Please set your horses feet down gently, all the way to the ground, when you are done handling them, don’t drop them!
What do I mean by this, any time you pick up your horse’s feet, set them back down when you are done. How often when you are picking out a hoof and you are done, do you just drop the hoof? You pick it out and then just remove your hand and the hoof slams down to the ground. You expect your horse to be relaxed while you handle their feet and then the moment you are done, you drop it. If your horse is truly relaxed through the process of you handling their feet then when you drop their hoof, it slams down to the ground.
Yes, these are big strong animals but even to them, it doesn’t feel nice to have a hoof slam towards the ground. Especially if your horses has just had their hooves trimmed or if it has been really wet and their hooves are softer than usual. Now imagine both of these situations on a rocky ground or in cross ties on cement.
Then you have the horses that keep tension in their leg the whole time you are handling their hoof and it feels like a bit of tug of war to pick out their feet. When you are done and remove your hand, the horse pulls their hoof away quickly so they can set it down. Most people would feel that this horse is “harder to handle” yet they are just being protective of their hooves.
So take an extra second each time you handle your horses feet and set them back down. At first your horse might pull it’s foot away as your are lowering it back down. That is ok. Just be patient and keep setting their feet down. It will make a difference to your horse, and it doesn’t take you any extra time. It is a simple way to show your horse every day that you are looking out for them and respect them. It is a simple way to build a better relationship with your horse. It is a simple way to help your horse stand better for the farrier. It is a simple change to add to your routine.