What I do with a horse that kicks when asked to pick up his back feet

It's not your farrier's job to train your horse. When I have a horse that kicks when asked to pick up their back feet this is how I work with them.

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[finngamesknudson]

Boat hooks are a great tool. We keep one in the closet and one in the garage - brings top shelves and items hanging from ceiling into easy reach. Wouldn’t occur to me to use one this way. Thank you for introducing this idea!😊

[cassieyoung]

I liked this video on the opening comment “it’s not your farriers job to make sure your horse is good with his feet”. THANK YOU. Not a farrier but have farrier friends, and I said this to an owner with a difficult horse and it went totally over their head. Blew my mind.

[shashakeeleh]

Water craft instruments have so many uses off the water! Knots, weights, dongles, hooks and boat hooks. Great idea!

[jebkramer]

My ears definitely perked up when I heard “boat hook”. I spent 22 years in the Navy. Now I’m land locked with these horses 😂, but on a serious note, I do miss the water.

[cliffowens]

I'm fostering an abuse case palomino QH mare ex rodeo mount who has been rough up by farriers. Her reputation as a dangerous horse for farriers is already known in Davie, FL. You can't even tranq the mare as she's fear reactive and punches through the sedative. One farrier somehow got a cocktail of 3 tranqs into her and she shook them off. The only way a farrier can get near her would be to wear a Stark Mk46 suit. Needless to say I'm in a bind, but oddly enough she does allow me to rasp shape her hooves as long as I don't try to pick them up. That boat hook idea does have possibilities, but I'm 71 and don't bounce well anymore.

[kidstuff]

I trim all my horses feet myself... there's no better incentive to have horses good at picking their feet up than being the one that has to trim their feet :)

[cieloazuul]

This is awesome ! My mare used to be good with her hooves until I used a new farrier. Now she cow kicks. Will be changing to a different farrier and trying this as well! Thank you

[octoberjubilee]

It's amazing how we can generalize things we use in everyday life in training our horses. Great idea about the boat hook! It keeps a person safe while desensitizing and teaching the horse to lift the leg.

[jolenejolene]

This is a great trick! I've heard of ropes, but not a boat hook. My yearling is still a bit pesky with his hooves sometimes, so I'm always trying to find different ways to desensitize his legs and hooves. Great speech about farrier safety too! Owning a horse is a team effort and always treat your team members with respect, and care for their wellbeing as much as your horse's.

[pjk]

So glad you shared this. Good farriers are hard to come by. Having them walk in and get hurt shuts services down for many clients.
Owners need to be engaged and tell the Farrier up front if concerns or lack of handling exists.
Vet's sedate for that reason when necessary if the horses need care.
Spend a little time up front or a lot of $$$ later. Not the horses fault.
Thanks for sharing

[HeatherStrickler]

That’s so smart! I’m going to try it with my new horse!

[TheLell]

It would be good to see you do this video using a horse that does kick out so we can see what you would do.

[ladyhawk]

I have used this method for years.
I thought it up
A long time ago.
Very successful

[hardluk]

I use a cattleman’s show stick the same way. Just make sure it has a blunt end as some are fairly pointed.

[ladyhawk]

Good times !
Close to my time!
I wish i could have met Freddy!
Iremember Queen coming on the scean! Wicked good!

[meganpahl]

I have a mare who gives me her front feet just fine BUT as soon as I rub those back legs, she kicks. Her feet are healthy there is no concern there but after soooo long of desensitizing her to my touch and my crop, she still wont give those back feet. I do not want this ti be a negative experience for her so I have not caught her legs with my lead. Is there any other tool I can use such as the one you showed here? She is just honoree and wont give me her back feet!

[kathywilliamson]

I saw a horse kick a vet in the head when i was a kid. He went to run his hand down the horses leg because the horse was lame. Next thing we knew, he was dead.
There was no warning.