Pony kicks out when asked to move over

L

Loulabella1980

Active Member
Joined
4 July 2016
Messages
42
Visit site
Basically as the title says. We have a 15hh 4 year old Connie mare and she’s the sweetest thing, still very babyish, has been lightly backed but we are taking g things really slowly with her. She’s pretty good in the ground, stands still happily, grooms happily, can pick feet etc. I’ve also run a bread bag on a stick all over her body and she couldn’t care less, she’s very brave and inquisitive of everything. However if I ever ask her to move her hindquarters over by pushing her bum either side she kicks out. She has caught me square in the thigh once and it flipping hurt!!! How do I stop this,!?
 
Teach her to move over by touching same place you’d touch with your leg when riding
I just put my palm out facing the horses tummy and click and they move over
Just train so you don’t have to touch
 
Kicking out is not tolerable so I’m afraid she and I would be having a rather serious chat if she were mine and repeating this behaviour and actually making contact.

Starting off nicely I would start my moving her with a stick. Lightly tapping her. Keep doing it even if she kicks out until she moves then praise. Keep doing it both sides until it’s boring. If she’s kicking to get and still not moving then increase the pressure for her to do so by turning the head basically forcing her to move her feet.

If that doesn’t work then I’m afraid she would be getting chased to move over, lots of noise and waving of things until the feet moved.

If that didn’t work and feet were still coming at me then it’s a come to Jesus moment and those usually have the desired effect. I don’t tolerate feet and or teeth in my direction by any horse.
 
Tell her off? Kicking the handler in the long term endangers her life. She is young, impressionable, you can fix this easily. Avoid it and down the line you might sell her on, she starts this up again because it is reasonable to ask a horse to move over safely, she gets labelled dangerous and it is a very slippery slope from there.

Once you have explained to her this is not ok, look for the cause. It is never ok to kick as a response to pain because as humans we need to be able to investigate in order to help them. But it is ok to move away or shiver or nuzzle or whatever to tell you there is a problem, and responding to those smaller cues encourages good healthy communication.

She could be feeling insecure; you could be tickling her; there could be pain.
 
Thank you for all your advice! We’ve only had her since June and she’s already chilled out so much since we got her. She’s not bothered by picking out her feet, rubbing her bag legs or bum with things it’s literally when I ask her to move over. I def think it’s a stubborn/moody thing! I’ll do some more on the ground focusing on that specifically!!!
 
The groundwork you do with her ought to teach her to move out of your way. You don’t push on bum to ask to move over you put yourself in a bad position. Always think about your safety around youngsters especially. Our 3 year old picked up very quickly to move back in the stable, to wait for feed, to move this way or that with a hand on chest or side.
 
maya2008 said:
Once you have explained to her this is not ok, look for the cause. It is never ok to kick as a response to pain because as humans we need to be able to investigate in order to help them. But it is ok to move away or shiver or nuzzle or whatever to tell you there is a problem, and responding to those smaller cues encourages good healthy communication.
Click to expand...
A horse going from 0-60 with communication and starting with "kick" is poor but I would also argue that a human starting with "shove her bum over" is also poor! You push her off balance, you're in a place she can't see you very well and yeah there could be a discomfort aspect also, but you put in rude and you get rude back. Ask nicely!
 
First & foremost I'd investigate any pain issues and not do anything with her till you have.

My little gypsy cob got a bit churlish a while back about being touched on her flanks & around her stifle area; it wasn't typical behaviour for her at all, which is why I asked the vet to come out and take a look. She found soreness around her stifle area, and I was glad I'd checked.

The other thing is that your mare could be in season and that's why she's sensitive right now.

If you've ruled these two things out, then there is some good advice on here; I'd be doing some basic groundwork with her, and be using a bag-on-a-stick if necessary to keep yourself safe, and using a pressure halti if she gets cheeky. It's about setting out your space & establishing your herd leadership. Timing is key; if you really are not sure you can "spot the moment" then I'd advise you get a professional to help you at this early stage rather than leave things to develop adversely.

