When should i start pick up horse hoof when it can stand for 1 day?

Question

When should i start pick up horse hoof when it can stand for 1 day?

Answer 1

as a farrier i always tell people to do it when imprinting in the first couple of hours after birth.  then daily after that.  this makes it ten times easier when hes ready for his first trim, which should be in the first month.  one thing people dont think about when doing this is that besides just picking the feet up you also need to bring them forward as a farrier has to do this with most horses.  in my experience most horses that are getting there first visit from the farrier have never had a leg brought forward, always backward and it really confuses them.   i hope this is helpful, if you follow this then it will make things much easier for you and your farrier will greatly appreciate it.

Answer 2

Start right away. Start touching and handling the foal as soon as possible. Pet it, talk to it, introduce grooming tools. Get it used to a halter and lead. As someone else said, get it used to going into and out of a trailer (well, when it is abit more steady on his feet). The better job you do when it is young, the easier job you will have of training it later, and the better relationship you will have with it!

Congrats on the new arrival! :-)

Answer 3

I'm trying to remember how old my filly was when I first did this - maybe two weeks?

In the meantime I got her used to my touch, including feet. When she was calmly standing still (in the stall) I used a soft cotton rope to assist picking up the foot, looping it around the front of the pastern (not a full 360 degree loop).  You can easily drop it if you need to. Put a hand gently on the shoulder or hindquarter and lean into  it, until you feel the weight shift off of that leg. Pick it up with the rope. Be happy with a few seconds at first - give them a chance to get the idea.

You can do it for longer periods of time as they get used to it. You can then get them used to the feeling of a rasp or rasp substitute rubbing across the bottom of the foot, as that will probably be involved on the first farrier visit.

As they grow their balance changes some with their weight/growth, so if they seem to backslide a bit, that might be the reason. Practice makes perfect!  :)

Answer 4

start handling the foal right away. pick up his feet touch him and even start walking him next to/into trailers as soon as it can walk good

Answer 5

ideally you'd do it within the first hour of it being born and then daily after that.

Answer 6

The older guys would say give the colt a week or so. But now they say ASAP. Remember one thing be patient and dont get yourself hurt