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Post by zeldalithgow on Apr 11, 2011 10:55:22 GMT -1
We've been bringing Trev out of the field every day since Thurday, for a little groom etc, he picks his front feet up well but we are having a little trouble with his hinds - he picks them up but then pulls them up really high and then loses his balance, I try to pull his foot out backwards rather than up  |
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Post by heathera on Apr 11, 2011 11:46:36 GMT -1
Don't pull  As you pull his instinct at this stage will be to lift or pull back as his brain will be telling him a predator is trying to pull his leg out from under him so he can be eaten. Just stroke down the hind leg and lift the hind foot gently, if he has it off the floor for a second or two let it go down to the ground and tell him what a good boy he is. I don't pull my lots legs backwards unless I'm asking for a stretch, they usually just lift them, I hold them to 'tip' the sole of the foot upwards a little and pick out from there. If you hang on and go for 'foal wrestling' at this stage you'll prove to him you're a scary person asking him to do something that threatens his balance. It is one solution and lots of people do it, I've done it myself, but only when I'm 100% sure it's a controlled yank away of foot with calm thought behind it, the pony stays physically in balance and I know they are solid on knowing what I want. As you stroke down if he lifts the leg up then praise and stop, eventually he'll lift and hold it up in the air for you ready to hold and pick it out. He may have been happy with this before he came to you but he's in a new situation with new people and his learning will go back a few steps so you'll have to re-teach him things. |
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Post by zeldalithgow on Apr 11, 2011 13:31:36 GMT -1
Thanks Heather, I'm not really pulling (trying to guide) as such but poss more than is best
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Post by valerie n scout on Apr 11, 2011 13:39:58 GMT -1
sounds like good advice Zelda, am sure you will get there XXX
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Post by Anna on Apr 11, 2011 13:49:41 GMT -1
Echo Heather, can't anything more to that top advice, also he may just be snatching it up and out as a reaction to his gelding site and whether it just pulls it (or he may be expecting to as such). Just concentrate on just picking up and down even if its just a few centimetres whilst he works out its not going to hurt the gelding site and that everythings not scary.
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Post by zeldalithgow on Apr 11, 2011 13:58:03 GMT -1
 Better today I didn't try so hard lol
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Post by NFK Dumpling on Apr 15, 2011 11:31:09 GMT -1
Wait til he tries sitting on them when you want to pick them up  |
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