How to Pick Up a Stubborn Horse's Hoof
Generally, horses are more sensitive about letting you touch their hooves than any other body part. So, it's normal for a horse to fidget or be stubborn about letting you pick up a hoof in order to clean it or tend to a wound. This is a great time to not only clean your horse's hooves, but to help train your horse to be calm and still when people are working about them. If your horse has always been good about hoof care and suddenly changes, treat as if you were training him or her for the first time.
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Things You'll Need
- Hoofpick
- Other hoof cleaning or bandaging supplies (if necessary)
- Crossties, hitching post or securly tied horse
- Strong halter
- Time
- Image on your head of horse lifting hoof
Instructions
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1
Make sure the horse is haltered and tied securly to a post, tie ring or in crossties.
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2
Bring all grooming supplies to the horse. Act casual and breathe as regularly as possible, even if the horse is figiting.
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3
Stand at the horse's left front shoulder, facing the tail. Place one hand gently on the horse's shoulder and the other hand hold the hoof pick.
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4
Think as clearly as you can about your horse standing calmly and lifting his or her hoof for you. Even tell the horse what you want him or her to do. Expect the horse to lift the hoof, just as you expect a horse to quietly follow you when you are leading him or her.
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5
Slowly bend down, slide your least dominant hand down the leg and rest on the hoof. Brace yourself. Try to lift the hoof. If the hoof doesn't come up, proceed to Step 6, otherwise clean the hoof out and then gently set it down.
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6
Quickly press your left shoulder into the shoulder of your horse to shove him just a little off balance. Meanwhile, still expect the hoof to lift. When the horse's weight shifts, there will be a lack of resistance to lifting the hoof. Just brace yourself if and when the horse decides to rest some of her weight on you. Clean the hoof and gently set back down.
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7
Repeat for the other three hoofs.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Always move slowly, deliberately and quietly around a horse, especially a cranky horse.
If you have never picked the hoofs of a willing horse before, find such a horse and ask the owner if you could pick the hooves out. This will help you get a better mental picture of what you want your horse to do.
Don't look at your watch. This makes you feel pressured and the horse will sense you are upset and plant those hooves firmly into the floor.
Never walk underneath your horse's belly to save time.
Don't worry about whether a horse can read your mind or not. Just believe your horse can, that's all that's important!
Never just let go of a hoof when you're done with it. The hoof winds up slamming into the floor, really startling the horse.
