Kicking in the stable

[Happy2Hack]

My mare is very possesive in the stable and kicks out while she's eating. She hits the walls most times. They are concrete block walls - I have rubber matting on them but she sometimes misses and kicks above the mats! This morning she manged to move her shoe so much that it had to be taken off!
I was wondering if there is any sort of boot I could get that would offer her some protection but is ok to leave on overnight?

 

[Holly27]

hi my sisters pony was terrible at this god it would drive us all mad and she would go lame from it all the time until my dad bless him got loads of coconut matting and put it all the way up the brick wall at the back and sides , so she kicked away away and it never caused a problem , its weird stuff very very thick its like a door mat times 50 in width , i found it alot better than the rubber, good luck i sympathise its a nightmare

 

[moneypit1]

Hi, Fly does this all the time when eating. I have wooden stables and he has trashed the kick boards to the extent they need replacing. This is a "defence" mechanism I guess to protect his food. It is a warning to other horses to keep away and I think it is a default movement that he proabably doesn't even know he does! I think he was reared in a large group of colts in a barn system so I suppose it stems from there. Bit tricky if you have concrete walls though, if you use a corner manger at least you would only have to pad the section directly behind I suppose. xx

 

[Taboo1968]

Does she stop doing this if you walk away? one of my geldings does this but only if you remain near the door cos he see's me as a threat to his food, but if left alone, just gets on and eats..... is there another horse near her that threatens her or has she just got into a habit of doing this?
If its just when you go near, I would try leaving her quiet whilst eating.....
Or alternatively, does she do this if tied up outside her stable with her food? If not try tying her up to eat outside.... at least she wont be battering a concrete wall with her hind shoes!

 

[Twilight]

Is there another horse near he that she think is a threat to her dinner? I had to swap stables with my boy because he was so worried about the other horses stealing his dinner he just launched at them in either direction and didn't have chance to eat! Since swapping stables to the end he has been much better - not quite the same but might help her if you have that option.

 

[Happy2Hack]

The horse in the neighbouring stable is tied up outside a lot and she is worse then but she will still kick if it's inside. The only other stable I could put her in is the one where I have my gelding - unfortunatly this is not an option right now as it is next to the pig paddock of the neighbouring yard and she is terrified of the pig!