| The idea of picking up a horse's hooves can | | | | his rear leg. Place yourself in the same position as |
| intimidate some owners since a well-placed horse | | | | you did with his front leg and do the process over |
| kick would really hurt! Such caution is good, but in | | | | again. |
| reality if you pick up a horse's hoof properly you | | | | There is a slight difference between lifting a rear |
| provide him with no leverage or ability to kick you. | | | | foot and front foot, even though your basic |
| This is a situation where a person's worst fears | | | | positioning and actions are nearly identical. When |
| can cause him to imagine an incident that is highly | | | | you lift your horse's rear foot he will probably |
| unlikely to occur with careful handling. | | | | give a little jerk that you might misinterpret as a |
| Here's how to safely pick up a horse's hoof: | | | | kick. This is a common reflex reaction among |
| Starting with the front hoof, approach your horse | | | | horses and nothing for you to worry about. |
| diagonally from his front so that he clearly knows | | | | Secondly, when you raise your horse's rear leg |
| you are there - you don't want to surprise him. | | | | you'll want to step into him a bit so that your hip |
| Place yourself even with his shoulder and make | | | | is underneath his leg. Rest his leg on your thigh, |
| sure to face his rear; you will both be facing | | | | grab his hoof and gently flex it upwards. By doing |
| opposite directions during the hoof picking process. | | | | this you lend him some support and more |
| Making sure that your feet aren't too close to the | | | | importantly the position of his leg and his flexed |
| horse's hoof, start running the hand parallel to him | | | | hoof will prevent him from being able to kick you. |
| down his shoulder and along the length of his leg, | | | | Clean the hoof, lower it cautiously as you did the |
| finally stopping just above his ankle. Gently grasp | | | | first and praise him. Congratulations - you're |
| the ankle portion and click (or otherwise verbally | | | | halfway done! The opposite side will be done |
| cue him) to ask him to raise his leg. If he's well | | | | exactly the same way, but try to return to his |
| trained, that small cue will be more than enough | | | | front and start the opposite side rather than |
| and he'll do just what you requested. You're now | | | | move around his rear. It's bad practice to |
| free to begin picking his hoof. | | | | approach or circle all but the most trusted horses |
| If your horse is being a bit stubborn or hasn't | | | | via the rear in such close quarters since a horse |
| learned how to pick up his legs yet try leaning into | | | | would be within range to strike. |
| his shoulder as you run your hand down the back | | | | When lifting any hoof try to make sure your |
| of his cannon bone. You can also gently squeeze | | | | horse is properly squared (balanced evenly on all |
| pinch the tendons to further cue him to what you | | | | four legs) so that when you lift one hoof he can |
| would like. As you perform these physical cues | | | | easily balance on his remaining three. At no time |
| make sure you provide a verbal one also (I make | | | | should the horse actually lean his weight on you! |
| a clicking sound) so the horse later associates | | | | Even when you rest his rear leg on your thigh |
| your sound with the requested response. Increase | | | | you're not allowing him to use you as a crutch. |
| the weight you push against his shoulder until he | | | | Once you have picked your horse's hooves a few |
| finally lifts his leg as requested. | | | | times it will probably become very simple and |
| When picking a horse's hoof you want to remove | | | | take less than 5 minutes to clear all hooves. Most |
| all debris from the hoof clefts as well as the rim | | | | trained horses will raise their hoof for you the |
| and frog. Be careful around the frog because it | | | | moment they feel your leg run down their leg. |
| can sometimes be a bit sensitive, particularly if | | | | It is a very good idea to control your horse's |
| the horse has thrush. | | | | head while you are picking his hooves. This can be |
| Once you have finished cleaning the front hoof | | | | done by attaching his halter to crossties or asking |
| carefully guide it back to the floor; you don't want | | | | a partner hold your horse's head. By controlling his |
| to allow the horse to slam it, potentially hitting | | | | head you ensure your horse can't move away |
| your foot in the process. Praise your horse and | | | | from you while you're trying to pick his hooves, |
| pat him on the front shoulder a bit so he | | | | or worse... turn around and take a bite at your |
| understands that you are pleased with his | | | | rear! |
| cooperation, then run your hand along his back to | | | | |