Pawing

[ILuvCowparsely]

Hi adding things to the web to help those with this problem.

(pawing the ground)

this is not a thread to criticize methods. Merely a thread where you say what you have used to stop this bad habit so it can be viewed and shared by others.

 

[live2ride]

I tried ignoring it but it just got worse and more on my nerves

So in the end I had a crop and everytime she did it I tapped her shoulder of the leg she was pawing with
And after one session doing that she stopped

Only infrequently does it when she's bored now and wants something

 

[Dry Rot]

I believe it is an instinctive reaction to frustration (i.e. inability to complete a normal behaviour).

I was watching my gimmers let out of he shed when the first snow arrived. The look on their faces was classic! Then, in frustration, one started to paw at the snow. Hey presto! Grass!

Yes, an instinct can become suppressed if it is not rewarded, so a tap with a crop should work. The pawing could be increased by giving a reward, e.g. a slice of carrot, if that's what you want!

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

One of my liveries does it all the time. In the morning he had dug up half his bed and when tied up goes on and on and on and on. He has been spoilt i guess. As soon as you move away to get his rug off he goes ppawpawpaw pawpawpawpawpaw

 

[dotty1]

My horse does it as soon as shes tied up and it drives me mad. I tell her off, she stops just for an instant then does it again, I have tried ignoring it but it just carries on. I have now stood her on a rubber mat so at least I can't hear it all the time even when I can't see her. She also kicks the stable door as soon as she sees me which also maddens me. Shes very irritating!!!

 

[philamena]

Ignore, ignore, ignore. I know it's frustrating but if it's how they're getting theit own frustration out I'd rather they did that than other things to replace it. Mine used to be terrible at it - constant. I tried "dealing with it" ie various things to try to get the message to her when she did it. Then I decided that responding to it wasn't helping, and was perhaps even enforcing it. So I decided to ignore it altogether. Gradually she just did it less and less. Now she occasionally does it when she's really SURE you've forgotten her or is definitely stressed.

For the door kicking - a week with a Quitkick and voila!

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

kicking the door you can reduce by placing slip rails so the hoof cant get close enough to get in contact with the door.

there are other ideas here.>>http://horse-care-and-advice.weebly.com/vices.html