good. Yesterday I think I may of reached her breaking point. I had just finished brushing her off from our ride. One of my other mares had been kicked earlier on the stifle and I was showing my boyfriend where that was on this new pony. As soon as I touched this mares stifle she tried to nail me hard. Lucky for me I was far enough forward she didnt get me. I jumped her case for it and she stood quietly again. So I tried touch her stifles on both sides and everytime, she would raise her leg in an attempt to tell me she was gonna get me if I didnt stop. This is a mare that you can do anything with, not spooky, you can pick up her back legs no problem. She does have an attitude when I've ridden her but its because she hasnt been worked in a while. Im pretty sure I can stop her from kicking me, but how do I train her to stop kicking so I can trust her around other people?
2007-02-13 02:55:44 · 9 answers · asked by Miss_MountinM 2 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
The first thing I would do is have her checked by a vet for lameness in her stifles and hocks. If she is sore, she will kick out in defense. And if she has been that way for quite some time, she has gotten in the habit of it. If you rule this out, then you can try kicking chains (not a personal favorite), or what I have done in the past with kickers, is a sweeping them from behind with a long handled soft broom. This teaches them not to overreact to something brushing up against the back legs, and keeps you out of harms way while you are doing it. But with anything, it will take time to get her out of this habit. And since she has not been ridden in awhile, she may think she just does not have to , and is trying you. Her attitude may change for the better if she is not hurting and as she gets in better condition. Good Luck.
2007-02-13 06:00:53 · answer #1 · answered by Paint Pony 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Do you know if she is in heat or not? Some mares get touchy around their back ends when they are in heat.
If not, and this is just a behavioural problem, the other thing I can suggest is repetitive touching of her stifle. If she is a talented kicker (cow kicks) then I would suggest looking to Paralleli Games. I have used the game "hide your hiney" with a few of my younger horses who liked to kick out and it worked quite well.
Check it out on the internet, it's not for everyone I know, but I would suggest giving it a shot. Hope this helps!
2007-02-13 11:07:20 · answer #2 · answered by drsj_coach_sara 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like you can get her to stop doing this.Maybe someone picked on her and thought it was cute that she would kick when you touched her there.She need to get use to it that's all. Does she have a favorite scratching spot? You'll need 2 people for this, 1 way is to have someone scratch her spot (my horse loves his ears scratch) and when she has her mind on that you start running your hand her hind leg,don't stop on the stifle just run your hand across it,if she is good give a piece of carrot.Another way have someone hold up her front leg and you just rub her leg and when she is calm give her back her leg give good praises a piece of carrot .keep doing this and I'm sure in a few days she'll be good.Good luck.
2007-02-13 11:08:44 · answer #3 · answered by Cindy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, dont shoot it. It is very possible to solve this behavior with tim and consistancy. The question you really need to be asking is "Is the pony worth what I will have to do to make it right?" Horses are not stupid, but they can be a challenge and you will really have to be on your toes when around this one. You let your guard down for a while and you could be in for it. If you decide that it is worth it, GO FOR IT! I have never lost in getting a new horse, there is always something to learn.
Best of luck.
2007-02-13 11:13:42 · answer #4 · answered by coolhandven 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She may have been abused or have strained the muscles and they hurt...both good reasons for a horse to kick, I think. She doesn't trust you yet. You sound like a horsewoman, so you know how to settle a horse down: speak gently, move slowly, let her smell you and watch you. Move your hand from her hip down to her stifle and give her fair warning that you are going to touch. She will come around eventually.
2007-02-13 11:06:56 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I use this method for all the 'kicky' horses I have trained and owned.
I just get a long whip, perferably a lunge whip, and rub her back legs with it all over. Have her tied to a solid fence. The moment she strikes out, whip her butt hard, not her legs. Whip just above the hocks, where her legs curve. Firmly say "NO!" in a loud tone, but not a scream. Once she is comfortable with this and no longer kicks out, tie a plastic bag, like a wal-mart bag, to the end of the whip and rub it all over her and her legs. If she kicks out, repeat like before. As she get accustomed to this, shake it more vigorsely and provoke her to kick out. A child walking behind her isn't going to give her any warning, same with something flying across the street. it isn't going to stop and think "Hmm, this is a panicy horse, I better take it slow"
She may be a little sore, so let her chill a few days before doing this, and remember never to strike the cannon bone, the stifle, or the hocks, strike the rear and just above the hocks.
2007-02-13 11:36:04 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
I fhtis pony has been owned before, the preveous owners may have hurt the pony toutching it in the places you are trying to.
I have owned horses all my life, and that is the only thing I can think of.... Hope it helps!
2007-02-13 10:59:44 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
One good way is to tie the legs up to a rope that goes between the front legs and around the neck. then when it kicks it will do its own training just like the barking collars that are put on dogs that when they bark they get a light shock, which lets them know it is not so good to bark. Same goes for the horse. When it starts to kick, it will inflict its own punishment for it and will learn very fast that kicking is not a good way to go. I learned this from a very good horse trainer that had some of the best horses around and sold some for many hundreds of thousands of dollars when that was a huge sum of money. Still is to most but this was back in the 60's.
2007-02-13 11:06:27 · answer #8 · answered by ramall1to 5 · 0⤊ 5⤋
Put her in a small area where she can't run.When she gets nice and fat,kill her and eat her.
I hope this is helpful
Good luck
2007-02-13 11:01:19 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 9⤋