Also consider that, at age 25, he may have some arthritis or other pain from an old injury. If standing on 3 feet is painful, he's going to protest.
Otherwise, I agree you just may have a smart pony.
Have a good vet check him over, as well as the farrier. If they give him a pass, then some retraining is in order.
> Hi Mar, Sounds like you have a
> really smart pony.He knows what
> you can and can't do. The snotty
> nose may be due in part to the
> weather.We are in drought
> conditions ourself.That means alot
> of dust.horses will pick food and
> what little grass they can get and
> breath some dust into there nose.
> Sometimes that will cause it other
> times it's what they are exposed
> to.There alergic to something.I
> never become excited if 1. There
> is no temp.2. It hasn,t changed
> color and 3. It there isn,t more,
> or a problem breathing. And by
> this I mean copuses ammounts. I
> always teach my students how to
> teach the horse or pony how to
> shift weight.If he learns how,
> then picking his feet won,t be
> such a struggle. Its not hard to.
> Take your hand lay it flat on the
> shoulder of the legg your working
> on and push, push only hard
> enfough to see him shift his
> weight. So if you are on the right
> side,place your hand onthe right
> shoulder then push as he shifts
> his weight over to the left.
> release this should be very
> fast,or you will be holding up all
> his 400#s or so. Try again as you
> and he get good at this pet him
> and tell him how good he is. Then
> move to the right hip. same thing
> all the way arround him, these are
> good to learn for saddling also.as
> you do this make a game out of it
> and before long you will be
> slidding your hand down the legg
> and picking up his leggs.It takes
> alot of pratcice and paitents. You
> have a smart pony who has got away
> with this for toooo long!!!!
> GOOD LUCK, CINDY
