Ask The Trainer

How do I get my horse to stop leaning on me while I'm working on her feet? My poor back can't take it any more, and sometimes I honestly think she's going to fall on me!

If you are just trying to clean her feet I would suggest kneeling down and resting her foot on your knee. You can do this with front or back feet as long as you trust her not to kick you. If she is leaning on you it may be because she is stiff and you are pulling her foot up too high. Or she has been taught that it is acceptable to lean on people in the past. Using your knee will help if she is stiff. Otherwise she needs to be re taught to hold up her own foot. The process is the same for teaching a young horse to have its feet handled for the first time (see Training Young Horses - Picking Up Feet in the article section of TMS)

Will Clinging 2004 (c)

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