I have a 4 year old mare that if wonderful natured, sweet with people and easily trained. The only problem I am having is she wants to kick other horses on the trail. It is not a matter of crowding and it has only happened a handful of times so far but I need to fix this now before it becomes a permenant issue. Does anyone know of a safe and humane way to teach her not too? In all other ways she is veary willing. She does water, bridges, traffic and trains. I just need help in this spot. Any help would be apreciated.
2006-12-09 11:00:17 · 10 answers · asked by Horse crazy x 14 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Pay attention to her body language before she kicks. Once you figure out how she reacts before she kicks, give her something else to do. Sidepass, back, turn on her fore/haunches, trot off, anything that is more difficult than walking on a trail. Eventually she will figure out that it is much easier to just walk on the trail and not kick, than it is to kick. The key to this is to catch her before she does it, just when she's getting ready to. As you pay attention, you may pick up what is causing it. It's not what happens, it what happens before it happens that's the important part... ie, It's not the reaction, it's the trigger you have to deal with. If it's always a mare, or a gelding, or on a certain side, or in a certain spot on the trail, that's what you have to deal with. Once the trigger isn't an issue, the reaction won't be an issue.
2006-12-09 11:13:55 · answer #1 · answered by skachicah35 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you have a 4 year old that kicks when not crowded I'd say it's just her personalty and there's not going to be an easy way to change the behavior. Some horses (mares especially) can get pretty snotty about their rear ends, and if you're looking to "gently convince her" it's not polite you're going to have a dangerous trail horse.
I'd say you need to get after her. Absolutely read her body language so you can anticipate the kicking, trying to distract her won't change her behavior long term, just instance by instance. You need a way to make her understand that kicking is not acceptable so you're going to have to suck it up and get on her case about it. Don't be afraid to give her loud, vocal cues either. If she understands that your "DON'T!" will be accompanied by a neck-slap or a butt-whack, you won't have to follow through with the punishment for very long until she understand the vocal cue.
Unfortunately there is, in my opinion, no non-physical way of deterring an animal that large from doing something harmful that works fast enough to be effective. Kicking horses are dangerous, not to mention unpopular with other riders.
I wish you the best of luck, don't be afraid to get tough, it's much better in the long run she learns how to behave than you having to ride 20 feet apart from everyone else, or being constantly on guard that you'll not be able to redirect her in time before someone gets hurt.
And remember to always have your red ribbon tied to her tail to warn others she's a kicker.
2006-12-09 11:29:45 · answer #2 · answered by *~*AlexisClaire*~* 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure how to fix this, but you could try riding in a contained area with other horses and just let her get used to being around horses. If you can't fix this problem you can still take her on trail rides and everything else, you just need to tie a red ribbon on her tail every time you go to warn the other riders of her problem.
2006-12-09 13:09:06 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can change this while she's still young. When she kicks out on trail rides, are there any horses around she knows? If you're riding with someone who's on a horse she is associated with, she's probably trying to protect her "herd".
Take her to places where there's other horses by herself. This can be a local show, clinic, etc. You don't have to take part in it, just get her somewhere where there's other horses. When you get there, don't act like you know she's going to act up. Relax, take deep breaths, stretch, whatever. Don't pay any attention to the other horses.
You'll probably see that she's a little stressed. Her head may be up, eyes wide, tense, snorting. Your goal is to get her calmed down and listening to you.
Do things to get her focused on YOU. Challenge her mind. Start on the ground and do a few exercises with her. Ask her to back up, turn, sidepass, etc. Don't lunge her. This does not help with her state of mind. After awhile, you'll find her body language changing. Her head will be lowering and she'll be licking and chewing, and tuned in to you. This is a good time to get on her.
Once you're on, continue to do a few exercises such as flexing, backing up, and side passes. Wait until she's calm and listening. Check yourself while you're on her. Make sure you're relaxed, not jerking or pulling on the reins, and you're loose and balanced. When you feel you both are completely calm, get off and take her home. Come back and do this a few more times. When you think she's ready, take her around the other horses.
If you feel she's about to kick, do not hit her, kick her forward, or yank her head around. Believe me, I've tried it and it doesn't work. It may stop her temporarily, but does it ever correct the problem? All it does is hurt your relationship, and you'll lose her trust.
Instead, stop her and put her to work. Side pass, flex, back up. Don't get frustrated. You can tell she's about to kick when she puts her ears back or you feel her tensing up. Keep working her until you feel she's relaxed again, then continue on your way. After a few trips to the local shows, you should be able to walk her around a few times there without her kicking out. Remember to change surroundings. Take her to other places where there's horses, and eventually your trail rides. If she ever threatens to kick, put her to work calmly until she's cooled down.
2006-12-10 07:44:57 · answer #4 · answered by yayme616 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Kick her forward and tell her no. Also, try keeping her behind other horses, so she can't kick. maybe it's a leadership problem. if so, she'll probably try to get to the front of the line. If this is true, she's only kicking because she wants her spot as lead mare.
2006-12-10 04:00:45 · answer #5 · answered by ♥horsegal186♥ 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all: keep her going. If she's even at a walk, she can't kick. also, there should be a horse-length between. To warn other riders, put a red ribbon in her tail (universal sign for a kicker). best solution: avoid situations where she can kick (go in last at shows).
2006-12-10 11:50:24 · answer #6 · answered by bianka w 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is just nature. The best thing you can do is immediatly kick her forward. That's about it. Kick her forward when you see her getting grumpy at other horses as well. I've had horses like this and this method seems to really help; although its hard to erase nature's instinct.
2006-12-09 11:18:49 · answer #7 · answered by hey_its_from_clare 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would tell you to go to the following website and look through the monthly newsletters for help with your problem. I seem to recall seeing an answer to something similar to this around the September 2006 period.
http://www.montyroberts.com
Hope this helps
2006-12-10 10:31:27 · answer #8 · answered by karaborr 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mabe try keeping her at the back of the line, take up the rear?
2006-12-09 12:04:10 · answer #9 · answered by libbybean 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i have a three year old that acts the same way.... i think its a mare thing..... gets an attitude.... moody mare
2006-12-10 05:53:50 · answer #10 · answered by kooneyedkellie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