That inside on the back leg advice is something I have not heard and will be starting that with my girl in about 20 minutes. THANK YOU! It makes so much more sense to cratch/cradle it from the inside.
Fantastic advice, great video, my mentor when I was 10 said stay close to the horse. Like a foal, but in control... listen, watch muscles and breathing, and if that horse lifts its leg to kick move into it... she will push you away with that leg more than kick you... and has proven true time and again. Thank you.
Thank you, I used to have horses but it's it a LONG time. Didn't know to scratch the inside of the leg. I volunteer for a group that uses horses as a therapy for kids and am trying to get back into the swing of grooming those wonderful animals. Even though the horses I am around are very gentle I feel a little nervous picking up their feet. Thanks again. I will try this!
Hi BJ Rickard, It's interesting that you and I share the same method for raising and lowering the horse's rear leg by grabbing from the front and inside of the leg as opposed to from the rear like we do with front legs. I was recently corrected by someone for trying to lift a horse's rear leg like this to clean its hoof. The horse is 2000 pound Belgian with hooves the size of dinner plates and a rear leg like a tree trunk. Though I've got much less horse experience than I'm sure you must have, I've been cleaning hooves like this since I was 12 (nearly 38 years). Apparently how you and I lift a horse's rear leg must be unorthodox to others who are used to doing it by going around the back of the rear leg instead of the front, where I agree with you and think it's a safer place to put my hand in case the horse kicks out. Has anyone else ever commented on how you lift the rear leg of a horse before? Thanks for showing that I'm not the only one who lifts a horse's rear leg like we do. Rob Goodman
Sound advice regarding getting the horse balanced before trying to pick up a foot & very true about keeping in close to your horse,the damage should they kick, isn't as bad if you are closer to them.i keep a hand on my horse while grooming & stay verbal too so I don't surprise her should her attention stray.i've seen many people step away to walk around their horse & then touch them without saying anything ,the horse either jumps thus causing the person to react & the horse over react's at their reactions causing the butterfly affect or the horse lashes out,keep your horse focused all the time!
great advise., i like it. i am from philippines. i have a newly owned 2 year old horse, it is my first time to own one and have problems in lifting its feet. surely this video can help me fix it. thank you
Wonderful information. I had no idea that pinching the front of the back leg was how you could pick it up. My paint is very generous with his feet. He tends to kick at the Farrier and my husband. But, When I do it he is a perfect angel, he doesn't toss his leg around like he does with everyone else. The only problem I have is, I cant get the hoof clean enough quick enough and I get exhausted from holding the weight. Do you have a video on how to hold the leg/foot properly to take the weight off? Does that make sense? Beautiful Paint, your horse is just gorgeous! ~Stephanie
Charles Smith stop holding the weight ! Get the horse to hold its leg up. Make sure its balanced on the other 3. Lift the leg. If its the front, hold it bent and stop taking the weight while keeping it bent. Even if the horse wants to put it down, let it lower in the bent position. Do not let it go as it drops. You should find that your horse will lift it up to where it is comfortable. Do this every time that the horse expects you to take all the weight. If its the rear hoof, take the same initial first step of balancing the horse. Lift the leg and take it backwards while placing the cannon bone across your thigh. Get in close against the thigh of the horse. Bear in mind, you are not looking to have the hind leg stretched out straight. Find a happy medium as to weight distribution between you and your horse. They also need to feel supported and secure in your handling of them, but again, don't be taking all the weight. If they feel to you like they want to put their foot down, and you still have the strength, hold firmly onto the leg while stretching it backwards a small amount, still across your thigh. The horse knows the distance where its possible to get its foot to the ground while being in balance. It also knows that when you stretch it that small amount, it has gone past the distance where it could put it down and be balanced. It won't like to be unbalanced, therefore it will then bring its leg forward to get balanced again. It may do this sharply, which is why I say, hold on tight, and crucially, don't ever let go. So if you are going to do this, allow plenty of time. You may have a few struggles to begin with, but these will get less and less over time. I say again, it is crucial and of paramount importance, that when they shake their legs about, and they will, that you do not let go. And don't give up. Best of luck.
@@georgeprime2249 Hello - maybe you can help me. I have a 25 yr old large Quarter horse. He has been getting Arthritis in his front knees. Over the last 2 years he has been getting increasingly difficult to lift his front feet. I believe the Farrier hurts him by torquing his foot out to the side on an angle that really hurts him. Now I cannot pick up his front feet at all. Last time the Farrier was here, she Tranquilized him. It was still difficult and she did not quite finish. After she left he coliced so severe I thought he was going to die. I pulled him through - but it was really bad. He is my largest horse, but always been really sensitive to pain. He is also prone to colic and I have all the medicine and can normally head it off before it gets bad. I am afraid to let the farrier touch him. And while I can clean out his back hooves just fine, he puts all his weight on the front foot I want to lift. He is a good 1200 lbs and there is no way I can get it up. Please help - any thoughts?? I also have cut his Alfalfa hay from 40% down to 20% in case he was getting some Laminitis in the front feet. But I think it is the Arthritis. HELP!
