The idea of picking up a horse's hooves can intimidate some owners since a well-placed horse kick would really hurt! 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. This is a situation where a person's worst fears can cause him to imagine an incident that is highly unlikely to occur with careful handling.
Here's how to safely pick up a horse's hoof:
Starting with the front hoof, approach your horse diagonally from his front so that he clearly knows you are there ? you don't want to surprise him. Place yourself even with his shoulder and make sure to face his rear; you will both be facing opposite directions during the hoof picking process.
Making sure that your feet aren't too close to the horse's hoof, start running the hand parallel to him down his shoulder and along the length of his leg, finally stopping just above his ankle. Gently grasp the ankle portion and click (or otherwise verbally cue him) to ask him to raise his leg. If he's well trained, that small cue will be more than enough and he'll do just what you requested. You're now free to begin picking his hoof.
If your horse is being a bit stubborn or hasn't learned how to pick up his legs yet try leaning into his shoulder as you run your hand down the back of his cannon bone. You can also gently squeeze/pinch the tendons to further cue him to what you would like. As you perform these physical cues make sure you provide a verbal one also (I make a clicking sound) so the horse later associates your sound with the requested response. Increase the weight you push against his shoulder until he finally lifts his leg as requested.
When picking a horse's hoof you want to remove all debris from the hoof clefts as well as the rim and frog. Be careful around the frog because it can sometimes be a bit sensitive, particularly if the horse has thrush.
Once you have finished cleaning the front hoof carefully guide it back to the floor; you don't want to allow the horse to slam it, potentially hitting your foot in the process. Praise your horse and pat him on the front shoulder a bit so he understands that you are pleased with his cooperation, then run your hand along his back to his rear leg. Place yourself in the same position as you did with his front leg and do the process over again.
There is a slight difference between lifting a rear foot and front foot, even though your basic positioning and actions are nearly identical. When you lift your horse's rear foot he will probably give a little jerk that you might misinterpret as a kick. This is a common reflex reaction among horses and nothing for you to worry about.
Secondly, when you raise your horse's rear leg you'll want to step into him a bit so that your hip is underneath his leg. Rest his leg on your thigh, grab his hoof and gently flex it upwards. By doing this you lend him some support and more importantly the position of his leg and his flexed hoof will prevent him from being able to kick you.
Clean the hoof, lower it cautiously as you did the first and praise him. Congratulations ? you're halfway done! The opposite side will be done exactly the same way, but try to return to his front and start the opposite side rather than move around his rear. It's bad practice to approach or circle all but the most trusted horses via the rear in such close quarters since a horse would be within range to strike.
When lifting any hoof try to make sure your horse is properly squared (balanced evenly on all four legs) so that when you lift one hoof he can easily balance on his remaining three. At no time should the horse actually lean his weight on you! Even when you rest his rear leg on your thigh you're not allowing him to use you as a crutch.
Once you have picked your horse's hooves a few times it will probably become very simple and take less than 5 minutes to clear all hooves. Most trained horses will raise their hoof for you the moment they feel your leg run down their leg.
It is a very good idea to control your horse's head while you are picking his hooves. This can be done by attaching his halter to crossties or asking a partner hold your horse's head. By controlling his head you ensure your horse can't move away from you while you're trying to pick his hooves, or worse? turn around and take a bite at your rear!
Jeffrey Rolo, owner of AlphaHorse and an experienced horse trainer and breeder, is the author of the above article. You will find many other informational articles dealing with horse training and care as well as games and other horse fun on his website: http://www.alphahorse.com.
Mercedes Benz s500 rentals Salem ..There is a lot of talk going on about what... Read More
Many pet owners don't like using a leash, for a... Read More
It's important to understand your dog's sleeping habits and how... Read More
The first thing to realize when you are training a... Read More
Could a horse trainer, born about 154 years ago, teach... Read More
Most parrot people are aware of some of the basic... Read More
What you feed your dog is really SO important for... Read More
Dog Shock CollarsDog shock collars are a touchy subject among... Read More
For most cat owners, training their cat to use the... Read More
Okay, so it's not the cleanest or most appealing of... Read More
Well first of all I was always a cat owner,... Read More
Trying to decide if you should get insurance on your... Read More
If you're reading this I think it's safe to assume... Read More
Internet Fraud, Classifieds Scams, Abuse and Suspicious Replies are world... Read More
Tired of cleaning the cat box? Here are some tips... Read More
If Your Dog Suffers From Arthritis, Consider The Natural Alternative:Rimadyl... Read More
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are not cheap. On average you... Read More
If you are keeping tetras, chances are you are breeding... Read More
While "late is better than never," sooner is better than... Read More
If you have ever tried to take a picture of... Read More
A family, including three dogs and a cat live happily... Read More
The West Highland White Terrier or Westie, has it's origin,... Read More
Every year, many cat owners decide to get their cat... Read More
Among the most well known cat lover gifts are photo... Read More
Just like when you bring home a new baby, you... Read More
Dowagiac cheap limo service ..Is there anything more cute and cuddly than tiny little... Read More
HistoryThroughout the US and in many parts of the world,... Read More
Pilling a cat can be a "nightmarish" experience. Cats don't... Read More
In horse training or natural horsemanship, Approach is nothing more... Read More
Was he the world's greatest horse trainer of all time?... Read More
Eclampsia, or milk fever, is an acute, life-threatening condition which... Read More
Dogs are descendent of wolves. To study the psychology of... Read More
If you have never seen a Shar Pei before, the... Read More
Electric Dog FencesIs an electric dog fence something for you?... Read More
Congratulations on your choice to bring home a West Highland... Read More
Most of the diseases that threaten goldfish can be cured.... Read More
Pets provide an unconditional love that requires very little on... Read More
When I carried him home, he was this tiny little... Read More
1. Using tranquilizers.This is illegal in many states but other... Read More
Your poor pooch is scratching himself all over. Plus, you... Read More
The performing of dog tricks, while not a necessary part... Read More
Our Charlie's dog health was a very important issue to... Read More
For thousands of years, dogs have been "man's best friend."... Read More
Sure, you may be a master of human First Aid.... Read More
Why should you use the dog crate training method?Is the... Read More
Are you concerned when your dog or cat eats grass,... Read More
After years of practicing both conventional and holistic medicine for... Read More
Do you want a Westie as a pet? What are... Read More
A crate is a valuable and useful training tool. Its... Read More
The treatment for heartworms is different for cats and dogs.... Read More
Pet |