Hippotherapy

How do I get my horses to pick up their feet?

I have 2 horses, one is 25 and the other is 20. They haven't been picking up their feet lately. I usually pick out their hooves everday, but now I can barely get a day in out of the week. I will stand there for over 30 minutes trying to make them pick their feet up, but they won't budge. I have even tried putting my weight into them to make them shift their weight. I don't know what to do. Any ideas?

Public Comments

1. Try a cattle prod............
2. try pinching their chestnut or a light pull on the feathers
3. It sounds like they may be taking the mickey out of you! Most horses will pick up their feet if you grasp the fetlock and give a pull upwards. Do not lean against your horse as he will simply lean back into you! If you want to stop him putting his weight on that leg simply poke him (but not hard) in the shoulder. Once he has picked up his feet make sure you praise him and let him know he has done the right thing. You could also try picking out their feet whilst they are eating as they will be distracted. On another matter, your horses are fairly old so do make sure there are no physical problems like arthiritis.
4. on the front legs you can squeeze their chestnut...usually that will make them shift weight or lift the foot. On the back feet step on theif hooves carefully though. Works on my horse, now my horse lifts up his feet automatically.
5. try twisting the chestnut lightly, pulling up on the fetlock and the feathers do a little kissing noise
6. You should be able to feel two differen bones in their legs. Run your fingers between them, not hard, just lightly. Thise should make them stomp their foot. Just grab their foot when the do and say pick up at the same time and maybe they willl remember. Also do they have arthritius? This could be bothering them or maybe they are sore and can't balance well or are in pain in their joints. You could also try putting a cotton lead rope around the leg which your trying to clean right above thehoof and pull forward and then hold the foot and clean it.
7. what u do is u run ur hand down the horses leg, then there will be like 2 bones there, u kinda squeez them, not tightly though, while ur squeezing them, make a little clucking noise, if they still wont pick up the feet, lean lightly on them while ur squeezing
8. i had a probelm with my horse not picking up his hooves too. but the guy that fixes his hooves taught me how to do it and he says that the horses like it or something..... rub your fingers down his leg and theres a little bone just press it and there leg will lift right up or if your horse has "acorns" white-yellowish looking scabs on the inside of its legs grab it and kinda pull on it! since you have done it everyday and they just suddenly stop it could be because there sensing something is wrong with you... if maybe you feel stressed or cant get something off your mind for some reason when horses sense something like that they wont pick up there feet!
9. Squeeze the chestnut or where the tendons are. That's the only way I've only ever done it.
10. you really have to push. it's possible that they have an infection or cut or something on the bottom of their hoofs. also, next time the ferrier comes to do their shoes you might want to ask him if there's something wrong, or for tips. good luck!
11. Typically, if a horse won't pick up thier feet, I will lean my wieght into the horse and squeeze the tendon right above the fetlock. If the horse doesn't want to pick up it's foot, you can try pinching harder, or squeezing the chestnut or the ergot on each leg to get the horse to lift thier foot.
12. Pinch their chesnut. and cluck at them like when you want them to go or trot.
13. Tread on the bulb of their heel and they will pick it up immediately. However due to their age, are they difficult now with the farrier because reluctance to pick up their feet may be a sign of arthritic changes? Knees getting old and stiff?
14. The first thing is that you should run your hand down their legs, this stimulates the horses' nerves to pick up their feet. Or you could try pressing your weight into the horses' shoulder and try picking it up, this way less weight of the horses is on that hoof. Another thing you could do (i know this sounds mean but...) if your horse has feathers try pulling on them. Third if your horse suddenly drops his/her foot you should pick it right back up. If not the horse will think that he/she won and doesn't have to pick up their feet. Don't be afraid to tell the horse NO or give them a slap on the chest (this might sound mean again, but it works) If you finally get the horses feet picked up, you want to gently ge the hoof on the ground, if you just let go, the horse will think that picking up its feet is a bad thing. Another thing that works is to pick up the horses feet in a pattern, this way the horse will know what hoof to pick up next.. Good luck!
15. Use the halter and leadline to turn the horse's head away from the foot you want to pick up ... this will make him put more weight on the OTHER foot, and in turn somewhat unweight the foot you want to pick up. Make sure he's standing properly ... otherwise it will be more difficult for him to balance. Always pick up the feet in the same order, and give the same verbal command: "Pick" or something similar. My horses lift feet when I touch the fetlock and say "pick". If more encouragement is needed, I prefer to press on the chestnut rather than pinch the tendon. How often are their feet trimmed? If the feet are in bad condition this could make it more painful for them to lift a foot. Does the farrier have a problem picking up their feet?