Here's how to safely pick up a horse's hoof:

Starting with front hoof, approach your horse diagonally from his front so that he clearly knows you are there – you don't want to surprise him. Place yourself even with his shoulder and make sure to face his rear; you will both be facing opposite directions during hoof picking process.

Making sure that your feet aren't too close to horse's hoof, start running hand parallel to him down his shoulder and along length of his leg, finally stopping just above his ankle. Gently grasp ankle portion and click (or otherwise verbally cue him) to ask him to raise his leg. If he's well trained, that small cue will be more than enough and he'll do just what you requested. You're now free to begin picking his hoof.

If your horse is being a bit stubborn or hasn't learned how to pick up his legs yet try leaning into his shoulder as you run your hand down back of his cannon bone. You can also gently squeeze/pinch tendons to further cue him to what you would like. As you perform these physical cues make sure you provide a verbal one also (I make a clicking sound) so horse later associates your sound with requested response. Increase weight you push against his shoulder until he finally lifts his leg as requested.

When picking a horse's hoof you want to remove all debris from hoof clefts as well as rim and frog. Be careful around frog because it can sometimes be a bit sensitive, particularly if horse has thrush.

It's easy to do with this check-at-home method.

If your kitty has been previously diagnosed with a feline UTI, there's a chance it could re-occur. Since it's impossible to see crystals in your cat's urine that are caused by a UTI, you don't know kitty's hurting again until UTI is fairly well advanced. And then how do you tell?

Poor kitty probably stops using cat litter box - again.

Well, there's an easy method to check kitty's urine at home, with a minimum of fuss. You can check as often as you like, and it's easy to see test results - you don't need any training.

Here's how:

First off, you'll need either non-absorbent litter (available from your vet) or clean acquarium gravel that's available at any local pet store.

Next, you'll need urine pH test strips, which you can read about, and order at:

http://www.cat-urine-odor-advisor.com/crystals-in-cat-urine-pH-kit.html.

Then, set up kitty in a room of her own with food, water, a clean litter box (scrubbed clean, not just litter-dumped-out clean) with non-absorbent litter or acquarium gravel. You might also add some of her favorite toys, a kitty DVD (see them here at http://www.cat-urine-odor-advisor.com/cat-litter-box-problem.html), or just turn on a radio tuned to a classical music station, with volume set low.