Ya. I have a 17 hand retired race horse with contracted heals with a bacteria infection in both front heals. He wont pick up!!! his other front for me to treat because it hurts him. This video is helpful. If nothing else works,robe ideas are next. Im really rooting for this horse. Im not going to let him go ,I think Ill just push him over and sit on head. should work. No, actually I think he needs something to releave his pain from the vet.
Every thing is very good but one little thing I have to tell you is that when you are putting the horses leg down gentle release and let there leg glid through your hand and the horse will feel much more comfortable. Just let the horses leg go down slowely
I agree with picking up their back legs from the inside when they're gentle horses but if you're lifting a young horse and they chunk a cow kick they may snag you in the forehead, and if you would have had your hand on the outside of the leg you could have pushed away from the kick.
Thank u so much my grandpa who I call papa when to the Sheltlin pony he other day and was kinda teaching me how to do this coz the pony has a bad food as he lifted he did not give any sign to the pony that he was doing it so the pony lifted his hole body up and almost kicked us
I'm sorry but you should never use pain or aggravation to get your horse to pick up it's hoof. By making the right thing easy & the wrong thing hard the horse will learn quickly what you want them to do. Simply tapping the leg & a gentle push will get the horse to lift.
Why don't you make a video showing it done with an untrained horse or a horse that wants to kick? Anybody could have had this broke horse picking up its feet.
Excellent, I’m only 10 yrs late but this is one of the best videos on this topic. Thank you.
That inside on the back leg advice is something I have not heard and will be starting that with my girl in about 20 minutes. THANK YOU! It makes so much more sense to cratch/cradle it from the inside.
Fantastic advice, great video, my mentor when I was 10 said stay close to the horse. Like a foal, but in control... listen, watch muscles and breathing, and if that horse lifts its leg to kick move into it... she will push you away with that leg more than kick you... and has proven true time and again. Thank you.
Very informative. Thank you. I love the way you are with horses.
Thank you, I used to have horses but it's it a LONG time. Didn't know to scratch the inside of the leg. I volunteer for a group that uses horses as a therapy for kids and am trying to get back into the swing of grooming those wonderful animals. Even though the horses I am around are very gentle I feel a little nervous picking up their feet. Thanks again. I will try this!
sharon richards I volunteer for a horse therapy place too. Where do you volunteer?
Thank you. I am a first time horse owner and have a lot to learn.
Hi BJ Rickard,
It's interesting that you and I share the same method for raising and lowering the horse's rear leg by grabbing from the front and inside of the leg as opposed to from the rear like we do with front legs.
I was recently corrected by someone for trying to lift a horse's rear leg like this to clean its hoof. The horse is 2000 pound Belgian with hooves the size of dinner plates and a rear leg like a tree trunk. Though I've got much less horse experience than I'm sure you must have, I've been cleaning hooves like this since I was 12 (nearly 38 years). Apparently how you and I lift a horse's rear leg must be unorthodox to others who are used to doing it by going around the back of the rear leg instead of the front, where I agree with you and think it's a safer place to put my hand in case the horse kicks out. Has anyone else ever commented on how you lift the rear leg of a horse before?
Thanks for showing that I'm not the only one who lifts a horse's rear leg like we do.
Rob Goodman
'get as close as possible'............absolutely correct. It is counter intuitive, like so many things with horses, but true.
Sound advice regarding getting the horse balanced before trying to pick up a foot & very true about keeping in close to your horse,the damage should they kick, isn't as bad if you are closer to them.i keep a hand on my horse while grooming & stay verbal too so I don't surprise her should her attention stray.i've seen many people step away to walk around their horse & then touch them without saying anything ,the horse either jumps thus causing the person to react & the horse over react's at their reactions causing the butterfly affect or the horse lashes out,keep your horse focused all the time!
great advise., i like it. i am from philippines. i have a newly owned 2 year old horse, it is my first time to own one and have problems in lifting its feet. surely this video can help me fix it. thank you
Very helpful and interesting to watch :) Thank you for making this video.
Thank you- great info great technique.
Big help, thank you. I was doing it all wrong.
Much appreciated info. Thank you so much!
