Cow Kicking youngster

[Lex1979]

Cow kicking advice. 3 separate incidents
He’s 3 I’ve had him 4 months approx

1. I was told he kicked at the the gate when a lady was trying to take her horse out. Small area they all congregate.
2.Same as above when someone was putting their horse in
3. The bit that’s worried me took him up the road to a little pony club, came off trailer ok after not the best travel (5 min) walked up to arena absolutely fine. Called to other horse then fine again. The flys were bad and the child ran straight to his back end he leapt forward cow kicked and caught my hip.
I disengaged his back end twice and he was calm again
Should I be worried? I really don’t want him to be a kicker

 

[Nasicus]

I'm reading that as:

1. Horses all crowding around the gate, things can get narky, especially if they're wanting to come in and scuffles break out.
2. See above.
3. A child ran up to his backside and he was startled by it.

None of them would have me particularly worried about him being a kicker, as there were understandable reasons for it each time.

 

[AmyMay]

I'm reading that as:

1. Horses all crowding around the gate, things can get narky, especially if they're wanting to come in and scuffles break out.
2. See above.
3. A child ran up to his backside and he was startled by it.

None of them would have me particularly worried about him being a kicker, as there were understandable reasons for it each time.

I agree

 

[Lex1979]

I'm reading that as:

1. Horses all crowding around the gate, things can get narky, especially if they're wanting to come in and scuffles break out.
2. See above.
3. A child ran up to his backside and he was startled by it.

None of them would have me particularly worried about him being a kicker, as there were understandable reasons for it each time.

I’m hoping it all just a close together coincidence and I know sometimes the girls at the yard can be a little dramatic. I know he’s young and I know he didn’t go to kick me however I was concerned at the reaction and put together with the other two reports it concerned me. Thanks for the reply x

 

[Caol Ila]

I hate gate scrums. The nicest horses can get narky and quick with their back feet. They're not aiming at you, but you can get easily caught in the cross-fire. I know someone who got kicked recently because she led a horse too close to the back end of another horse. Routine and familiarity breed complacency and all that. It was a thing she'd done a million times, but this time, the horses must have exchanged some rude words with one another, because the front horse, who had no history of kicking, kicked out at the horse behind him and accidentally nailed the handler.

The children at the pony club need to learn more horse sense. Running straight at the back end of anything is monumentally stupid.

 

[Red-1]

Sounds like normal horse behaviour to me, and that perhaps the field entrance needs re-configuring.

I would have blasted the child who had run at my horse's back end.

That all said, I would also do some more ground work to move him around with submission. I am of the belief that he/she who stays still while the other moves their feet is the one who is in charge. With a horse I feel is dominant, I will even move them around me even for doing tasks such as picking feet in the stable I will stand still and manoeuvre them around me to the correct foot presents itself. Same for grooming, I stand still and the horse is moved. Same at the field gate. I will be still and the horse will work out how to avoid me.

I think this gives them better awareness to avoid you and your space. It also means you have to give better training to have them flexible in their minds, and has it so they follow light requests.

 

[Lex1979]

Thanks all for the reply I agree with it’s all. Will definitely crack on with ground work and demand more space and go from there.

 

[J&S]

That all said, I would also do some more ground work to move him around with submission. I am of the belief that he/she who stays still while the other moves their feet is the one who is in charge. With a horse I feel is dominant, I will even move them around me even for doing tasks such as picking feet in the stable I will stand still and manoeuvre them around me to the correct foot presents itself. Same for grooming, I stand still and the horse is moved. Same at the field gate. I will be still and the horse will work out how to avoid me.

I so agree with Red-1. The very first thing I teach a young or new horse/pony is Go Back and Move Over

 

[dorsetladette]

I'm not a fan of the scrum of a gateway. Is there any chance you can ask for a corral type area to be put up by the gate? one with a couple of entrances so people bringing horses in have a couple of options. Youngsters become bargy at gates and push boundaries with both other horses and people. Its nothing sinister, just them learning where their place is in society. I wouldn't worry about the cow kicking in this scenario, but the enviroment needs to be managed while your pony is going through the 'growing up' period.

Youngsters at pony club/riding club shows have to be managed carefully. I spend alot of time getting my babies used to the big wide world, but at riding club shows I tend to keep well back from ring entrances before my class and head straight back to the box afterwards. As they become more settled I will hoover around a little nearer the rings but I hate the congregation round the ring of people chatting and not paying attention to the pony their holding/the child they have with them/the dog on the lead/other peoples ponies close by (insert as applicable). I'm not suggesting you were one of these people at all by the way.
Bigger/higher level shows tend to have (but not always) more experienced handlers around and on the whole give each other the space they need to manage their pony correctly and not putt hemsleves in danger.

As others have said, lots of ground work, getting pony to conpletely understand your commands and then trust you is the biggest thing with a baby.

Good luck with her.