Pawing

MrsElle

MrsElle

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Blue is currently a little b*gger. We get through one problem and hit another. This weeks thing is pawing. He paws when I am putting his headcollar on in the field, often catching me on the leg in the process, ditto putting headcollar on in the stable in the mornings.

I'm not sure at the moment if it is his headcollar that is nipping him as it is a bit snug (he started pawing when he started wearing his dually) or whether he is just being a git!

New cob size headcollar is on its way but in the meantime do I shout and give him a slap when he does it or ignore it until I can pin it down to discomfort or just him being arsey? I don't want to tell him off if his pawing is a result of the headcollar hurting, but should I?
 
my horse used to paw. quite violently sometimes! still does it now but not as much. think he was just having a tantrum and wanted my attention. really used to remind me of the toddlers you see following mums round supermarkets screaming. i did try telling him off but it didnt work so i used child psychology and just ignored him when he was throwing his legs about. actually the times he does it most now is when i come to say hello in morning but realise i havent picked up a headcollar so have to walk off without him to get one (i will get neighed at aswell) and when he really want to come in and has been waiting by the gate for ages. and of course feedtime. seems like his way of saying hurry up. but sorry not much help!
 
Gingerwitch, my gut is telling me it is sheer naughtiness! I will ignore him until his new headcollar arrives to eliminate that, but I think he will still do it.

He is 2 years old and can't stand still for a minute, he is very impatient bless him!

I adore the hairy beast, despite him going through his toddler stage at the moment!
 
Mine paws when he is waiting for his dinner (or spying someone else getting theirs) and he does it right next to his door causing a right racket! He is one bang away from getting the water pistol!
 
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New cob size headcollar is on its way but in the meantime do I shout and give him a slap when he does it or ignore it until I can pin it down to discomfort or just him being arsey? I don't want to tell him off if his pawing is a result of the headcollar hurting, but should I?

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Is there no way you can make an extra hole in the headcollar or use another horse's headcollar in the meantime? I'd be concerned that he is being trained to paw as a reaction to the discomfort which might continue after the discomfort disappears. Or being allowed to think that pawing is acceptable, which it isn't.
We had a mare who was very impatient and pawed, careless of whether she caught someone's leg or not, sister and I were both grooming her when she did it one day. We both immediately smacked her with the back of a body brush and she got the message. She never pawed again whilst being brushed.
 
Well that's what I thought, but my old chap has been doing this since the cold weather snap started.... perhaps he's telling me something and he could do with an extra set of Pj's on... so on went another blanket and front turnout chaps to see if he stopped and bingo.... he stopped pawing... he seems happier, busy munching and today I went and brought him a proper set of leg warmers... I think I'll need them!
 
Pawing is a displacement activity. For example, in the wild, a horse will be moving around when eating so at feed times, some horses still paw the ground as it's the closest thing to moving their legs. If a horse wanted to move off to follow others in the wild, he would but if he's not allowed to, he will paw as the closest thing to actually moving off that he is allowed to do. A horse in pain in the wild would certainly clear off but, again, a domestic horse paws as the closest thing to moving off that he can do. If you make a big deal of it, it could become a big deal. I'd just ignore it and it will fade as he learns other coping mechanisms that actually work. If you think his head collar is too small though, you do need to stop putting it on him or you will end up with a headshy horse!
 
my mare has learnt to paw recently (i swear from watching others do it) but I dont mind it, its funny, its as if she does it to talk to me - for example I am teaching her to pick her feet up, and rightly or wrongly giving her a carrot for every positive movement. She now picks them up fine with just a light touch, I tell her what a good girl she is but she now expects a treat and just paws once as if to say hey havent you forgotten something!! I am trying to tell her off for this but I am sure someone was nasty to her in her previous home, in her 6 short years, so dont feel that its too much of a problem, as long as you arent in the way when they do it!
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Micah does it when impatient. As BOF says its just the closest thing to moving. He stops when I say 'NO' problem when they do it is that they can catch somone and hurt them, so while its difficult to stop it shouldn't be encouraged
 
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