Wonderful information. I had no idea that pinching the front of the back leg was how you could pick it up. My paint is very generous with his feet. He tends to kick at the Farrier and my husband. But, When I do it he is a perfect angel, he doesn't toss his leg around like he does with everyone else. The only problem I have is, I cant get the hoof clean enough quick enough and I get exhausted from holding the weight. Do you have a video on how to hold the leg/foot properly to take the weight off? Does that make sense? Beautiful Paint, your horse is just gorgeous! ~Stephanie
Charles Smith stop holding the weight ! Get the horse to hold its leg up. Make sure its balanced on the other 3. Lift the leg. If its the front, hold it bent and stop taking the weight while keeping it bent. Even if the horse wants to put it down, let it lower in the bent position. Do not let it go as it drops. You should find that your horse will lift it up to where it is comfortable. Do this every time that the horse expects you to take all the weight. If its the rear hoof, take the same initial first step of balancing the horse. Lift the leg and take it backwards while placing the cannon bone across your thigh. Get in close against the thigh of the horse. Bear in mind, you are not looking to have the hind leg stretched out straight. Find a happy medium as to weight distribution between you and your horse. They also need to feel supported and secure in your handling of them, but again, don't be taking all the weight. If they feel to you like they want to put their foot down, and you still have the strength, hold firmly onto the leg while stretching it backwards a small amount, still across your thigh. The horse knows the distance where its possible to get its foot to the ground while being in balance. It also knows that when you stretch it that small amount, it has gone past the distance where it could put it down and be balanced. It won't like to be unbalanced, therefore it will then bring its leg forward to get balanced again. It may do this sharply, which is why I say, hold on tight, and crucially, don't ever let go. So if you are going to do this, allow plenty of time. You may have a few struggles to begin with, but these will get less and less over time. I say again, it is crucial and of paramount importance, that when they shake their legs about, and they will, that you do not let go. And don't give up. Best of luck.
@@georgeprime2249 Hello - maybe you can help me. I have a 25 yr old large Quarter horse. He has been getting Arthritis in his front knees. Over the last 2 years he has been getting increasingly difficult to lift his front feet. I believe the Farrier hurts him by torquing his foot out to the side on an angle that really hurts him. Now I cannot pick up his front feet at all. Last time the Farrier was here, she Tranquilized him. It was still difficult and she did not quite finish. After she left he coliced so severe I thought he was going to die. I pulled him through - but it was really bad. He is my largest horse, but always been really sensitive to pain. He is also prone to colic and I have all the medicine and can normally head it off before it gets bad. I am afraid to let the farrier touch him. And while I can clean out his back hooves just fine, he puts all his weight on the front foot I want to lift. He is a good 1200 lbs and there is no way I can get it up. Please help - any thoughts?? I also have cut his Alfalfa hay from 40% down to 20% in case he was getting some Laminitis in the front feet. But I think it is the Arthritis. HELP!
Thank you for the video! Very helpful!
Would LOVE to see more horse videos!
Ya. I have a 17 hand retired race horse with contracted heals with a bacteria infection in both front heals. He wont pick up!!! his other front for me to treat because it hurts him. This video is helpful. If nothing else works,robe ideas are next. Im really rooting for this horse. Im not going to let him go ,I think Ill just push him over and sit on head. should work. No, actually I think he needs something to releave his pain from the vet.
How is ur horse now?
This is incredible! I have a lesson horse who hates having his back hooves picked, hopefully this technique does the trick ☺️
Every Horse is different , try this . Plus perhaps something else as well . Some Horses also do not like their legs lifted very high either .
Horses Inthebarn will keep that in mind, thanks :)
Thanks so much that video was really useful and I am now picking up horses hooves.
+Grace Brown same i can pick up the front hooves but not the back still working on them
I used to have you on Facebook but haven’t seen you in a while. I’ll have to see if you’re still there.
beautiful coat, its a masterpiece of a horse
Thank you! Great information.
Great info! Thank you
A proper horseman.
Excellent advice!
Great video!
Great video
Great advice.
Thank you this was really good!
Thank you very much.
very helpful, thanks
helped so much thank you!!!
Every thing is very good but one little thing I have to tell you is that when you are putting the horses leg down gentle release and let there leg glid through your hand and the horse will feel much more comfortable. Just let the horses leg go down slowely
thanks ill try this my horse flicka dosnt want me to pick up her feet ill give this a shot thanks
I agree with picking up their back legs from the inside when they're gentle horses but if you're lifting a young horse and they chunk a cow kick they may snag you in the forehead, and if you would have had your hand on the outside of the leg you could have pushed away from the kick.
It helped alot
thanku
Thanks! That was good.
thankyou soo much it reaallly helped :)
Thank u so much my grandpa who I call papa when to the Sheltlin pony he other day and was kinda teaching me how to do this coz the pony has a bad food as he lifted he did not give any sign to the pony that he was doing it so the pony lifted his hole body up and almost kicked us
Awesome demonstration! I will definitely try this with my mare
Mhm... A horse just stepped on my feet yesterday...
:) :) :) Thank You
when the horse just needs to have a turd in the video.. ahah
I've heard it said that horses look like their owners...
my mom says to pull up on her while pushing on her leg and then she mad but I'll try that
I'm sorry but you should never use pain or aggravation to get your horse to pick up it's hoof. By making the right thing easy & the wrong thing hard the horse will learn quickly what you want them to do. Simply tapping the leg & a gentle push will get the horse to lift.
They can side kick 😅
Why don't you make a video showing it done with an untrained horse or a horse that wants to kick? Anybody could have had this broke horse picking up its feet.
This guy is not someone people need to learn from.