Advice needed....

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Baldybear

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Long story short, 13.2 welsh x arab pony, now 23. Had for over 15 years, always been a bit cheeky, not one to really enjoy human company likes horsey company, but listens to me and is generally 99% of the time a good pony.

Last year June time diagnosed with hepatatits and at his worse at 75% liver failure, very thin, very depressed. Lots of steroids etc and he is seemingly back to health.

Usually kept with 3 other ponies (2 boys and mare), but last August put him in a field next door with another gelding as more grass. Him and other gelding have now super bonded, my pony is still cheeky and is the boss of the field, still likes his other mates when they are together.

Back to health now and has started light ridden work which he is fine with and certainly back to normal in his mind, his cheeky streak has come up again but he is pushing his luck now too far and also the bonding between him and the gelding is not good.

It seems as very clear today that he is suffering anxiety and separation issues, took him out of field to brush him (literally just outside and can see other pony in field) and had a fight with him to stand still, just kept going round in circles, eventually I won and he stood still and let me trim feathers, pull mane etc. All very good.

Went to pick up his feet, front as good as gold, cant go near his back feet, can get it of the floor an inch and try and lift it higher and he cow kicks, have a stonking bruise now on my knee, luckily he doesnt have shoes. Took him up towards road, trotted him up, felt his legs and no obvious sign of injury, in field he is fine, but cannot pick his back feet up without the cowkicking. Friend tried and he is same.

Sorry its long but the basic is need advice on stopping the cowkicking and also any tips on getting over the separation. When he is with the others out on ride he is fine, but on the ground he cant wait to get back to his mate. Getting a bit frustrated!

Thanks in advance
 
Sounds much like my Welsh x Arab! With him, if he hasn't done anything for a long time, whatever that is (hack alone/hack in company/leave field mate etc) he is really silly. Once he has done it once or twice, he then settles ok. Just try him every day and see if he improves - but I guess you know if he's that 'type' or not.....
 
Bump, can anyone else help?? Especially with the cow kicking as cant get anywhere near picking out his back feet without him cow kicking.

Thanks :)
 
Totally random but how's his eyesight?

Other than that, with the cow kicking, if you have a good relationship with your farrier I'd phone him up and explain the problem and ask him to come and show you how he deals with it. The chances are that as the pony has known his manners in the past when he has to deal with someone who's used to hanging on to bolshy ponies' feet he will give in quickly and once the farrier has taught you a few new tricks he won't bother trying it on with you.

Works for me anyway:D
 
Could he have a problem with his hocks? The first sign my mare showed of her spavins was reluctance to have her hind legs held up to have her feet picked out. Fine for the farrier because he stands in close and leans into her which gives a bit more support - now that I've learnt to do that she's fine for me too. She just needs a bit more time and help. With my mare, who needs time and sympathy rather than manners which she has by the truckload, I taught her to pick her feet up when I snap my fingers. That way she can take her time, shift her weight herself and do it a bit more slowly before handing me the foot at a comfortable height. If I then lean my hip into hers it makes her less likely to kick out.

With my friend's mare it's a manners issue. To keep safe we use a longish stick to keep safe while we get her used to having her legs handled. It needs to be a firm stick so you can press and stroke the leg so a schooling whip wouldn't be any good. A carrot/cucumber/banana stick would actually be ideal. The farrier strokes down her legs with a broom handle before he gets in there with his arm which does exactly the same job.

The other thing we've learnt is if they cow kick never handle their back legs with them tied up. Always hold them yourself then if they go to kick you you can pull their head round towards you quickly which swings the bum away.
 
I usually hold onto the foot until they stop kicking. Obviously wear a hat and make sure your face isn't at a good angle to be kicked! (You should be stood to his side anyway).
Be firm and inform him that he has 23off hrs a day on his own, when YOU want to fiddle you can! It sounds like it is all on his terms atm and you need to turn the tables and take charge!
Jenina_too's advice about the farrier is also good too, they have some good tricks up their sleeves! :D
 
At 23 it might well be that it is uncofortable for him to raise the hind leg in the way you would like.

Have you trid just raising the foot slightly and resting it on the floor so that you can pick out the hooves???
 
If this is a new issue, and he does it now all the time (what would he be like in the field where he can see his friend?), not just because he got out of bed the wrong side, then kicking out sounds like it could be a pain or discomfort issue.

I don't think you can go past an acupuncturist for pain issues, if that is what it is.
 
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