Floor clawing

[CharlyS]

My horse has always since I have had him insists in clawing the floor when I turn up at the stables or put him on the yard whilst mucking out.

I know that this is because he wants food or associates me with food and not that he is necessarily hungry.

Anyone got any tips on how to stop this. I have tried getting him to stop and then feeding him. But this doesnt seem to work. Any ideas why this is or what I can do to stop it?

 

[Dougie]

try posting this in the New lounge they may be able to help

 

[Bess]

Mine does this, when I went to try him out just under two years ago he did it and the owner said 'it's just a cute habit he's learned'. But he still does it now and I just ignore him. By feeding him when he's stopped doing it you are still in a way rewarding him, ie in his brain he does it, stops and then you reward him. So I think you should just ignore him, but then it's not worked for me.

 

[wizzer]

Same here i'm afraid my girl has always done it since i first got her. I always assume it's a habit developed from boredom in the past maybe to long boxed for one reason or another or something. But yes quite hard to break!!!

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

Some do it, alot don't, it's similar to door kicking. Best thing it to ignore them completely & try not to feed until they stop. Don't shout at them because then they've achieved the attention they are seeking, good or bad they don't mind as long as they get attention. Sometimes you'll cure it but most times you won't.

 

[apkelly01]

Does he only do it for you or does he do it with other people as well?

It's a pity you can't be beside him when he does it because a dig in the shins will cure it (also cures biting!). I was at a show and a horse starting to claw the ground. My horse then started to do it

So, when she started to do it, I gave her a little dig in the shin. She jumped as it was totally unexpected! Then everytime she went to lift her leg to claw, she got another dig. After about 4 or 5 digs, you could see she was thinking about it

Then she went to lift her leg, but then put it back down and has never clawed since

.

You could try this: it's strange, but could work

When you are walking towards him (with or without food) and he starts clawing, stop and start walking backwards until he stops. When he stops, start walking towards him again. He should realise that his clawing is getting a negative reaction (you walking away from him) It will look strange but he should get the message after a while

 

[Skilgariff]

My mare also paws the ground and kicks the door and it is only when I am around so I have been told. Although she will bang the door and paw when it is feeding time in the morning. I have tried a number of strategies, mostly now I ignor her and eventually she goes back to munching her hay, I have also tried the water pistol approach, but you need to have it on hand at all times. It did help, but with any training you need consistency. I also agree with last post. If I am walking towards her carrying her feed and she starts to paw, I will stand still until she stops and then take a step...as soon as she lifts her leg I will stop again...can take a while to get there. She will also paw the ground when she gets impatient if I was standing chatting to someone and she feels she should be somewhere else. I don't know if she will ever stop, but it is definately less frequent than it used to be!

 

[PennyJ]

My boy doesn't do it for feeding.

He does it when he's being tacked up, or tacked up but still tied up, as soon as you go to get on him he stops and stands absolutely still. He also does it when tied on the side of the trailer when his "pal" is off doing things at shows etc. He's nearly 6. Again good as gold as soon as his "pal" is in his sight again. I think he just wants to be off and doing things rather than standing still quietly.