Posted by Phil Armitage on June 24, 2002 at 23:38:08:
In Reply to: Re: Leaning into/falling on you posted by Gary on June 16, 2002 at 23:11:45:
: : Hi,
: : I am not a farrier, just an officer of a horse rescue org. We try to make life easier for our farriers and dealing with our foster homes with horses that have been abused/neglected/lack of training - what can we do to get some of our horses to comfortably lift their feet without falling over on YOU our farriers? A little help at home so to speak and helpful hints:):)
: : Regina Anderson, Treasurer
: : Lone Star Equine Rescue
: : http://www.lser.org
: Regina, if you will ask a horse to just pick his feet up and then hold them up so that they can learn to balance themselves. Lifting too high makes a horse a leaner because he's off balance. Using a hoofpick daily is the Smartest thing and the most neglected thing horse owners do. Daily maybe even twice aday and the animals except it a whole lot easier than every 6weeks when the farrier comes! Good Luck!
Regina I agree with Gary, another thing to watch for is that other parts of your body (hips) are not making contact with the horses body, this tends to make the horse push into you. The daily training by picking out there feet is great, add a little more time each time to get them use to keeping there feet up for at least a few minutes at a time, also bang on there feet to get them use to hammers. Just some thoughts
Phil