How to Make a Horse Behave for Hoof Cleaning

Your horse has to learn to trust you in order to behave when you are cleaning its hooves. From the horse's perspective, it is in a very vulnerable position when someone or something is holding on to its foot or picking up its leg. Allowing its foot to be picked up for cleaning puts the horse off balance and limits its ability to flee from danger. You must teach the horse that willingly giving a hoof to be cleaned will not hurt it. Working with your horse to earn its trust and teaching it to stand still when its feet are being cleaned is important to establishing a good relationship and a safe environment for you and the animal.

Things You'll Need

  • Rope halter
  • Hoof pick
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Instructions

    • 1

      Tie your horse in a quiet area using a rope halter and a quick-release knot. The rope halter will apply pressure to the object your horse is tied to if attempts to pull away and will release that pressure when the horse relaxes. Make sure your horse is calm before beginning any training sessions.

    • 2

      Familiarize your horse to your touch. Spend time going all over his body with your hands. This process is called "sacking out," and the goal is to be able to pet your horse all over without the horse flinching or being afraid. Work in five to ten minute sessions until your horse accepts being touched all over its body.

    • 3

      Stand next to your horse, with your shoulder by its shoulder, facing away from its head. Run one hand down your horse's front leg toward the hoof. Use the other hand to simultaneously apply pressure to the top of the leg. When the horse shifts its weight away from this pressure, reward it by removing your hands. Repeat this exercise until the horse consistently shifts its weight away from the pressure without being anxious or afraid. When your horse masters this pressure cue, move to the other legs and repeat the process.

    • 4

      Use the same sort of pressure cue to attempt to pick up a hoof. Return to the position you started in, standing next to the front shoulder and facing away from the horse's head. Take a moment to pet its neck and shoulder before running your hand down its leg. Use pressure with one hand to ask the horse to shift its weight off of the leg. With the other hand, cup the outside of the hoof and gently lift upward. Cradle the hoof in your hand without grabbing it so the horse does not feel trapped. Hold the hoof for a second or two before rewarding the horse by carefully lowering the foot to the ground. Repeat this exercise with the other front leg and both back legs.

    • 5

      Practice asking your horse to shift its weight and to allow the hoof to be handled. When the horse consistently responds to the pressure cue, gradually increase the time the hoof is held off of the ground. Take a hoof pick and use the brush to gently touch all over the hoof. When your horse accepts this contact while standing quietly, use the hoof pick to clean out the hoof. If the horse pulls away, gently release the foot and set it back on the ground. Pet the horse for a minute or two before trying again. Repeat this process until the horse will stand still and be calm while the pick is used to clean the hoof.

    • 6

      Ask a variety of other people to participate in these sessions. Have them follow the same steps to gently apply pressure to the leg, cup and cradle the hoof and lower the foot back to the ground. Practicing with many different people helps the horse understand that behaving when its feet are picked up is easy and does not put it in danger.