| If you have a horse that kicks, either occasionally, | | | | ever might receive the impact of the kick. |
| periodically, or habitually, it is wise to find out the | | | | Instantly correct your horse to let him know this |
| reasons behind this behavior. Sometimes there | | | | is not acceptable behavior. |
| are practical reasons a horse will lash out. He may | | | | Kicks delivered due to frustration of the horse |
| be protecting himself or trying to relieve pain. In | | | | can be pretty easy to discern. If you are found |
| other situations kicking is a bad habit that must be | | | | to be slow, in his opinion, at delivering your horse's |
| addressed before some one gets hurt. | | | | grain ration you may recognize this type of kick. |
| To figure out what your horse is trying to tell you | | | | These kicks are usually accompanied by body |
| with this potentially dangerous behavior you need | | | | language that you cannot miss. The horse will not |
| to observe his body language and what are the | | | | seem frightened just impatient. Pinned ears, |
| circumstances leading up to a kick. Horses are | | | | flipping the head, rearing slightly, and lunging |
| usually trying to communicate one of six | | | | forward are the preceding body language normally |
| messages when they deliver a kick. | | | | associated with this type of kick. |
| A horse may kick because they feel threatened. | | | | Feeding this horse first may be a workable |
| Kicking is a weapon horses will use to defend | | | | solution. You may choose to simply ignore this |
| themselves. Being an instinctive response this may | | | | type of kicking providing the horse is not hurting |
| be seen in the most pleasant and easygoing | | | | himself or others. Some people have tried hobbles |
| horses. This type of kick can be recognized by | | | | to help eliminate this behavior. Hobbles only work |
| what precedes it. A horse that is scared will try | | | | if they are on. A horse may stop when the |
| to move away from the perceived danger. If that | | | | hobbles are on and start up again when they are |
| does not work he will try pinning his ears or | | | | removed. |
| raising his hind leg as a warning. If these fail then | | | | The kick to take most seriously is the horse that |
| he will deliver the kick. | | | | kicks to say "I'm in charge". This horse, |
| Sometimes a horse will kick in response to pain. A | | | | somewhere in his life, has learned bullying is an |
| horse with a sore back might "cow kick" when a | | | | acceptable way to deal with people. There are |
| saddle is placed on his back. If a horse kicks at his | | | | bigger training issues with the horse that tries to |
| belly he may be telling you he has gut pain. Usually | | | | achieve dominance over his human handler. Before |
| a horse that kicks in pain does not threaten or | | | | they kick they will threaten and posture with |
| posture before kicking. He just kicks when it | | | | pinned ears and show a "mean face". Usually they |
| hurts. When the pain is relieved the kicking | | | | turn their rump toward you and raise their hoof |
| typically stops instantly. | | | | before the kick. |
| Horses will sometimes kick out because they feel | | | | These bossy kickers do not try to escape the |
| good. They are being playful. This kicking is not | | | | situation. Often other aggressive behaviors will be |
| intended to be harmful but accidents can happen. | | | | displayed by these horses such as showing no |
| If you happen to be turning out a rambunctious | | | | respect for the space of others. These horses |
| horse do so cautiously for your safety and the | | | | have gotten away with this behavior in the past. |
| safety of other horses. This is not something that | | | | A bossy kicker will act this way because it works |
| necessarily needs or can be corrected. Just use | | | | for them. Reforming this type of a kicker can be |
| common sense. | | | | very difficult. It very well could require a |
| When a horse kicks when you are riding he is | | | | professional trainer to reestablish ground rules and |
| probably reacting to another horse or even | | | | the chain of command when it comes to personal |
| another animal that is too close to his hind | | | | space. |
| quarters. Horses can be strict when it comes to | | | | When a horse kicks it is a call for an investigation |
| their personal space. They can find it offensive if | | | | to find out why. A kick can be an effective form |
| another horse comes too close to their hind end. | | | | of communication. It can be a powerful weapon |
| Mild warning kicks normally precede the "tailgating | | | | against predators. Kicking does serve the horse |
| kick". This type of kick under saddle should not go | | | | very well. However, kicks can inflict injury. It can |
| uncorrected even if it seems justified. Kicks can | | | | be one of the most dangerous behaviors a horse |
| be powerful enough to break the bones of who | | | | can display. |