MAJOR Breakthrough!!!!

[Sunshine*]

Okay.. so it is not going to sound too major, but it sure is for Dakota and I!!

He's a three year old who has never had ground work done on him. Needless to say, he when I got him he wouldn't lift his feet for me!

Today was the big day!!! He lifted up hir right front foot and allowed me to pick out his hoof!!! I was Terribly excited and he got a big handfull of grain!!!


Sorry, it seems so stupid, but I had to share my excitement!!!

 

[Peanut]

Well done! Little things are big breakthroughs with young horses. It's easy for those with older horses to forget all the little things that have to be learnt.

Is there a certain way of teaching these things; or is it just a question of tugging at a hoof?!

 

[Sunshine*]

Everytime I groomed him I would lift up his hooves. If he started to jerk for it, I would make sure I held it up till he stopped.... .b/c if I were to let him get away with it he would never learn. Then yesterday, just by chance, I had the pick in my hands and thought "why not!!" So I lifted up his hoof and he just held it there!!

It's taken us quitea long time, but I think we're finally progressing!!

 

[momofsix]

That sounds like a big deal! Good job!

 

[Sunshine*]

He did it again today!! I'm so proud of the little guy!!!

I tried to get him to hold his left front hoof as well.. that didn't go quite as well though. This past summer I injured my left arm and am not as strong in it. So my dad offered to hold up Dakota's hoof for me while I picked it. It kinda worked, but since he's never had to lift his feet, he's still really off balance!!!