Manners With Hooves.

Question
Hi!

About August last year, my horse got a cracked heel in one of her front feet, and since then, even after it was heeled, she has been very bad about having her hooves picked up. She used to only be naughty with the once which she'd had the cracked heel in, but a while ago, she started being the same with all of her other hooves. She will usually either try to pull her hooves away, will try to jump away from me, or with swing around and threaten to bite (although she never actually has.) She will also always slam her hooves down when I try to put them down gently.

Have you got any advice on how to stop her being so fussy about them? She's an extremely good mannered and calm pony otherwise, and before her cracked heel, was completely fine with having her hooves picked up. Thanks!

Answer
    Hi Bethany,
  I think that there are two main issues here, the first one being, that she has been "rewarded" in the past for bad behaviour ie. forcing you to let go of her foot by pulling it away, or by moving away. No matter how good natured your animal is, it is very important that you try to minimise the opportunities for her to successfully defy your wishes.
  The second issue relates to her threatening to bite. In your relationship with your horse, you MUST always be the dominant "animal", so the question of her threatening you should never arise.
  Now, there are a few questions that come to my mind. How does she get on with the farrier(any of the ones I know, wouldn't put up with that kind of nonsense)? Do you have any help available to you?
  Now to get back to the first issue. Your safety is of paramount importance, so think about what I am going to suggest, and only proceed if you are happy with it. I feel that when you are bent down, holding her leg, you are at a distinct disadvantage. I am thinking of a method, that would possibly give you increased leverage, and allow you to be upright, in case you had to follow her movement,or, conversely jump back if she reacted violently. I would get a stirrup leather (make sure it is sound and won't break easily). You are going to use it to hold her leg up, so buckle it to form a loop that will allow you to do that while resting your hand against her shoulder. I would plan on having the buckle on the side of the loop nearest to you and about halfway between your hand and her hoof. I would then get a piece of cloth (possibly an old towel), and lap it around the leather where you would be holding it. I know that might sound rather bizarre, but the idea is to soften the grip if she should apply a lot of pressure. If possible position her along a wall with the hoof that had the cracked heel nearest to you. Pick up her hoof and slip the loop over it (just above the hoof). Now, holding the padded part, immediately stand up, and press your fist into her shoulder (for added support).
  I would expect that that she would react by applying downward pressure to try to release her hoof. If so try to resist. If, at some stage she eases the pressure respond by doing likewise ie. lowering your hand. If the pressure reappears at any stage, resist again, if not continue lowering your hand until her hoof is back on the ground. Basically what I am trying to say is that if she fights you, you fight back, but if she yields, then you MUST yield IMMEDIATELY too. If the exercise goes well,make a fuss of her, and wait 10 secs. before repeating. You could do 5 or 6 repeats in any one session. If she doesn't apply any pressure, just work your way down the leather until you can pick out her hoof, or do whatever else you need to do.
  With regard to the second issue I mentioned,the subject is too large to go into here, so I normally suggest that people go onto the Internet, and look up "Round Pen Techniques", Herd Dynamics", and "Natural Horsemanship". There are many excellent articles to be found there, that could help you to forge a new and enhanced relationship with your horse. Hmm. the thought just occurred to me that I might be jumping to conclusions there. If all that stuff is "old hat" to you, I hope you will forgive me.
  Finally, I would welcome answers to the questions I posed, or any other comments you might have.
Meanwhile I'll wish you the best of luck,
           Slan,
               Brendan