2yo kicking...

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Linz29

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I got kicked on Sunday by my youngster at a show, I was trying to put hoof oil on and he lashed out nearly breaking my arm. He doesn't like his legs being touched much but I have been persevering, garlic lick works a treat. It seems he's going through a faze of kicking out.. doing it tonight when in the field and I walked past when he was at his food, I was at the other side of the fence and spooked him a bit. Has anyone else experienced theroungsters going through a faze of this? And how have you dealt with it? Any advice appreciated !
 
I had a very sharp and nervous Sec A once. Spent ages and ages trying to get him to allow me to even brush down his legs, with him cow kicking or lashing out at me at random moments. I tried the glove on a stick and for the most part that worked until one day his hoof whizzed at me far too closely. I'm afraid to admit I was quick enough to lash him back with my schooling stick with the glove on the end, just once across his hock, sideways on. Whilst I felt bad after all the hard work I'd done with him being so nervous I have to say he never lifted a hoof at me again and from then on I was able to pick up his feet quietly without issue. It was almost as if he was waiting for me to assert my authority with him. Not the way I'd have normally chosen but it worked for him :(
 
Mine kicked as a 2 yo - she would sometimes try and kick me but also I really had to watch her with other horses if they came close when I was leading her or she was tied up - being on a livery yard I had to be very careful and whenever she tried it she would get a whack - now as a just broken 3 year old she is so much better and seems much more relaxed, she wouldn't dare kick me now but I am still on my guard with other horses although that is improving all the time. I would defo let him be when he's eating - I don't advocate hitting youngsters but in this instance when they kick or bite they need a sharp reminder that it won't be tolerated.
 
I will not allow any of my youngsters to go through a faze of misbehaviour - nor will I use age as an excuse.
Yes, you have to teach them what is wanted but you also have to know the difference between them not knowing/understanding and them just being defiant.

One of the things I do with all my youngsters is to use 'the hand' A bamboo pole about 4 feet long with a stuffed glove taped to the end. I stand by their shoulder and use the hand to reach places that Heineken cannot reach and just let the youngster kick or stamp but never taking the glove off them. Touching them where they are not expecting to be touched, maybe up high on one leg and straight across to low down on the other, all done from one side.
They soon get the idea that kicking is never worth it.
Should a horse get to even think about swinging its quarters towards me then it is for a certain chasing off.
Learn to boss him. Own the air that he breathes and he will be better for it.
 
Thanks! He is very well behaved normally and I have been getting on great with him, I think he's trying to push the boundary a bit at the moment but I can't tolerate the kicking its just too dangerous he 16hh so a big strong 2yo! so want it nipped in the bud asap, I can wash his (white!!!) back legs fine when he's distracted with a lick but he really needs to learn not to kick ever :-S
 
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Lenny has just started kicking out with his back feet and he's 17 months old,had 2 sharp slaps on his hindquarters,but I'm puttting it down to the fact he's got very muddy fetlock joints and feet when he's brought in and doesn't like his feet picked up,while wet and muddy, he's much better in the morning when his feet and feathers have dried off.
 
mine doesn't kick but snatches his foot back and stamps it on the floor! my friends mare, slightly older but still a youngester, kicks at any available chance!

we have recently decided that doing things near or with their back ends whilst they are eating isn't the best idea! they are going to be very bossy over their food, trying to shoe others away and at 2 might not yet understand that you're not trying to take their food away from them!
 
Mine was like this when i first had him and he suffered some sore heels the first winter and hated me touching his legs so was a real pain! But he had reason, they hurt when touched. This made him even more paranoid about megoing near his back legs. To be honest i just perservered and was firm but rewarded him for good behaviour too. Sometimes I did wonder if he'd ever let me do anything with his legs/heels/bits of feather but he does not, he's matured (he's 3 now), he trusts me now and he's fine 99.9% of the time. I think he'd still object if I had to treat a wound down there but I guess that's natural and they just have to learn that'd you're trying to help not hurt them.
 
As Bobbly. One of my youngsters tried to kick me and I'm afraid my reaction was immediate and instinctive. I kicked him straight back! He never did it again. I think it was the speed of the reaction rather than the force of the blow which shocked him.

Youngsters are very sensitive to their legs being touched as, when they play, they often bite each other's legs. I use a walking stick and stroke them all over and use the crook to lift their legs while keeping out of the way. After a while, they give up as kicking is unproductive and doesn't get them what they want.

Only then do I move on to lifting feet by hand.;)
 
Lose the lick.

Use a false arm and hand like a glove on a stick and also you can use a soft rope round the fetlock for picking up feet.

I worked to get my mare accepting of things suddenly touching her will no warning because she is VERY sharp with her feet and very sensitive to touch. She is much better in just 2 weeks.
 
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