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Horses - Behavior Issues, Breaking and Training/how to get a horse to lay down
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QUESTION: I have adopted a horse with a spinal injury who has balance issues. His back legs are weak. He needs to have his hooves trimed soon, and when i try to work with him on giving his hoof - he goes off balance and could be disaster if he falls wrong. the person I adopted him from said they had his hooves trimed once, but he was already laying down.
He is a 3yr old Quarter horse, and we are working on ground basics.
I was hoping this was somthing i could work on with him, so we could routinly trim his hooves in a safe manner.
any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Julie
ANSWER: Hi Julie!
Yikes, I'm just not sure about this one. Getting a horse to lay down requires some balance and strength in the hind end. A horse lays down front end first and gets up the same way, front end first and then pushed up with the hind quarters.
Can your horse get up and down? Have you watched him do it? I have never worked with a horse with a spinal injury and I'm thinking this is just not a great idea...
If he can't balance with a hind foot off the ground, keep the foot low. Allow him to rest his hind toe on the ground and trim from there. The lower you keep the foot the more horses like it anyway. You don't have to hold it way up in the air like many farriers do any way. This is comfortable for the human, but not great for the horse.
Give this a shot. Let me know if he is able to get up and down on his own. I'll think about this a while longer...hummmm...
Smiles, Denise
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Denise,
Thank you for responding to my question. Mooney sleeps laying down and I see him laying down in the pasture in the summer afternoons. so he can get up and down on his own pretty good. i have see him loose footing with his hind quarter and go down and he poops right back up. I have been working with him and he is getting pretty good at lifting his front legs. i have not tried his back just yet as we are still working with trust issues, but he has come a very long way with that. I had the vet sedate him and we were able to trim his hooves up with him on the ground. that buys me a little more time to work with him on his back legs.
Thanks for the tip on keeping the foot close to the ground, I am sure that will make a big difference.
Take Care,
Julie
Hi Julie!
Does your horse have EPM? What is the source of the "spinal injury"? With an unstable rear end, your horse will really depend on his front feet to do so much more. It seems to me that the hind feet will be easier to get taken care of because they are weak.
Try standing him next to a solid wall that he can lean on when you get one hind foot off of the ground. Allow him to brace against the wall for support.
Good luck, keep me posted!
Smiles, Denise
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Answers by Expert:
D LaChapelle www.Laurelmountainfarms.com
Expertise
I am a student of the Horse. How to deal with "problems" and find SOLUTIONS with real QUALITY that RESPECT the HORSE is my goal for this site. It has been my great fortune to be able to focus the last 12 years studying the Buckaroo/Vaquero style of horsemanship, this is what the Natural Horsemanship movement is based on. Ray Hunt, Buck Brannaman, Ricky Quinn and Bryan Neubert are my teachers and mentors. I continue to study and ride with these great horsemen.
I am happy to offer help in starting colts, re-starting troubled horses, helping you find a "better way" with horses and sharing with you what it means to be a student of the horse. Western show disciplines; Showmanship, Trail, Horsemanship, Western Pleasure, as well as Hunter Under Saddle and Three Day Eventing are my passions. I enjoy sharing my 30+ years of experience with all levels of horse owners; children, amateurs and serious competitors. Please visit me at: www.laurelmountainfarms.com
www.Laurelmountainfarms.com
Experience
I have been answering questions on this site for quite a while now and I will NOT tell you what you may want to hear. If you don't like my answer, don't ask me again. It seems that when I have to be blunt and REAL with folks to keep them and their horses out of trouble SOME of you are offended by that. That is for you to sort out. I knew I was going to be dealing with some very inexperienced owners and that is fine, however when you ask questions that need a blunt, honest and real answer you are going to get it. I will reject questions when I feel the questioner is just not ready for the answer, when I feel that they are not ready for the necessary changes and will not listen. Folks, most often is problem is YOU. YOU have to be willing to look in the mirror and CHANGE. If you are willing to listen to what I have to say, even when it is something you don't want to hear, then ask me. I will try and answer all questions respectfully, but if you need a good swift kick in the pants, you WILL get it.
Organizations
American Quarter Horse Association, USEA
Education/Credentials
Learning good horsemanship is an oral tradition passed from master to student. At an early age I started riding with noted clinician Richard Sharake at Horsemanship West. Although I have ridden with many top flight trainers and instructors, Ray Hunt has been the most influential and has had the greatest impact on my horsemanship. To be a student of the horse and to in some small way pass along the gifts Ray has offered to me, is my greatest educational accomplishment.
Awards and Honors
I have campaigned horses to many State and Regional titles. My horses and I have earned 14 AQHA High-Point All-Around titles, won multiple AQHA year end high point awards, and have qualified for the AQHA World Show.
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