his weight so he couldn't lean. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. 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. Okay. My trail horse was a pro at dropping his left shoulder and leaning most of his weight on the farrier. I did this with my draft mare and she is a lot better now. Lift from the front side the hoof closest to the front hooves and push the hoof backwards away from he horse. 687. 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. about careers press advertise blog. 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. For those little things that are inexplicably satisfying. 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. Press J to jump to the feed. My farrier says he is just being a "typical draft". While it is important to trim overgrown hooves, it's also important not to trim them too short. 687. 2) Bend forwards slightly enabling your right hand to slide down the back of the horse's right leg. He's gotten away with it for so long why should he hold up his feet. They don't usually know how to balance themselves to stay upright and start literally falling over on one side. I've done some horse riding in hawaii on various islands and seen some ranches, especially on maui where the animals are really well cared for. I’ll work with her a bit more and see if I can find something that works better for her physiology. 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. “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. Picking Horse's Hooves To pick out your horse's hooves, first you need a hoof pick. While he didn't have any pronounced arthritis he did have general stiffness. Join. User account menu. It sounds like classic draft horse stuff: legs like immovable posts; if I leaned on him to shift his weight, he leaned back harder. However, it didn't take too long with me being consistent for her to respond very well. I believe some woo-woo things. 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. It's almost comical but it shows it can be done. Growing up I rode a school horse that did the same thing, but it was due to an old tendon injury. Without solid, sound feet, you have no horse, so understanding hoof anatomy is extremely important. If your farrier recommends it, coat your horse’s hooves with a moisturizing dressing when grooming. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. I'd call the touristy horse folks and get a clue from them. JC 5/19/85 - 12/9/14. Sorry. Stand next to one, again facing the opposite direction of the horse's face. 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. You made my life better. There may well be a physical component. 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. Aug 6, 2016 - Q: Sometimes when I’m picking out my horse’s hooves, he tries to put his foot down. Can he easily back? When a horse demands to put it's hoof down, I chase it out on the lunge for 3 circles. Close. 4.9m members in the oddlysatisfying community. 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. When picking out a horse hoof, debris such as sand, dirt, hay, and other foreign materials are removed. Picking Up A Horse's Hoof - By Jeffrey Rolo. This was pretty much how I taught my first horse almost everything, and it was very effective. If he does not have EPSM, a high fat diet is the best diet for him anyway. Horse hoof picking. Support the ankle with your hand and pick it like you did the front. You must have a farrier you use, right? Allowing it to flex more. Log In Sign Up. You very well could be dealing with a physical issue. Picking out hooves is a very important skill, and should be done daily before and after riding to help keep the horse sound and from going lame. I check for rocks but unless I feel something wrong in the stride (Like Lilian on this) I do not pick a horse's hooves. I have always had a hard time picking up my Percheron's hooves, especially the hind feet. 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. Every horse I’ve ever picked had already been taught to do it right. Novia will barely lift her foot off of the ground, but she's kind of lazy. If I were there trying to take on some horses, and needed better resources I'd try calling them and ask who they use. The horse, if you were in a strength battle, will always win. The idea of picking up a horse’s hooves can intimidate some owners since a well-placed horse kick would really hurt! 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. :runninghorse2:Ride Canada's National Horse-the Canadian Horse. But first things first: Here are the steps to take to properly and safely pick a horse’s hoof: Ensure your horse is haltered and securely tied, or that an assistant is holding him. For horses with stall access, picking their feet and giving them time in a clean, ... horses with brittle, weak hooves or frequent shoe pulling might benefit from additional biotin in their diet. As soon as he starts kicking though I let go, because there is no way you could ever win a fight over a horse. Why? Come join the discussion about breeding, grooming, reviews, health, behavior, housing, adopting, care, classifieds, and more! It might just be Lazyitis. 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. I'd keep ahold of his foot and tell him to relax until he brought it down and rested the toe on the ground like in your first picture. He started to recover but had to be euthanized after a bad fall. made me think of these guys. If your horse has weak hoof walls consider trying one of the many feed supplements that claim to benefit hoof growth. I've known a few horses who have moved to hawaii over the years, and I'm sure that they are well cared for. A: Training your horse to hold his foot up as long as you want is a bigger challenge than simply … Let the hoof naturally lift. 1 - 20 of 21 ... it never occurred to me that horses needed to be “taught” to lift their back hooves. The idea of picking up a horse's hooves can intimidate some owners since a well-placed horse kick would really hurt! I have three horses and they all lift their feet differently for picking and trimming. This woman shows how she cleans horses' hooves and bodies and it's oddly satisfying 襤 When he got to the left front the horse didn't lean. 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. Star will yank her feet up really fast as though she's afraid if she doesn't she'll be in trouble. Getting a young horse familiar with having their hooves picked is started by two people; one holding the horse… I have dealt with youngsters that will literally fall over when they are first getting their feet done with the farrier. As a horse spends most of its life outdoors, you need to perform a smart hoof care regime which involves cleaning their hooves regularly. And secondly, what she is inclined to do, and has been doing for the farrier for the last several years.. And I only strongarmed her into hoof picking this way a few times. R.I.P. Horses kick out of fear or dominance. (I know this because I sent a picture to the vet.) A forum community dedicated to horse owners and enthusiasts. I have to lift it manually higher (not excessively) to work on it. I like it! Treating for hooves with thrush, then turning the horse out into wet, muddy or manure packed ground conditions is counterproductive. I have to lift it manually higher (not excessively) to work on it. Once you have your hoof pick, you can begin. The equine hoof is extremely complex, but you wouldn’t know that just by looking at it. As you visually check your whole horse, look for any swelling or cuts around the foot. We're gonna get there, somehow! First let me say that most people OVER pick a horse's hooves. It sounds like classic draft horse stuff: legs like immovable posts; if I leaned on him to shift his weight, he leaned back harder. Picking Back Hooves and She Nearly Falls Over. You might have to teach your horse to … A horse’s hooves play a key role in its ability to survive and function. Has he/she said anything about it? Try picking up your drafts hooves each day for a few minutes, tap on them, then let it go. I get what you are saying about the resources. Or before the farrier arrives my gelding started doing it when he got to the vet. before you to! Away from he horse be in trouble well could be something as severe a. 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