Zen Horse

Training Tip of the Week

By Clinton Anderson

Picking up Feet

Many people encounter problems when picking up their horse’s feet. Whether the horse won’t let you hold his foot up or he kicks out at you, this is a common issue. Most of these problems are fear based and can be helped by using desensitizing methods. When first handling a horse’s feet, don’t just grab his foot and expect him to respond well. Instead, work up to it and help prepare him for having his foot held up. Depending on how sensitive your horse is, following these steps will help increase his respect and responsiveness when being shod or trimmed. The first thing you should be able to do is rub your hands all over the horse’s legs. If he’s really sensitive, rub him all over with the handy stick first, staying up by the horse’s shoulder where you don’t get kicked or hurt. Once he relaxes and is comfortable with this, you can start using your hands.

Rub him high up on the leg where he is less sensitive and more used to contact when beginning. Work your way down the leg a little bit at a time as he gets used to you and relaxes. This stage is where you will need to use my “approach and retreat” method. As you’re sliding your hand down the horse’s leg and he begins to get nervous, just hold your hand there until he stands still and relaxes. As soon as he relaxes, remove your hand. Keep doing this until you can slide your hand all the way down the front and the back legs without the horse getting uncomfortable.

Once you can do this, take your lead rope and shimmy it up and down all four of the horse’s legs. When he’s used to this, put the lead behind his fetlock and pull up. As soon as the horse lifts his foot, release the pressure. If you can get your horse to lift his foot with the lead rope, you’re ready to start cueing him with your hand. To lift a front foot, squeeze the horse’s chestnut and for back foot, squeeze the cap of the hawk. As soon as the horse lifts his foot, release the pressure. Only make him lift his foot for a second or two the first time. It’s very important that you release the pressure before the horse takes his foot away from you. If this happens, he’s on his way to forming a bad habit. Instead, beat him to it! The second you feel him wanting to put his foot down, release his foot even faster. That way he thinks it was your idea, not his, and he feels rewarded. Remember, handling feet is a process that takes time. You shouldn’t expect your horse to stand perfectly for the farrier the first time his feet have ever been handled. Instead, work up to it a second or two at a time. Eventually, having your horse behave when his feet are being handled won’t even be an issue.

Happy Trails,

Danna