My horse drags his feet?

Question

I have a big 15.3hh QH gelding, that drags his feet. He wont pick them up. It's horrible. The front of his hooves are flat fron him dragging them on dirt roads. Is there anything I can do?

10pts. best answer

Answer 1

It sounds definitely like your horse has a physical problem, probably in his spine and shoulders.  Have him checked out by the vet, then call an equine chiropractor.  Forget about the weights, you are interferring with his balance and that is already a problem.  Is this a new condition?  Have you changed saddles or tack?   Has something changed about the care or trim of his feet?  These are all factors to consider.   You are right, NEVER hit or hurt your horse.  It would not be a good idea to leave weights on him whether he is turned out or in the stall.  This is a stress he does not need.   good luck  

Answer 2

I wouldn't leave weights on in the pasture. It seems like it would just be an easy way for something to go wrong. Does he drag his feet in the pasture? the poles are on the ground, another idea that we were told to make our horse "think about putting her feet down" was take the poled and then put them in a gridlock thing, or like a tic tack toe board. Then walk him threw it, make sure that there is like a 2 foot square but it really helped my horse. Asking the farrier or vet might help too.  

Answer 3

Do a lot of work over cavaletti (poles on the ground). You can start off with single poles, then start doing several in a row (spaced about 3 feet apart)

Is he super lazy? Make sure there's no physical reason he doesn't pick his feet up - you may want to ask your vet about it. If he is lazy just to be lazy, maybe try a supplement such a red cell to boost his energy.

Also, work your leg on him a lot, get his "momentum" going, get him working off his hindquarters and shoulders, not just going through the motions of moving his legs. And pick his head up a little to try to get him lighter on the front end

Answer 4

Make him work more. Possibly making him trot faster but still controlled, and work with poles and cavelettis.

Answer 5

I would also have to say doing work with the poles on the ground is the better idea. I have a thoroughbred x quarter horse i have taken in barrel racing to nationals, and he used to drag his feet as well. Because he kept missing turns, and tripping at times when we were heading up to the first barrel, I had to make some changes. So, I put out poles each day, spent about 20 mins just having him walk, trot, and canter over them [go both directions within 20 mins] then I took about 30 mins, and rode him over the poles at a walk trot and canter. Now my horse is more of an arena horse, but we decided to start taking him on trails so we had to steps over things, and be careful other wise he would trip all the time. So he eventually learned, but it did take awhile.

good luck! =]

Answer 6

i think you should find your some more wieghts and put them on all four legs!

And i think you should keep the ankle wieghts on in the pasture also.

AND YOU DO NOT USE FREAKING CHAIN SNAPS THAT IS CRUEL!

p.s. I LOVE RUCKY'S SGETTY MARKS!!

Answer 7

you can use chains that go around the leg right above the Hoof....then have it so one of the chain links snaps him when he puts his foot down and if it snaps him then he Will immediately pick his foot up.

hope i helped

Answer 8

I would get your vet out to give him a check up.  My mare drags her hind toes because of arthritis.  He also might be dragging his toes if his toes are too long.  Talk to your farrier about it.  My farrier does some sort of special trim and shaping of my mares toes to cut down on the dragging.

Answer 9

What style are you riding him?  I'm guessing western?  Do you show western?  I ask because aside from vet check, and farrier your horse needs balance and collected which is very English but still good for western.

So if you show western this may not work as well but if you just ride for fun this can really help your horses get collected well it can even help if you do show western.

Anyway to get your horses collected you hold the head in a bit then you push with your knees but not too much to chance the pace.  This brings the back end in and the front rounded and pushes the back up and encourages him to pick up his feet.

Not sure if this will help but I've seen it done it's amazing how they pick themselves up.

Do NOT use weights I hate that all it does is force the horse to hate picking up his feet more I mean it's like convincing him that picking up his feet is nothing but work.  And do NOT have him outside in weights that is cruel.

So don't use weights use good training.

Answer 10

The horse I ride is super lazy when he walks and he drags his feet also. He's just naturally lazy! I would suggest you do a lot of work going over trotting poles, and cantering poles. He will learn that he has to pick up his feet higher. I do lots of pole work with my horse and then he usually stops dragging his feet. It may be also a good idea to set up a cross rail and have him jump over it (with a rider or lunging.) Of course only if he is trained to jump but it may be a fun project. To jump he will have to pick up his feet, so lunge him with ground poles and small jumps. If none of this works I would suggest getting some help from a trainer or contacting your vet and asking what they would suggest for you to do. Good luck!

Answer 11

Hmmm- that's a toughie ...... have you tried leg wraps?  sometimes a horse unused to them will lift their feet higher due to their weight.

Big l**k TWH trainers put chains with rags around them around the front fetlocks to cause a higher leg action.  Adding some sort of wrap, rag or weight might cause him to lift his feet, but then removing them might allow dragging again.

Try this - got any cavaletti?  If not, take some 2x4s; attach 2x2s nailed in an "X" shape to the ends to cause them to sit up off the ground a few inches.  Even just boards on the ground at first will help.  Work the horse over these either riding or ground working or both.  They will learn to pick up their feet to avoid knocking them.  Praise and reward for this should get him to realize you need him to pick up his feet.

I've never had this problem exactly, so I'm going to watch and see what other people who have had it suggest.

Great Question!