the leaning horse

barnelda · the leaning horse

Yesterday I wanted to trim up Phil so I gathered all the tools a friend loaned me and to the pasture I went.For those of you who have never trimmed a hoof-IT'S HARD WORK!!JEEZ I was not expecting it to be so muscle demanding!My butt muscles even hurt!Phil totally leaning on me made it MUCH worse though.How can I POLITELY get him to stand up and not put his weight on me.My trimmer does not complain about him leaning at all.One time he was REALLY leaning so I dropped his foot and he almost fell over.I don't want to be rude to him but he is SERIOUSLY testing my patience!I only got a little off his front feet.Any suggestions from the pro's?

AlythLong

LOL I know exactly where you are coming from!!! Now....what happened after you "dropped" him? Did you try again and did he still lean? I think that is probably the most effective way of teaching him to carry his own weight. Perhaps you leaning into him to ensure he carries his weight on the other hoof might give him the idea? I am sure others will have good ideas as well!!

becdubie

I had a horse that used to do that and found it was because I did not have him balanced properly. Be sure that when you ask for his foot, he actually lifts it for you, rather than you dragging it up off the ground.
It takes practice but you can tell the difference and when they are truly balanced they can actualy just lift the hoof up and put it in your hand, that way they can stand nicely on 3 legs and not try to use you as their 4th leg.

appellativo

I agree with just dropping the foot till he stands on his own and asking for it when it's balanced. You just gently move him forward with the halter (or backwards) and just when he begins to take the weight off the foot you're asking for, ask him to stop and then just lift the foot.

I highly recommend getting a hoofjack if you're going to be doing your own trimming; it'll solve your problem

TrustMeNaturally

becdubie

I agree....I love the hoofjack. When we decided to start doing our own trims, I spent days, upon days, just lifting my horses feet. Make it part of your petting session....I cue them with verbal cue...."FOOT" Then I squeeze chestnut or hock...till they lift and hold.

Steadily over the past couple years...they have all learned the verbal cue and 99% of the time they just re-adjust their balance and give me their hoof. Sometimes they get a nice massage, sometimes I rasp. But they always seem to enjoy it. This is a complete turn around to the stress we used to feel when a farrier would come out.

It's hard work though...but for me it was worth the effort. To make it easier on yourself...stay on schedule that way all you will have to do is rasp and round most of the time.

sebocat

Just watch those hoofjacks. They can actually be pretty dangerous if you arent careful.

For example, if you were to put the foot between your legs, then place the hoofjack under the foot (as I have seen farriers do almost every time) the horse, if he loses his balance or starts to rock, can pinch your leg and break it.

So, monkey see, monkey do.....I learned this the hard way with Bob (huge draft), who dang near fell on me. My leg was pinned petween his and the hoofjack, and down he went. How I wasn't seriously hurt, only God knows. I was sore for weeks though, and threw out my back.

I still use it, but I stand clear.

appellativo

In the instructional video, you don't put the hoof between your legs. You don't need to. If you didn't get the instructional video and watch it, you may want to do so as it shows you how to brace the horse's leg without endangering yourself.

sebocat

Mine is not a HoofJack, it is a stand made for me by a farrier who was helping me figure things out. But it is similar. He is a professional, experienced, well known and well respected farrier who suggested I use it the way I did to help with leverage. So I did. ....Just not for very long!

I gave up and bought Bud Nippers to help with leverage. ....course, I am trimming draft feet, so I NEED leverage!

Can you describe how the HoofJack suggests you position yourself? That would be handy to know.

Just sayin'....be careful!
Leaning horses can be dangerous.
I am looking into clicker training to help with our leaning issues.

appellativo

I admit that I don't recall exactly how he positions himself. I have my own way that I figured out that works for me. I just recall that the method in the vid forgoes having to assume the position with the horse's foot between your knees. Perhaps if you wrote the company they'd send a vid?

No, wait! I love google!

http://www.tooljack.com/Hoofjack/video.htm

go ahead and fast forward to about a third of the way through the vid; he just babbles in the first bit of it.

edit: he just babbles through most of it, but if you have the patience, you can see you just (when pulling a hind back and working the bottom) put your knee in the front of the leg to keep the horse jerking it forward, and when working the left front hoof on the bottom, you place your knee above the horse's hoof (the back of it). I however, place my left leg in front of the horse's leg to keep him from bringing it forward. You just find what works for you I guess.

learningthedance

http://blog.easycareinc.com/blog/...ing-it-easy-for-you-and-the-horse

sebocat

Have I ever told you guys how much you rock!!!

spurrit

This is a good time to remind you all to tip your shoer.

CoolsLadyInRed

Yes, my farrier comes right before Christmas. Perfect timing!