The Safe and Smart Way to Pick Up Your Horse's Back Feet

Get simple, step-by-step instructions on the best way to pick up your horse's hind hooves from SmartPak's Hoof Health Consultant, Danvers Child, CJF. This helpful tutorial is full of safety tips and advice on handling your horse's hooves in a way that's most comfortable and natural for him, including some tips on positioning yourself to reduce injury if your horse kicks out.

[TheTeapotte]

My horse usually has the next foot up and ready to be picked out when he knows that's what I'm doing. He is so cute.

[hellenmoo]

I just bought a 3 1/2y/o TB gelding. He was never raced or put on the track and was kind of a rescue but the lady I bought him from didn't ride anything but gaited so she mostly did groundwork with him. He picked up all his feet perfectly for her and my uncle who went with me but he doesn't want to pick up his hind feet for me and it's on the side of him where I have to use my right shoulder which I broke a few months ago and I know he senses my nerves and I don't have the strength in my shoulder to pull on him like that. He picks up his front feet like a dream though, which was one of my favorite things when I bought him; I wouldn't need to do much groundwork with him. I'm ok with being on the back of a green horse because I trip over my own feet anyways but I don't want to get kicked. I have a yearling who kicks me when I pick up his back feet all the time but right now he's small enough that I can over power him and hold onto his leg but Carlos is 16hh and the biggest horse on our farm compared to our 14.3-14.5 QHs. Any advice??

[CarolaAdolf]

That made me smile☺️. Love your presentation. 👍

[meganpahl]

One more question, if you have a horse like mine that panics when hitched up but moves away anywhere else, how do you suggest I do this?

[olivertheferret]

I just started western and I can do the front feet but the back ones I just can’t do they are so heavy and I can’t fit my legs behind him to hold his leg

[meganpahl]

Hello sir and ty for the video. I have a horse unlike any other one I have owned that is twelve years old and STILL fights and evades every hoof. She will kick with the rear when you want the front and vice versa. I've desensitized each leg and she will even lift it when I tell her to but actually grabbing it is dangerous. She has a thrush infection on one of her front so I know she us guarding that one. However, NONE of the ways I have known to get her to submit are working. Suggestions?

[meganpahl]

I have always been successful getting my horses used to hoof cleaning BUT, I have an 11 year old mare that trusts everything I touch but as soon as I am near her back feet, there is kicking. There is nothing wrong with the areas-she's totally fine but, she just does not allow it. I wanted to ask you if you had any new desensitization tricks I could use to fool her into this. I do not want to have to use a rope and make it a negative experience for her.

[mysticwillow]

Ok thanks for sharing this my question is how about a young pony and I also am a movie too just trying to help someone else who I don't think knows exactly what she is doing ? X

[dianebach]

Thank you so much. Our farrier ghosted on us. Don’t know why. Pay at time of service. Always on time. Horses well mannered. I’m trying to do this myself. She does fine for the farrier but doesn’t hold them for long with me.

[DeathKitty]

I have a 7 month old weanling and I expected his front feet to be the issue as they usually are but he was fine with it. His back feet however his kicks out if I even touch a hind leg. I'm currently getting him used to having his legs touched with a glove on a stick but he isn't happy about the situation and is still kicking out at the pole :/. Think it will be a while before he will be able to have a foot trim

[millietench]

I’m only 13 and the horse I have to do the back feet of is a cob will I be able to pick the foot up like that and she has feathers so it’s hard to see I work at the stables and Minnie is the only horse that kicks when you pick her back hooves
On of the horses freckles picks it up for you I got the hoof pick out of the bag and she just picked her foot up without me asking

[kian.bbros]

My horse tries to lay down on me when I pick his hooves any advice

[rjglatt]

I have a horse that injured back about three yrs ago from corral panel fall..vet looked at said rest..had chiropractor adjust couple of times..gave therapy..now when trimming hind quarters she almost falls over..cant put in trailer and haul to Vet may fall..some days better than other..even runs when feels better. I was thinking of a flat wall to take some of the leaning..anyone deal with this and how???

[bunniesbunniesbunnie]

I wanna see this guy do minis like this. Does he just end up on the ground?

[abbykoop]

I find that if I tuck the hock under my armpit like that, I quite often can't reach the hoof to work on it. It's a bugger when working on a horse that pulls away. I'm a farrier...5'2".

[joybiebermunzberg]

Loose the music plz ... your voice is very good 😊🇩🇰😊🤠

[abbykoop]

Good tips here. I wish my arms were long enough to hook that hock under my arm. If I do that, I can't reach the foot on a lot of horses (small girl problems....haha)

[dianebach]

Foirgot to say my shoulder replacement makes me nervous!

[videostarringchloe]

Did anyone else hear/see that click when he grabbed the hoof?

[hallestrausser]

I wouldn't worry too much about the kidneys. You have two. 😂