Training Tip: Horse Weaves When Her Feet Are Picked Up

Question: Whenever I pick up my Quarter Horse mare’s feet, she weaves back and forth. A couple of times, I’ve had to quickly put her foot down because it felt like she was about to fall over. She never gives me any problems when I want to pick up her hoof, she never tries to take her hoof away, and she never leans against me while I’m cleaning her feet. I have had the farrier and the vet check her feet, and there are no pain issues and she is sound. How can I get her to stop? – westerncowgirl

Clinton’s Answer: I’d take her to an area where you have plenty of room to work with her, such as a roundpen or arena or someplace where you’re not having to deal with a concrete floor or close quarters. I’d practice picking up her feet. As soon as she’d go to weave, I’d immediately drop her foot and put her to work. Do Lunging for Respect, Yield the Hindquarters Stage One, Backing Up, Sidepassing … it doesn’t matter what you do as long as you make her hustle and do as many changes of direction as possible. Hustle her feet for a few minutes, and then go straight back to picking up her feet.

If she stands still for four or five seconds, let her foot down and then rub her.

After a few minutes of rubbing her, pick her foot up again. Anytime she weaves or moves around or acts goofy, drop her foot and immediately put her to work. You want her to realize that standing still while you work with her foot is the much better option as opposed to moving around.

The key to this lesson is to quit the horse before she quits you, meaning that when she stands square and doesn’t make a fuss, you reward her by letting her foot down. Progressively build on the amount of time you hold her foot. If you think she’s going to start weaving in 8 seconds, drop the foot after 6 seconds of holding it. Always be the one to retreat first.

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