Pawing problem getting dangerous - any advice

[nannubu]

Hi - hoping someone can help. My Mum has a Friesian who loves to paw. Started off in the stable but unfortunately has now progressed to doing it in the box on the way to competitions, even while moving! She's paranoid his foot will eventually go through the floor. Any ideas to stop/minimise this bad habit? We'd really appreciate some advice; he competes at least once a week so travelling safely is a priority. Cheers!

 

[AmyMay]

Is it stress related?

 

[*hic*]

The quick answer is hobbles, especially when travelling.

 

[eatmoremincepies]

Can you figure out what the payoff is that he gets for doing it? Does he get attention because everyone tells him to stop it? Or might he get hay to keep him amused so he stops? Is it stress, is he anxious/not getting enough turnout/too much feed etc etc. Could it be mites? Sometimes they seem to become addicted to the noise it makes - a hoofboot in the lorry or rubber/carpet on back of stable door can help, have known that make a dramatic difference.

Somewhere in his little horsey brain there is probably a good reason why he does it, even if it doesn't make much sense to us . . he must be getting something out of it, in his mind. If you can crack that mystery you may have a long term solution.

Have used kicking chains for one like this in the past - a strap with some heavy smooth metal rings on it, that goes under the fetlock. Comfortable if he's not pawing, uncomfortable if he is. But if you haven't dealt with the underlying issue it will come out in another way eventually, they are nothing if not endlessly inventive these horses!

Oh and best check the lorry floor! lol Hope you get to the bottom of it.

 

[Ladyinred]

Mine used to do it because he liked the noise.. he used to do lots of weird things to make noise. One day he connected with my knee so hard that I reacted reflexively and punched him in the shoulder! The only time he has EVER been hit (and I hated myself for it) but strangely he has never ever done it since in eight years.

But eatmoremincepies is right. You need to find the payoff and remove it. Would hobbles be safe in a lorry? Not sure, but if so then it might be safer than him going through the floor. Not sure how his balance would be affected.

 

[Theresa_F]

Stinky used to do this and also kick the sides of the trailer when I was parked up or in traffic. I got him out of the habit by giving my brakes a dab when he started which made him keep his feet on the floor where they should be. Personally I would not use hobbles but try the dab of the brakes to get them to keep their feet in place when travelling. You don't want them falling over, just being put off balance slightly so they need to keep feet planted.

I now have a well manner cob that does not kick or scrape when travelling. He was not stressed or worried, he just wanted to be given attention and let out the trailer immediately when we got to shows.

Farra also went through the pawing stage when she wanted attention or was bored being tied up. Being a Clydesdale, having her legs flying out is dangerous. She got told "no" every time and a sharp tap on the shoulder of the offending leg as she did it. She too now knows that pawing is unacceptable, especially if tied up with people around her.

You can nip it the bud if you start now. Obviously do see if there is a reason behind it other than wanting attention, food etc as some do paw when stressed. Stinky also paws at anything because he is a wants to investigate it but now that he is 7 he can get out of that habit too.

 

[SpottedCat]

I've used hobbles on various horses travelling, they work well and most are very easy to hobble-train. You just need to remember to remove them before unloading, though I did forget once and my horse managed to walk down the ramp without any catastrophies! If you go to any big event and peek in the back, you'll be amazed how many horses are routinely hobbled to travel - we just don't talk about it in this country for some reason.

 

[Kaylum]

First thought was mites as well. Feathered horses get them. Its well worth a check as it can drive horses to distraction and one of the major signs is pawing.

 

[nannubu]

Thanks guys great advice and much appreciated - think we're going down the rubber mat route first to rob him of any poss noisy reward. Def not mites and very unlikely stress. Ludi is only four so still very much the playful, attention seeking baby! Will not rule out hobbles though. Better safe than sorry! Thanks again!

 

[dapplepink]

My 17.3 h/w hunter was a horror for pawing when I first got him, but the people who I got him from used to let him get away with murder and at 800kg its just not safe to allow him to do it! For him it was all about attention seeking so even telling him off was actually still rewarding him! I've now got a water pistol and when he starts pawing or kicking the door he gets squirted with the water pistol!! It hasnt stopped him completly but it has dramatically reduced it and now if he is doing it I only have to pick up the water pistol and he stands like a statue and behaves!!

Might not be one of the most common ideas but it works for us! Quite funny to see this huge horse being controlled by showing him a kids toy!!

 

[amandap]

If you go to any big event and peek in the back, you'll be amazed how many horses are routinely hobbled to travel - we just don't talk about it in this country for some reason.

Gosh,I never knew that. Very interesting and surprizing.

 

[FanyDuChamp]

My lad does it when he is excited or impatient. A quick tap on the shoulder stopped him, now you just have to point at the shoudler and he stops. Never thought of it as dangerous, more annoying.

FDC

 

[flowerlady]

Thanks guys great advice and much appreciated - think we're going down the rubber mat route first to rob him of any poss noisy reward. Def not mites and very unlikely stress. Ludi is only four so still very much the playful, attention seeking baby! Will not rule out hobbles though. Better safe than sorry! Thanks again!

Can I ask, if you are putting rubber matting down, what was there before??

 

[Foxhunter49]

One of the worse pawers was a pony and he would wake me in the middle of the night with door bashing. One night I had enough and rushed around to his stable and frightened the bejesus out of him by arm waving and whacking him on the backside.
He never did it again.

Now, if a horse paws I go into attack mode and make them realise that yes, it will get them attention but not the kind they want.

They soon learn to stop.

As for in the horsebox then a quick touch of the brakes when he starts makes him realise the four legs on the floor is far more sensible.

I know that many will go against this idea and be making excuses as to the reason why they are doing it. I make no excuses and deal with it as soon as they start.

 

[Devonshire dumpling]

We had a youngster who would paw when we were mounted trying to open gates on him, one day he put his whole hoof through the bars, pulled back in panic and the gate was open, flew open and he wriggled and wriggled and finally his hoof came out, he was so lame thought we needed to get a vet out there and then, but within 2 mins he was sound, just hurt like hell I think.. anyway he did it through impatience in the stable and when tied up etc so....

When mounted we slapped the shoulder of the pawing leg. and shouted firmly NO!!!!! and avoided gates for a bit, and when on the ground we slapped his shoulder and did the same... he's now totally cured and ok to do gates again X