Should You "Move Your Horse's Feet"?

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[@mariefullerzurenda8341]

I am an occupational therapy assistant by vocation, and a novice within the equine community. With that said, I have found myself struggling quite a bit to understand the reason behind some of the things we do with our horses as well as with the associated terminology. Finding your KZbin channel, and this video in particular, have proven immensely beneficial on my path towards learning how to ride and care for these beautiful animals. The way you’ve broke it down to the nitty gritty to which I am so accustomed within my profession made so many different things “click” for me. Thank you soooo very much and please keep em coming! :)

[@danw6014]

I have some thoughts. My mentor rode with both Tom Dorrance and Ray Hunt. First my mentor said you have to work from where the horse is at. Tom said all trouble comes from the horse not moving it's feet. My mentor often said that there was never any punishment with Tom. When he was around things just got smooth and quiet. There was no dominance but a partnership. It was like that with my mentor as well. Some horses get real upset when people try to confine them so they put more effort into moving, and people put more effort into stopping them, until things just explode. Most of the time, and with an it depends thrown in, I don't discourage my horses from moving if they need to but direct them. I learned that I can use what bothered them to get to their feet. I know that if my horse is going to go bucking that I can pop its tail, but I don't want it feet to die out. It's often effective to just give the horse something else to think about, like riding over cavilette poles so it can think about where it puts its feet.

[@Dylan-ez5qx]

well said. i think the idea of moving your horses feet is circumstantial. there are some situations where you really do need to back up your horse and get them out of your space, if theyre being really pushy or disrespectful i will move them off. but then again there are other situations where 'moving your horses feet' is just giving them something to do. so i think that it really has different meaning and can do good or do bad. if done correctly i dont see any problem with it, especially with a pushy horse.

[@gerrycoleman7290]

I pretty much agree with you. Good points.

[@gerrycoleman7290]

@@Dylan-ez5qx If a horse is pushy, then the most important basic has not been accomplished.............one's fair and trusted leadership status.

[@AngryAnkylosaur]

I wish this had have been the type of advice available when I was training my arab/saddlebred as a yearling. I was told constantly to move his feet in the total wrong way and it just led to him running and running until I learned the hard way that there is a BIG difference between letting him calm down in a calm, rhythmic trot and pushing him for movement to force "respect" or to "make" him calm down. And I love how you talk about balance, which is only something that I've seen trainers talking about more in recent years because there are so many young horses who are unsure about balance and footing that get labeled as "bratty" or disobedient.

[@Dylan-ez5qx]

sometimes you do have to get after them if they are being really pushy and disrespectful though. they need to respect my space and if that means sending them off and backing them up out of my space thats what needs to happen. i think the ain thing i do with horses that are being disrespectful or trying to push me around is to back them up. thats generally all thats needed. pushy horses dont like to be confronted face to face and asked to back because they think they are dominant. if the horse tries to move your feet by gettin in your face, thats when its time to move theirs. that just my experience with a few pushy horses ive had to ride and this has worked pretty well for me so far.

[@rhondatol9946]

I tried agility a couple of weeks ago with the horse I'm leasing. He'd never done it before and there was all sorts of obstacles in the arena that he'd never seen before. We walked around the outside of the arena for probably half an hour and gradually he relaxed and the adrenaline worked itself out of his system, and then he was calm and cool and by the end we had done all the obstacles! It was a great experience once we had walked the adrenaline out!

[@keithtaylor6069]

Thank you so much.. this is something I have never thought about before....

[@pullmanvet09]

I could not agree more with this video! I am working with a big and somewhat anxious mule and we have trained for different trainers who embodied these two types of groundwork; the "move the feet" version as well as the "move together in balance and focus" and the latter works SO much better to calm her down when she is anxious.

[@fburton8]

Interesting video with several excellent points.

[@BelleTeteRouge07]

Agreed!

[@cassiebucci2460]

Just this morning I had to do this with my OTTB. He was very spooky when I got into ride, so I took him off the rail (he focuses more on me when I do this as he’s gotten used to just mindlessly following the rail) and we just worked on contact at a stretchy walk and added in some balanced turns and bending. Always does the trick when his brain is left in the pasture.

[@alicecohen4726]

Relaxation from connection worked for me. Spot used to bolt in trot so we slowed doing figure of 8s. Not satisfied as i also felt tension rising into his shoulder and neck after massage. Discovered after a vet did an x ray that Spot had advanced side bone in front hooves causing him pain when with a rider. Sometimes a physical issue causes behaviour if only we are insightful enough to pick up the problem. Very good lesson..

[@Mjaetee]

This is so helpful! Thank you Callie!

[@IIIRikaIII]

A great respond to Clinton Anderson aggressive-horse videos? XD I like it. But what about "moving horse's feet to punishment?"

[@GuardianAngelEquine]

Very good video! Thanks!!

[@katebrits3461]

Thank you so much..I have been watching u and this cowboy how trains horses..and he says to move that horses feet alot..thank you for clearing out my questions about thus

[@DARKhorses73]

Truth 100%

[@caseyl5488]

This is a very interesting concept. I'll have to try it.I have a 13 yo belgian John mule who is super sweet but can be a patience tester to say the least. He usually shuts down and refuses after some time during our ride. I assume it was laziness and would try to get him to work by going in circles or backing but it never seemed to work. He always seems to become more anxious. He's a sensitive boy and with all mules you can't force them to do anything they don't want :) I'll give your technique a try. Thanks!

[@keithtaylor6069]

Thanks

[@RossJacobs]

Your theory about balance being a high priority for a horse's sense of okay-ness is interesting, but I can see where it has limitations. For example, it suggests that work that requires constant shifting and loss of balance is problematic to the emotional okay-ness of a horse. I'm thinking of activities like cutting cattle or playing polo or cross country obstacles, trotting/cantering over rough terrain, etc. Would you comment on this?

[@redstoneranger1404]

Very worthy input, thank you. Thinking about how your approach goes together with W. Schillers "Make the wrong thing difficult and the right thing easy". I see some conflicts here, need to sort this out...

[@DARKhorses73]

Thats letting the horse make a mistake and correcting it. If you've noticed warwhick changed the way he looks at things and connection and relaxation is the "new" warwhick. Been following him for years .

[@ggymnast3]

First, great great video!! I understand better from the horse's perspective now. I will turn the horses I work with in a loose circle when they are anxious or feeling suspicious. I've noticed their mind stops focusing on what is spooking them and they become quickly focused on where I'm leading them. It really works. But now having that balance of theirs in mind helps because I didn't really think of their balance when turning them before. I feel so bad though when I put the bigger horses in the cross ties because there is barely enough room for them to turn around. Maybe I can try backing up the bigger horses? What do you think?

[@silky2204]

I like the perspectives you presented. They make sense. Disengaging the hips - I thought that was just a prelude to when a rider is going to turn on the haunches. Are you saying this is bad? I am new.

[@gerrycoleman7290]

Careful...........Finding the truths in and amongst what all say can be challenging. The horse will teach you the truths. Learn the horse's language (body language).

[@silverkitty2503]

Its safer to move your horse in a direction you choose than to have them jump out to the side etc. If led correctly they will usually be only to glad to.

[@gerrycoleman7290]

It is not dominance. It is not about showing the horse that the person is 'the boss'. You got that all wrong. Watch horses interact in a herd setting. There are 'higher' horses and 'lower' horses in herd status. It is established by one horse causing another horse to move. By using the horse's language (body language) humans can establish their fair and trusted leadership status in the herd. It is accomplished by using techniques that establish trust. Not the old cowboy way of pain, fear, and intimidation.