HELP!.....How to stop our horse from kicking his door all day long :-(

V

VickyST

New User
Joined
30 September 2010
Messages
4
Visit site
It is driving us mad! He'll do it for no reason, even if no-one is around. Someone has suggested getting a water pistol. Also someone has said there are anti-kicking door devices? Not only is the noise driving us up the wall, we are also concerned he could get concussion or other such injuries, not to mention the lovely door he is denting :-(
Any suggestions?!
 
He might be kicking it just to hear the clatter, in which case, putting rubber or any other material that would stifle the noise on all the clattering parts should sort him out :)
Obviously, it might be boredom or lack of fibre, so make sure he has enough to eat, maybe install a mirror in his stable, some toys etc.
 
turn him out ;)

of if not ditto the rubber "sausage" - or you can get webbing door things too
*darn my brain can't think of the proper name!:o*
 
:eek:Thanx. We kicks even though he is next to other horses. We are putting rubber matting on the door tomorrow.

Has anyone had any experience or luck using water pistols?! Or is the best thing to ignore?

His diet is fine, its more for attention than anything. But our yard is busy, with lots to see and do! Its just driving us mad!:eek:
 
I would say turn him out - or move yards to somewhere where you can - him being a colt does not mean he is any different from any other horse!!
 
R2R said:
I would say turn him out - or move yards to somewhere where you can - him being a colt does not mean he is any different from any other horse!!
Click to expand...

Him being a colt does make him different from most horses R2R. They can't just be turned out as easily (covering mares/fencing etc) and are usually stabled most of the time due to turn out restrictions. We don't all have the luxury of having the ideal stabling or facilities so some things are not as easily done, i.e. turning a colt out more often.
 
My friend's horse was a nightmare for door kicking so was turned out as much most of the time but her stable had carpet nailed to the door with straw stuffed behind for when he did have to come in. Won't stop them kicking but does making it quieter!
 
VickyST said:
Oh, he is a 3 year old Andalucian colt! So he is limited to our corrals at the moment.
Click to expand...

Can he be in the corral all day? Or do you have a stable with a run out pen?

If you have to restrict his turn out (not getting at you, I do understand stallion keeping) I would put a bar on the inside of his door so that it keeps him back from the door enough so that he isn't making contact with it but can still see out. Then all the usual stuff, ad-lib hay, toys, mirror (although be careful, I knew someone that did this and the stallion tried to kill it)

Never tried a water pistol, fortunately I can keep mine outside full time so don't have to put up with that irritating banging noise but I do sympathise.
 
enfys said:
Can he be in the corral all day? Or do you have a stable with a run out pen?

If you have to restrict his turn out (not getting at you, I do understand stallion keeping) I would put a bar on the inside of his door so that it keeps him back from the door enough so that he isn't making contact with it but can still see out. Then all the usual stuff, ad-lib hay, toys, mirror (although be careful, I knew someone that did this and the stallion tried to kill it)

Never tried a water pistol, fortunately I can keep mine outside full time so don't have to put up with that irritating banging noise but I do sympathise.
Click to expand...

He has adlib, and 2 of his Spanish friends either side. We are getting toys tomorrow, along with more rubber matting for the doors! We have big corrals, and they can go in and out of their stable. I really think its food related, and attention, but mainly food! (even though he always has hay, he kicks for more!)
 
ThoroughbredStar said:
Him being a colt does make him different from most horses R2R. They can't just be turned out as easily (covering mares/fencing etc) and are usually stabled most of the time due to turn out restrictions. We don't all have the luxury of having the ideal stabling or facilities so some things are not as easily done, i.e. turning a colt out more often.
Click to expand...

Oh I know. I have been around colts and stallions enough!
IMO you shouldnt have one unless you can cater for its needs - as in - turn it out in a safe area. This could be a large pen, or small paddock. My friends colt, for example, is three and is turned out with 2 geldings away from the mares. I know competition stallions who are turned out for 3 or 4 hours a day...and another stallion who gets turned out when the horses are brought in at night...he actively covers mares and is kept next to two, and clearly sees them through the bars in his stable without fuss.

The colt here is clearly bored of being shut in so I dont think my suggestion of moving yards to somewhere it gets out more is outrageous. I am not a hippy happy clappy either - just makes sense to me that young horses (stallions or not) get turned out...when in full work its a bit different as brains are occupied in different ways but the need for a leg stretch is still warrented.