But like I say, rule out any pain issues first.

Good luck!
 
smolmaus said:
A horse going from 0-60 with communication and starting with "kick" is poor but I would also argue that a human starting with "shove her bum over" is also poor! You push her off balance, you're in a place she can't see you very well and yeah there could be a discomfort aspect also, but you put in rude and you get rude back. Ask nicely!
Click to expand...
All of mine, oldest to youngstock, can have someone put their hand on them - absolutely anywhere - give a push and not kick out. They will generally move over too. Even the just 2yo who has barely been handled beyond the basics. Those basics included, ‘Don’t kick the human when they touch you.’ Why? Because even 2yos (and weanlings and foals and….) do stupid things and need the vet and a vet HAS to touch the injury and to be able to do so safely.

If I put a hand on to ask to move over (typically if they have crowded the gate and I want to get through, or they have shuffled while tied up) and moving over would hurt, they would put ears back or snake a head round and tell me. Then I would check all hooves for stones and damage, run my hands down their legs to check for swelling, hands over back to look for odd patches of muscle, that kind of thing. I need them to tolerate all that calmly so I can help them!

And yes that approach works from feral of any age to ‘dangerous and actively attacking humans’ of any age. My son’s jumping pony bit and kicked anything within range when she arrived. She was in pain from a poorly fitting saddle and had lost all trust in people. You can now give her a friendly shove and she is totally fine. Her face is relaxed, her cheeky and cheerful original personality reappearing. I get random cuddles too, and sporadic moments of true communication as she opens up more, trusts more.
 
maya2008 said:
All of mine, oldest to youngstock, can have someone put their hand on them - absolutely anywhere - give a push and not kick out. They will generally move over too. Even the just 2yo who has barely been handled beyond the basics. Those basics included, ‘Don’t kick the human when they touch you.’ Why? Because even 2yos (and weanlings and foals and….) do stupid things and need the vet and a vet HAS to touch the injury and to be able to do so safely.

If I put a hand on to ask to move over (typically if they have crowded the gate and I want to get through, or they have shuffled while tied up) and moving over would hurt, they would put ears back or snake a head round and tell me. Then I would check all hooves for stones and damage, run my hands down their legs to check for swelling, hands over back to look for odd patches of muscle, that kind of thing. I need them to tolerate all that calmly so I can help them!

And yes that approach works from feral of any age to ‘dangerous and actively attacking humans’ of any age. My son’s jumping pony bit and kicked anything within range when she arrived. She was in pain from a poorly fitting saddle and had lost all trust in people. You can now give her a friendly shove and she is totally fine. Her face is relaxed, her cheeky and cheerful original personality reappearing. I get random cuddles too, and sporadic moments of true communication as she opens up more, trusts more.
Click to expand...
Most horses will tolerate rudeness from people, they are generally tolerant creatures and that is especially true if they have been "told off" for not tolerating it previously. That doesn't mean it's an ideal way for a person to communicate.

Not saying I've never poked a bum to get it to move, but doing it in the context of an established, trusting relationship isn't the same as "training" a horse to yield the hindquarters with a push. The horse obviously finds that uncomfortable or unpleasant or too difficult or they wouldn't be kicking out. You're setting the horse up for success, and are more likely to get better communication back from them, if you ask politely.
 
to add, i have a stubborn moody madam - i hoped/thought when we treated the ulcers it would change, but no😂 only in the stable, but she does not appreciate being asked to move, even when i point and click at her she pulls her face at me BUT she does move. i can give her a gentle prod directly behind her bottom when she’s stood in the patch i want to sweep, and even though she’s not impressed with me she’ll step forward for me.

so yes, whilst i know myself that sometimes they simply do get a bit offended by being asked to move in their stable, it’s not an excuse to try to take your head off!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top