Difficulty picking hooves, hard to bridle, hard to cinch, hard to catch, hates to halter… Any of this sound familiar? Chances are most horse owners have come across one or more of these problems at some point. Over the next few articles I will offer helpful tips and techniques to restructure these bad habits and bring relief to both horse and owner. But would you believe there is a simple solution to preventing these problems in the first place? Something everyone knows, and, as the joke goes, probably learned in kindergarten. The answer is simple: Common courtesy. Now, I know a lot of you are laughing at me right now, but take just a moment to read on… One of the most common problems the frustrated horse owner asks me about, often as he is writing out yet another expensive check to the dissatisfied farrier, is why my horse is such a jerk when it comes to working with his feet? Face it; getting your feet fussed with is a fact of life for most domestic horses. So why does he continue to snatch his foot away, stamp his feet, or lean on you? Because you’re making him…or at least, someone has. When approached with this question, the first thing I do is watch the person handle the horse’s feet. More likely than not, I’ll spot the problem right away. When we pick up the feet we have a tendency to pull the foot outwards toward our bodies. This is equivalent to someone  grabbing you by the leg and pulling straight out sideways, NOT the direction our knee is designed to go. (Unless you’re a country line dancer.) This causes an uncomfortable feeling for the horse and his natural instinct is to protect his feet. Result? Snatching his foot back, leaning on you to release the pressure, or flat out being sick of it and not giving you his foot in the first place. Now, of course, the farrier is going to have to move that foot about in some uncomfortable positions, and a mannerly horse is expected to be tolerant. A horse that generally has pleasant and comfortable experiences with his feet will be more likely to accept the occasional discomforts hoof care entails. Another hoof handling faux pas? The poor, trusting horse that willingly gives you his foot and stands with it completely relaxed, then, whammo! The ungrateful owner drops it to the ground with no warning. Over time, this cooperative horse will learn to keep pressure against you with his foot, making your job harder, but saving him from the surprise drop. So next time you are working with your horse’s feet, take a moment to see where he wants to hold it. Some horses will bring their leg up very high, then relax and lower it to a comfortable position. Handle the foot in a relaxed manner, simply supporting it and not wrestling with it. The horse will relax and find his balance point, and you will both be comfortable. Remember, the old adage, “no hoof, no horse” is deeply ingrained in the equine psyche, and his instinct to feel secure on his feet will outweigh most everything.

Happy picking and happy trails, Marybeth 

Copyright 2001 by Marybeth Wiefels