Conference noted::equitation

1475.0. "Need help cleaning a foot on an injured leg..." by CSC32::M_POTTER () Tue May 28 1991 16:10

    My horse was always a thorough gentleman about having his feet cleaned 
    until he got hurt in March.  He got tangled in barbed wire and was
    badly injured.  He required extensive care and cleaning from our local vet, 
    and he eventually ended up going to the Veterinary School and having 
    skin graft surgery on the hock of his right hind leg.
                                                     
    He was confined to his stall in a cast for about 8 weeks, and finally,
    for the past few weeks he has been allowed out in a corral during the 
    day.  During this time he has been brushed daily, and the feet on his 
    good legs have been cleaned, but he associates any handling on his 
    injured leg with pain and fear. 
    
    This past week the farrier put on front shoes and just trimmed his back
    feet, because he didn't want to stretch the bad leg out behind him.  I
    have finally been given the go-ahead to start longing and riding him,
    but there is no way that he will let me clean his right hind hoof.  He
    doesn't really kick, but he lifts that leg directly out behind and above
    his rump.  I'm afraid to hold on at that point, as he clearly does NOT
    want us to mess with that foot.
    
    Any suggestions?  I don't want to get hurt, but I also don't want to 
    twitch him to clean his feet, and I cannot think of what else to do.   
    
                                     Marci

    Marci-
    
    Time.......
    I had to put hot compresses on my horse's
    hind end two-three times a day to keep the
    area moist so the stitches wouldn't split the
    skin.  Not a comfortable process, as I'm sure
    it hurt like heck.  He got to the point where
    he would be almost on the ground when he saw
    the hot compress coming.  It took a long time
    after the surgery for him to stop the cringing
    when that area was touched.  But, the key here
    is I did touch, and kept on touching until he
    realized that it no longer *hurt*.  Now he is
    back to normal, like it never happened.
    
    Lynne 

    I had to go through similar re-training/desensitization with my App. 
    The only thing to do is go s-l-o-w.  He has had so much pain that
    that's all he can think of.  If he's like Beowolf, he will get over the
    fear of pain in that leg, but it will take a long time.  Try having
    someone at his head while you work on the leg.  Give him his favorite
    treat while you pick, or stroke his leg or massage his fetlock, or
    anything that will let him know that it's OK to have that leg worked on
    again.  And one day he will let you pick it up.  But he's got to be
    good and ready first!  
    
    Good luck!  laurel.
    

    Well, I gathered courage from your replies - and Laurel's suggestion
    about the favorite treat WORKS!!  He's still edgey, but he's letting me
    clean that foot!!
    
    Thanks, you guys!
    Marci