I'm sure we've all had them - the squirmers who seize their feet away, kickers, wigglers, stompers, lazy leaning horses which can be the curse of a farrier's life. Discovery the right farrier is tough enough as it is, so you don't want him to turn down to clip or shoe your horse as your equine is being a complete idiot. Farriers are always booked and so they do not have time to train your horse to pick up their feet and stand quietly. That is certainly your duty. So, teach your horse to do that early and do it well. Sure, it can be taught to older horses. Simply don't ask for a lot early on from them and it will all work out.
You absolutely need to understand a number of the reasons a horse isn't a cheerful camper about raising his hoofs. A horse's feet are used to hurry to shelter. Holding his hoof makes him feel vulnerable. It may be they've not even been shown properly the way to lift their feet. He may have been handled poorly in the past when having his hoofs picked up, or there could possibly be a physical difficulty - for instance a sore foot.
This is how you start to teach a horse to pick his legs up and pause calmly. You start with tiny bits at a period, about 5 to 15 minutes two times per day should suffice. Having said that though, every horse is it's own personality so pace yourself accordingly.
Set out in a secure place such as a circular pen. Don't work with the horse tied for your wellbeing and his. Begin stroking his neck and work gradually down to the shoulder and then the leg. If he's content, you're doing a great job. If he fidgets, just slowly take away your hand on the spot he started getting jumpy at, and start once again until he calms. Keep doing this until you contact the feet. If you cannot during the first session, it doesn't make a difference. Just end things on a great note and begin again a different time. This same routine can be used while using the back legs. Just take into account, slow, easy and calm.
Once you get to the feet, try raising one up and supporting it for just a mere fraction of a minute and letting it go it before the horse takes it away and commend and reward them. Go on to another leg and so on. If you are first trying with them you do not need a long hold, you simply want to have the ability to lift the hoof up and lay it down right away. This teaches the horse you will not injure him. Keep on escalating the grasp time over your sessions with the horse. Sooner or later, and who's in a hurry here anyhow, you will have a horse that stands quietly for not only you, but the farrier. Faith is a major topic here, so treat your horse with respect and he'll respond.
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