My horse tried to kick a walker!

[DaisyMae]

Still in a bit of shock - I was hacking my exuberant thoroughbred yesterday and she got excited and tried to kick a man who was just walking past. She really took aim and very nearly kicked him in the head!

I've owned her for over 4 years and she's never done this before... She has, however, twice spun around and kicked out at head height when she's not wanted to be caught from the field. The first time she nearly kicked me in the face and the second time she caught my friend at the top of her arm and skimmed her face sending her glasses flying across the field. 3 incidents in 4 years so the behaviour is very intermittant.

She's an absolute sweetheart, with me, the rest of the time so it's pretty upsetting.

She can be very aggressive with other horses when she's in her stable especially at feed times but never with me.

I do think it's down to exuberance as when she gallops around the field she's alway kicking her heels up.

Feel pretty upset about it tbh and just wanted to post on here to see if anyone else had has owned a horse like this?

 

[3Beasties]

Oh dear, naughty mare! What made her kick out? Had you stopped to let the walker passed or did you keep her walking?

In future you'll obviously know to be aware of this behaviour and can put her in a position that will mean that she can't cause damage to someone by kicking out, with the correct riding and punishment at the right time she'll probably realise it's to much effort and give up trying to reduce the walking community!

 

[Jazzy B]

oh dear, feel shocked for you reading your post would say you and your mare were very lucky she didn't get him I agree with 3beasties about positioning her so she can't do it please be careful a friend of mine got kicked in the face and had to get her whole face re-wired - it was horrible!

 

[DaisyMae]

I think the man was in the wrong place at the wrong time - We'd were just coming to the bottom of a hill which we sometimes canter up, i wasn't going to canter but she was pretty excited anyway.

 

[Hairy Old Cob]

Lets Hope it was a Member of the Ramblers Association

 

[Echo Bravo]

Cheeky hairy old cobCheeky

 

[TeamChaser]

Poor you DaisyMae - must of been bit of a shock for you and you can't help but think "what if she'd actually kicked him"

Don't beat yourself up too much though - it is the nature of the beastie a bit. They can all have their unpredictable moments and at least you'll be more aware of this type of behaviour in future

Does remind me of an incident while I was working at a racing yard. Me and my sister were riding our last lot, 2 mares, back from exercise on the gallop as a member of the public was riding towards the gallop (people were allowed to pay to use gallop after we'd finished morning exercise) As we drew level, the mare I was on started playing up (in fairness, she was a total bitch most of the time!) so my sister just said to the gentleman - watch that one, she can be a bit of a nightmare. No sooner were the words out of her mouth, than the other one, the mare she was on did a huge flying buck and nearly kicked the man straight off of his horse I don't know who looked more surprised, my sister or the poor man that had nearly been kicked in the head

I know I shouldn't laugh but thankfully no harm was done and it was quite funny at the time!