Comments on: How to Teach Your Horse to Pick Up a Hoof

on 9/1/2008 What if your horse resists or kicks, and decides it doesn't want it's hooves trimmed. I had a ferrier fight with my horse over two hours to trim her front hooves. There was no way he could get near her hind legs. How do I work with my horse so she can get her hooves trimmed?

on 7/1/2007 My horse sits on the pier
Please don't kick me off of here
He hangs with all my friends
On nights that never end
Fin!

on 8/8/2006 If you pick the hooves, going from front to back is a lot faster. Go from the front leg to the back leg, then the front leg to the back leg. The horse will eventually catch on to this pattern.

on 2/1/2006 When dealing with a green horse and teaching it to pick up its hind feet, I use a Shepherd's cane to slide up and down the leg to desensitize, and finally hooking around pastern with a little pressure until you get a small lift. This is an extension of your hand without getting you hurt. The horse can kick out all it wants, but eventually you'll get an acceptance and build on that.

on 1/24/2006 If your horse is OK around the legs, and you pinch or pull the chestnut on the leg, it will tickle the horse so they pick up their hoof instead of you! If your horse gets used to the feeling, soon if you just touch the chestnut they will lift it up.

on 11/22/2005 Snap your fingers three times before teaching him to pick his foot up. Repeat doing this with patience and by the 7 to 10 time he will pick it up in one snap. Do this for 4 days straight and he will have it forever.

on 11/22/2005 I've taught my horses so well to pick up their hooves that even once my hand reaches to their knee, just stroking it, they pick it up. All I did was lift their hoof up and down, up and down, up and down, until they were doing it with ease. It took time, but by the days end they were all doing it great.

If your horse is being stubborn, try taking them to a new location and doing it. There could be something distracting them. If that doesn't work, apply pressure to their shoulder if you're in the front, or rear if you're in the back.

on 11/22/2005 You know when you walk behind a horse, to pat it on it's hindquarters, well try to get that same habit when you go to the back legs to lift up it's hoof too! Gently pat around it's hip bones to let it know you're there!

on 11/22/2005 After the horse picks up his foot, always show him you appreciate it. This will teach him faster.

on 11/22/2005 When it is warm out, I like to bathe my horse and then clean the hooves. After a trail ride, everything is packed into their hooves. It is much easier to pick them when "stuff" is sloppy than when it's hard packed.

on 11/22/2005 My 17 year old kicks out at you when you pick up her back hooves. The solution my farrier gave me (and it works) is to push a kicker's hoof inwards towards them, so that they kick themselves instead (it's not a hard kick, don't worry). That way, the horse will know better than to kick out when their back hooves are picked up.

on 11/22/2005 The horse may be afraid you won't give his foot back! To encourage trust, always let him have his foot back in case he feels off balance or afraid. Show him that you are reasonable. Also, if you slightly lean into him with your weight it will help him to be able to pick up his hoof without losing his balance.

on 11/22/2005 Well you should always were helmet, and heel toed shoes. The reason for that is the horse could kick you and you could get brain damage. And for shoes you don't want the horse to step on yourr foot

on 11/22/2005 It is best to begin teaching a horse to pick up his hoof when he is very young so that you have a much better chance of not being hurt.

on 11/22/2005 You can also teach a horse to pick his hoof up for you on his own. If you click at the horse or use some simple voice command every time you pick it up, he will make the association and pick his hoof up for you on his own. Both of my horses do this.