how to train horse

[concernedhorseowner]

i'm a horse owner, not a farrier, but i don't know where else to post this..

my horse isn't a nut or anything.. she never kicks out, she stands still, she picks up her feet and keeps them up...just lately, she's gotten into leaning...it doesnt seem to be a problem for me... ive tried holding her feet for long periods of time like the farrier would, and she doesnt lean..but when he comes out, and picks up a foot, she instantly starts to lean on him...is there any way i could fix this to make the job easier?

[Phil Armitage]

A few things could be going on here. First off sounds like your horse has manners, some will lean. When a horse leans on me I step out from under the horse and let them catch there balance. They stop once they figure out I am not going to hold them up. Some other issues could be:

Your horse is sore.

The farrier is pulling the leg out too far or too high.

Some horses lean more on the farrier if the farriers body is touching the horses body.

[George Geist]

Some have more of a tendency to lean than others. Quarter horses seem to be especially bad with it.

Personally I let them lean pretty hard and then I drop them.

Every one of them is fully capable of standing on 3 legs. Soon as they find out they might get dropped they quit leaning and stand nice.
George

[Bill Adams]

Many horses will do this when they want to be slaped on the gut, like little dogs will yap when they want to be kicked.
Just let the leg fall while still holding it and they get the clue real quick.
Bill

[Rancho JD]

ask as many of your willing friends and put them under each leg for 5 minutes. keep a sharp aye.

all farriers have a preffered stance, many have thick thighs

[Peggy Dolan]

JD, I resemble that remark! I have thick thighs to match my thick arse... :D

[John Emsley]

I know there's an exception to ever rule but most horses, especially quarter horses, have a comfort spot/position. If a Smith is sensitive to where this is, it makes the job much easier. I have found many quarter horses to be muscle bound and so their position is often restricted. If at all posible, try to bend under them instead of hicking their leg up to what would be comfortable for you. It sure makes things alot easier. I'm neither small nor young, so if I can fit under their space, probably anyone can. :D

[Kaydence]

Many horses will do this when they want to be slaped on the gut, like little dogs will yap when they want to be kicked.
Just let the leg fall while still holding it and they get the clue real quick.
Bill

Ok, good thing I wasn't drinking something when I read this one!

To the OP, play around with making your horse hold his leg at different heights and different positions because you probably are able to hold him in a "sweet spot" that the farrier can't get into and still manipulate tools. Some horses aren't protesting the position the leg is held in but the amount of contact the whole leg is feeling when it is held. I also would not rule out that he is sore since this is a new development. Barring that, your farrier may not be as flexible as your horse would like and someone has to give a little to make things work.

And yes, I let horses lean a bit and then I drop them so they decide to hold themselves up in the future.

Cheri

[Tom Stovall, CJF]

concernedhorseowner in gray, deletia

my horse isn't a nut or anything.. she never kicks out, she stands still, she picks up her feet and keeps them up...just lately, she's gotten into leaning...it doesnt seem to be a problem for me... ive tried holding her feet for long periods of time like the farrier would, and she doesnt lean..but when he comes out, and picks up a foot, she instantly starts to lean on him...is there any way i could fix this to make the job easier?

Just ask your farrier to keep his butt away from your horse's body while he under your mare. Most horses won't lean unless they have something to lean against: if a farrier keeps butt away from the horse, most of 'em won't lean. :)

[calshoer]

I drew this sketch for my farrier class. The red X's are the points of contact to maintain with the horse. Patty
(Ps its copyrighted ask if you want to use it anywhere else, not that its that good though . )

[John Emsley]

Patty,
Looks like the Farrier needs corrective shoeing and the horse has a neck like a cone anvil. :D Good points though.

[Bill Adams]

Patty,
I don't see the hoof stand and cradle in your illistration, though a fine illistration it is.
If you use a stand behind they can lean all they want and it 's fine.
Bill