Monty Roberts Equus Online University | Monty's Horse Training Post: mare won't pick up feet

Learn all about Equus • Dually Halter • Shy Boy Mustang • Jumping Horses
• Story of a Horse Whisperer • Riding Horsemanship • Dressage Horses • Willing Partners
• Horse Training • Round Pen Lessons • Performance Horses • Join-Up

Watch Monty's horse training videos to learn how he demonstrates communication through horse training techniques that the amateur and professional alike consider to be the trainable skills of a horse whisperer yet Monty calls it horse gentling.
Monty's horse training techniques are non violent with intelligent natural horsemanship. In addition to video instructions, Monty has written many books related to natural horsemanship. Monty trains safe horses for nervous riders called Willing Partners. Monty trains world class race horses for sale.
“I am very proud to be a part of Her Majesty’s horse training and her passion for their welfare. I believe she is the leading monarch for the advocacy of horses in the world. She is a thought leader in this field. Her Majesty's horses are trained using the Dually Halter, making a difference in the training of sensitive animals by giving the horse the choice to partner in the training.” ~ Monty
“I communicate with a horse in what I call the Language of Equus; a silent language of gestures that is discernible, predictable and effective. Now you can learn from my videos, audio and notes to help you understand the horse as I do. This language is really quite simple, but simplicity becomes its greatest strength.” ~ Monty
Monty Roberts is a renowned horse trainer known as the man who listens to horses and the original horse whisperer. Monty's horse training instructions are accepted worldwide.
Monty has helped thousands of people globally through his Monty Roberts Online Videos to learn how to Join-Up with horses, training young horses, spooky horses, horses that bite. His mustang , Shy Boy , is his most famous horse.
Join-Up methods help horse and trainer to establish a bond of communication and trust. “You must somehow understand that we as horsemen can do very little to teach the horse. What we can do is to create an environment in which he can learn.” ~ Monty
Monty says, “We hear that ‘actions speak louder than words,’ but generally we do not live by it too successfully.” Now Monty has taught thousands of people worldwide how to build trust in animals through our actions and body language.
Monty’s principles really amount to common sense and immense patience. He believes that children and horses have the same behavioral patterns. They are both naturally “flight” animals. "If you frighten them and resort to confrontation, you’ll lose their trust." ~ Monty
"Simple one-on-one reassurances and praise reap long term dividends that can all be undone with the quick slamming of a book on a desk or shouting back." ~ Monty Roberts
"No one of us was born with the right to say 'You must or I'll hurt you' to any other living thing, animal or human". ~ Monty Roberts
"My life's goal is to leave the world a better place than I found it, for horses and for people too". ~ Monty Roberts

← back

Horse Behavior and Training

mare won't pick up feet

By:

April

Date:

2010-Jul-04 at 06:32AM

I am currently training a 11 year old brood mare that has had little human interaction. She is doing very well and accepting more everyday. She accepts being touched and handled all over her body, down the pastern on all 4 feet. But she won't budge when asked to pick her feet up. If anyone has some non-aggressive and pain free suggestions, will you please share your ideas? Thank you.

Rudi - Pratteln, Switzerland 2010-Jul-07 at 05:39PM

Maybe she does not understand what you want from her. She will take the weight from the foot if you manage to disturb her equilibrium: pushing her to the other side, or let another person pull her head to the other side to ask for a step to the other side. Then it should be possible to take her foot for a moment, followed by a great PIC. You should be the one who decides when to put the leg back.
Rudi.

April 2010-Jul-09 at 08:41AM

ty Rudy. I had tried pushing on her shoulder, she would shift her weight but still wouldn't pick up. I followed your advise using another person and she is now doing well. She will have her hooves trimmed for the first time, I think she will do well.