Can you teach a horse not to kick out at others when being ridden?

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Charla

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Is this possible? If so, how do you do it? Horse will kick out even if the horse behind isn't particularly close. Will also try to stop and slow down just to kick another horse! Makes rides less enjoyable and more of a worry. What can be done?
 
:)
It is an annoying trait isn't it?

I do not like kickers and I am afraid that I show no mercy to riders who will not do something about them.

So, it is really important that you do something about it, as you are :)
There are several things you can do.

Firstly, put a red ribbon on his tail, hold your hand behind your back - fingers splayed to warn those coming behind to give you space. Red ribbons are a warning, not an excuse.

Ride him on. Don't give him an opportunity to slow down, if you feel him do it, make a big noise about it... basically a hefty Pony Club kick in the ribs and "Oi, get on with you!" if that makes no difference, jolly well wallop him - hard! It is not a time to be nicey nicey. If I was hunting and a horse backed into me to kick he'd feel the end of my lash on his arse, better that than his heels in my face or my horses.

Don't put yourself in the position where he can kick, kickers should be at the back of the ride, and stay there.

Kicking with intent (I can forgive a horse if another runs up his back end) is a huge No, no. It will make you thoroughly unpopular, and could really injure someone, person or horse, badly. Not to be tolerated and if a good crack on the bum with a stick does the job then so be it.

Good for you for trying to get it sorted. :)
 
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Ive had 2 like this. The first got out of it with a smack with the whip every time he did it. The other I had to just work with it, red ribbon at shows etc . He would go out of his way to run backwards and boot something but hey ho, he was 13 when I got him so was unlikely to get out of the habbit, even through trying he wouldnt stop.
 
You didn't say if this was a mare or a gelding?

Some mares are very protective of their back end, in that case it is more up to the rider then to be aware of her and to warn others, and stay out of the situations where she will feel threatened.

The behaviour still can't be allowed to turn into a habit, and is to be reprimanded if she does, but is more of an instinctual thing than one that purposely threatens and must be treated accordingly.
 
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My boy did this when he was younger. I always put a red ribbon on his tail and I was (and still am) careful what sort of situation we are in. I dont let him get boxed in in a crowd for example.

It actually stopped when I started to do some general ground work with him and improved his confidence in me.

I dont ever relax about it though and I see it as my responsibility to make sure we dont get into a situation where he might do it.
 
I put red ribbon in tail but must admit that since giving him hell when he has even raised his foot or shown intent he seems to be much improved. Tomorrow will tell though as first time out in group for a few months - will still put red ribbon in tail and I always try and stay at back - out of way and if we end up in a close group make sure I face back end away from others.
 
HI i have this problem with my little fella..when i had him wasnt told he kicked so first time i hacked out with others i was carefull as i didnt know him,the next time i was riding next to a horse i know very well and he double barrelled it..luckily no harm done thank god but i was mortified could have been very nasty ...i was so shocked i didnt react quick enough and just kept him at the back very subdued i couldnt believe my lovely new sweet cute pony had done that...anyway(sorry going on a bit!!!)phoned previous owners and no he hadnt done that before!!i was then very carefull out with other horses and always kept him wide or behind,i couldnt trust him,he also was a big bully in the field to the horses he was in with(even though he is half there size lol) which didnt improve,so he has had to be kept seperate as he will go out of his way to go and have a go at them.
This was 2 years ago and although he is still kept on his own in the field i now know him so well i can ride upsides other horse and as long as i watch for the signs i trust him now,i have the odd time when something comes a bit close and he tenses and the ears go back and i just control the situation by moving him,i never thought i would be able to ride next to other horses but i went to group lessons and he never even thought about it and a mad clear round night which was my worst nightmare!!ponies everywhere cantering past him,he didnt turn a hair so i do think they can get better in time,im just always very aware of other horses in his space as he obviously doesnt like it,he is such a happy little chap most of the time would love to find a friend for him one day to be turned with....Hope that helps..
 
Having been kicked once, on my leg while on my mare, I loathe horses who kick out for no discernable reason, and riders who do nothing about it :eek:. The mare who kicked us was passing, in a wide car park entrance, as I oversaw the ride going into the car park at the end of a novelty ride, which was suitable for lead rein riders! The girl on the mare and her parents declared that it was my fault for being in the entrance :eek:, odd as all the others had passed with no problem. Any horse can kick, but if it does, get it told rather sharply and try and make sure it doesn't do it again!
I am another who says give it a sharp one with the stick if it does it.
 
Well, went out today - had horses all around and some quite close and he didnt even show any sign of kicking - also very good with the hounds. For him I think as he had been hacked on his own mostly since day 1 he just needed a little experience in a group and to be told that kicking or even raising a leg isnt acceptable behaviour - hopefully it has clicked this season !
 
I was kicked too by another horse whilst riding mine. The horse didn't just kick out, it ran at me span round and double barrelled. It ment business, and I ended up with a fractured leg!
So my advice would be make sure you're insured! As I'm now out of action for at least 12 weeks through no fault of my own.
 
Gosh that's so sad to hear. I feel very sorry for you and hope that you are not in too much discomfort.

I really do hope the horse got what it deserved, though it seems that far too many riders these days just say 'there, there, something must have frightened you' when a good old fashioned hiding is called for.

Anyway, get well soon you poor thing. :-(
 
I had a mare that did this on our first ride in company. I couldn't react quickly enough so I got a friend to ride across and behind me just out of reach and I was ready - when she kicked out she got one hard wack (stick not whip!) and a growl. Being Arabian she learned quickly and never did it again in all her 30 years!! It's probably the only time I would hit though.....
 
Enfys said:
:)

Ride him on. Don't give him an opportunity to slow down, if you feel him do it, make a big noise about it... basically a hefty Pony Club kick in the ribs and "Oi, get on with you!" if that makes no difference, jolly well wallop him - hard! It is not a time to be nicey nicey. If I was hunting and a horse backed into me to kick he'd feel the end of my lash on his arse, better that than his heels in my face or my horses.

Don't put yourself in the position where he can kick, kickers should be at the back of the ride, and stay there.
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My horse wears a red ribbon whilst hunting/being in a group because he once lifted a leg once while hacking out (didn't even attempt to kick, just warned) he has never done it since. Hence whilst hunting he 90% of the time stays at the back or if at the front for whatever reason I always make sure I have space. I didnt reprimand him purely because a baby ran into the back of him and bes scared of his own shadow ;) he probably doesnt even need his ribbon but i am at least warning people he has shown an inclination to kick, albeit just the once!! There's a lady who mare is renowned for kicking out, it'll do it at anything that gets within a 10ft radius. She makes no attempt at reprimanding, warning others and tuts loudly when it does do it, followed by a 'it's you're won fault' stare.
 
The wife said:
There's a lady who mare is renowned for kicking out, it'll do it at anything that gets within a 10ft radius. She makes no attempt at reprimanding, warning others and tuts loudly when it does do it, followed by a 'it's you're won fault' stare.
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That kind of rider makes my blood boil! In our hunt if you didn't reprimand a kicker with at least a couple of good hard whacks, you'd be 'spoken to' and made to feel very unwelcome.
 
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