We do tend to treat entire horses strangely in this country IMO!!
 
Sounds like stress, he really needs to be out. I think if I was stood in a phone box all day I might be kicking the door.

Bears weave in zoos, lions and tigers pace, we just drive animals quietly mad.
 
Your colt definatly needs to be out - he is a baby and needs to play - he is bored! He probably gets attentioin when he's kicked the door - getting your attention rewards the kicking so he kicks more.

Even though he is a colt he can be turned out with a gelding - they love the company. My colt spent his first three years out with several geldings. They taught him horse manners and played with him allowing him to grow up a well adjusted horse.

If he is going to spend the rest of his life as a stallion he is going to have a lonely life so give him some company & fun while he's a baby. Sorry for the rant - but I feel that colts & stallions get a raw deal.

In the meantime - keep him occupied with toys - a mirror in his box, a haynet with small holes that keep him busy eating longer, if you can't get a small holed haynet then put one inside another.
 
I have Sec D yearling colt turned out with Sec A and Sec C geldings and they are all out 24 hours. The Sec C keeps him in check and the A winds him up! He is waiting for the op but was poorly in the spring so I have left him.
If banging the door winds you up now, wait til you start working him and he misbehaves all the time due to brain buzz. I don't mean to be critical and am only trying to help, but if you are able, get him to a place where he can run with other horses, it will be a bit scary at first but pecking orders will soon be established and as a baby he needs the discipline from his peers more than his human. He won't bang the door when he comes in for feed etc, as in my experience when they all come in for riding or the colt for a feed, they love their own bit of space and lie down most of the time!
Good luck.
Bryndu
 
I don't know much about stallions, but do know that any animal should be allowed to display their natural behaviour. You wouldn't keep a dog in a cage all day everyday. I have never understood 24/7 stabling, it is beyond unfair :( (not having a go mind, I don't know the ins and outs and would imagine it is a situation you would rather not be in) just feel you should be resolving the T/O situation rather then ways to keep him happy in, which I don't think any animal would be.
 
Ok, mine does this, and he gets turned out daily, for over 8 hours and ridden and fed etc etc etc. When he gets bored of being out, he kicks the gate to come back in. If you shut his stable door, or put a chain across, he kicks the walls instead. Sometimes this is attention seeking, and NOT bad management.

The only answer i found (after a few nights camping outside his stable, hose in hand - the kicking starts at sunrise), was to thread some nuts (as in nuts and bolts) onto a spur strap and attach loosely around the pastern. When they kick, the nuts rap them on the shin. Unbelievebly this works (considering the pain that must be caused by kicking doors - mine gets swollen knees if you ignore him.......).

It's important to consider ways you can manage him better (and surely this is a continual thing during horse ownership), but once its a habit formed, its extremly hard to break. Good Luck.
 
Have a look at this brief overview, it seems to cover most aspects of these types of problems for horses. http://www.wikihow.com/Deal-With-a-Horse-That-Has-'Movement-Vices'
Tbh, I agree if his needs cannot be catered for then the Yard need to review it's management of horses. I feel quite strongly about us humans creating these 'stereotypes' in horses, they are a sign of stress and frustration we need to listen to what the horse is saying, not get annoyed. All on the yard need to understand this and support each other in helping this fella and you. Take note of the bit about if it has become a habit in that link. Use ways to manage his behaviour when in the stable. Also if everyove can try and ignore him and go to him if he stops kicking for a scratch and soothing words.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
i have one whose terrible, she kicks the door/fence/anything in her way into oblilivion and bucks at the walls and kicks off her shoes despite work and turnout and all that, shes just an impatient insecure quirky dangerous creature so i have to deal with it accordingly.
we have covered her stable in rubber and put doormats on the door as they are prickly to kick and deadens the noise so its not annoying and doesnt hurt her.
Also simple things can help, like working her first, putting her in the turnout pen first thing to get rid of her 'nightime energy' so shes quieter as i do the rest of the yard as shes let off some steam. She also loves it when you muck out when youre in the stable with her (i usually pop them in the pen out the way but she likes the interaction) and likes toys and licks too. just some ideas for you! sometimes its simple things keep them amused!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top