picking up the feet

Question
Hi
OK well i have a 9 month old filly and well i can't seem to get her to let me pick up her feet her front feet are ok but her hind feet are terrible.  I love horses and know almost anything about them but my baby girl is my first and i need some help on how to getr her to let me pick up her hind feet becuae they need to be trimmed really bad and well...Every time i go to pick one up she either kicks or trys to run away and i can't get her to let me touch them and i need to.I don't want to have to get me ferrier to have to flip her on her side to be able to clip them so what do i do Please help Me.....
Thanks

Answer
Hi Kryssie;

If she's really, really bad and needs a farrier right away then coordinate your vet and farrier and have her tranquilized.  

Otherwise if she can wait, then first you need a second person to help you to do it properly.   She can't be allowed to walk away from you.

Sometimes youngsters have problems picking up their feet because they are unbalanced and get panicky on three legs, so make sure that you aren't trying to lift her foot high or away from her body.  Keep it as low as possible and underneath her so she feels more secure.

Next, don't try and pick it up.  You need to break the training steps down smaller.  First, make it so you can stand beside her hind leg and run your hand down without her kicking.  Reward.  Next tap the outside of her leg until she shifts her weight.  Reward.  Then tap the outside of the leg until she lifts it.  Reward.  Then ask that she hold it up a bit longer and a bit longer.  Reward.  Then gently grap her foot.  Reward.  Then do a tiny bit of picking out of the hoof.  Reward.  And so on.

Go in small steps and reward her when she's done what you want.  Ignore the bad behavior.

This can take several weeks or just a few days, just depends on how good you are at timing the reward, staying patient and how obstinent she is.

Best wishes!

Sincerely,

Lana Reinhardt