Right, just to stress from the outset, this is just how I did it. I'm not saying that this is the only way to do it, doubtless more experienced clicker peeps than me found a better way. I should also stress that Faith already knew how to pick up her feet, it was just her near hind that was causing me trouble, as she would pick it up, and as soon as it was held, she would start kicking back. So this isn't really a starting from scratch plan, although it could be incorporated into one.
1. Make sure horse is on level, non slippy ground.
2. Run hand down leg and give normal request to pick up, click and treat as soon as the horse responds, accept anything from resting on it's toe, to picking up for a second, to longer picking up.
3. Gradually, (and I do mean second by second, withold treat until horse is picking up and holding hoor up for maybe three seconds).
4. Introduce horse picking up foot, and you cupping hand around foot, again build up one second at a time.
I should say here, that it is often good to make sure you are not asking the horse to lift it's foot too high, just enough ground clearance for you to bend comfortably and get your hand around it is fine.
5. With hoof lifted and cupped in one hand, rub the sole and frog with the palm of the other hand, again building duration slowly (wear rubber gloves if muddy).
6. Introduce hoof pick and picking hoof out, again build duration, although you may not need to by the time you get to this stage.
Hopefully that should be enough. If he is struggling with any part, go back to the earlier steps and build up again, the higher the reinforcement rate, the more motivated he will be. Also just remember that with young horses, growth spurts may also affect their balance as well.
Hope that helps
