Extreme pawing!

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Footlights

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When my horse is bored, fustrated, or just throwing a wobbly, he paws the ground - but not just pawing, he throws his front leg so high and far out it is ridiculous! His hoof is almost as high as his shoulder and his leg stretches right out.

I have learnt how to avoid these bored/tantrum moments by making sure he isn't standind round for too long etc, but sometimes these times are impossible to avoid, and I want to know how I can discourage him from doing this when these moments arise?

He has never touched me while throwing his front legs out, and if he did I think it would be a complete accident, if anything he tries to avoid me while doing it. I am, however, concerned, that if he has a wobbly when someone else is around and they are standing in front of him, they are going to get hurt.
 
My mare does exactly the same! With her its as much a cry for attention if shes tied up, regardless of whether she has a haynet or not . When she was a baby I just put it down to her age but she's 6 now and shows no signs of stopping. I just ignore it now and she stops eventually. When I used to tell her of for it she used to do it more to get my attention again.
 
No real help to give and I know you sound a bit concerned. My horse does that too. There's a puddle (when it's wet) just off the concrete 'path' in front of his stable which he slams his foot in to make a big splash and get attention and is mostly pretty amusing.

Occasionally he does it when I'm next to him, but it most often happens when I've walked away and a growl will stop him - trouble is, he does it to get my attention, so the growl actually rewards him!


If anyone has any good ideas, I'll be interested too. :)
 
And me. My pony does it when bored and also when eating out of a bucket. Or she stands with one front leg up like shes having her hoof picked (but only when eating).

My mind tells me in the past I have read somewhere that it is to do with the fact horses move all the times so its more natural to eat while moving, but eho knows! Strange!
 
Footlights said:
When my horse is bored, fustrated, or just throwing a wobbly, he paws the ground - but not just pawing, he throws his front leg so high and far out it is ridiculous! His hoof is almost as high as his shoulder and his leg stretches right out.

I have learnt how to avoid these bored/tantrum moments by making sure he isn't standind round for too long etc, but sometimes these times are impossible to avoid, and I want to know how I can discourage him from doing this when these moments arise?

He has never touched me while throwing his front legs out, and if he did I think it would be a complete accident, if anything he tries to avoid me while doing it. I am, however, concerned, that if he has a wobbly when someone else is around and they are standing in front of him, they are going to get hurt.
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Hi. He sounds a playfull chap. Hehe just like my cheeky boy. I brought him a ball which you can place treats in or play in the sand school with. That worked wonders, he spent the time trying to get the treats out, and stopped doing it.
Hope this helps.
 
I had a mare who used to do this with the intention of trying to get her leg over the rope that was tying her up. When she got the leg over the rope she'd look at me as if to say 'ha! now you HAVE to come over and give me some attention!' She must have learned it before I had her and it drove us all mad. We used to just try and avoid tying her and leaving her by making sure we were organised! They are far cleverer than some people think!
 
Haha I'm glad it's not just him who does it!! Sometimes he does it when he has a haynet and gets his foot stuck in the net. He just stands there looking at me with his leg stuck in the air!
 
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