dealing with a horse that kicks out sideways

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moodiestmare

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My new horse has an awful habit of kicking out sideways if you are doing something at her side (like grooming, rugging up etc.)

I have had kickers before but never ones that kick out sideways! I just don't know how to deal with it. Any suggestions?
 
if you can get someone else to hold one of her legs up ( pref a front ) she will find it harder to this as on three legs.keep doing it gradually holding the leg lower and lower. When she behaves lot's of praise.

She may have been treated very roughly before and thinks perhaps you are going to do the same. Just need to build up some trust !
 
Oh just dealt with this hope it helps.My mare hates her rugs being put on and will try and nip and has kicked out sideways.She doesnt like saddle put on or girth being done up.
Think problems started from ill fitting saddle.Im very gentle when I lay saddle on her back and she only pulls faces now. I have made huge progress with rewarding good behaviour with carrot. Im not normally one for treats but wanted to reinforce positive behaviour and it has mostly worked really well. I give her carrot before I put rug on and she is happy to munch .When I do straps up at front she gets another one if she is good, she asks for carrot with nudge but has stopped trying to eat my arm so improving all time.If she looks like nipping her head is pushed away and shes told firm no if she behaves she gets reward.I dont always give reward so she isnt sure what to expect and thing s are looking up.
 
Forgot to add mine was tetchy being groomed and cant cope with rough grooming she seems to be very sensitive /marish I give her agnus castus or chaste berry and its helped with her mood swings .Like us women they can suffer with hormones.
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A few things which might be affecting her behaviour;

1. are you over rugging her? is she too hot?
2. do her rugs fit? are they rubbing her or pulling back and creating pressure on her wither?
3. is she in discomfort with something like stomach ulcers? they can cause horses to show agression whilst being gromed, tacked up etc
4. does she have back or pelvis problem which when you pull on the rugs to straighten them causes her pain?

I'd just double check all of the above, then just try to ingnore the bad behaviour.... if she's had lots of rough handling, it'll take her a while to realise it ok.

from a safety point of view, having someone to hold is a good idea; and make yourself a 'hook' out of a metal coat hanger/ old walking stick, so you can use it to hook the surcingles with out putting your head in the danger zone
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I have one!!

She cow kicks, kicks straight out the back and will try to bite! She'll do this with rugging, saddling and if she is in an exceptionally bad mood grooming although that is very rare. Have had everything checked and double checked and nothing physically wrong BUT she had been handled very roughly in the past. Some days she is fine, other days vile!

I would not recommend giving her a smack (if you can help it), as with some horses she will come back at you twice as hard and will exasperate the issue. I have found rewarding good behaviour has helped (she no longer bites/pulls when led) and ignoring the bad. Having said that, catch me on a bad day and she has got a light slap but I always regret it and she just gets more grumpy!
 
my mare I work with at the moment does it.
She is much better with her saddle as I am laying it much more gently on her back, and using a humane girth.
However she does sometimes have an off day and still have a nap, but thats generally a day when she will be a pain to ride too.....

She is not too bad with rugs but does pull a face.

I tried smacking her, but she came back (as dot said) 2x worse. She is a mare that if you tell her off in a way she sees as "inappropriate" she comes back at your worse rather than taking the telling off.....

geldings are mint! lol

Id maybe try the positive reinforcement and maybe folding up the rug BHS style and doing it gently in stages....
 
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