Pony strikes out with front leg

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Hi 🙂 we have had our pony for nearly a year and he has been brilliant for my daughter he's good out hacking and she can groom and handle him herself ( obviously me supervising ) the only thing is he can be a bit quirky and definitely has his faults. When he doesn't like something for example dentist , wormer or things put on his face like suncream or water he strikes out with his front legs. This doesn't happen often at all and have told my daughter to always watch his front legs Incase.
How do I stop this awful habit of his !? We really like him. But don't want anyone getting hurt. It is very rare he does it.
Thankyou x
 
Tbh not sure you can. I’d just say for those things an adult MUST handle him and do whatever he’s objecting to. A child should not be anywhere near him for anything he might get difficult with.

You might find with an experienced adult he’s perfectly ok.
 
Yeah thats what we have been doing. She doesn't come near when he had dentist or wormer and doesn't mess with his face. He's fine putting bridle on.
We really like him and he's so lovely in other ways. He's actually never done it at her it's always been when an adult is doing any of those things with him .
Just makes me question how suitable he is when I over think these things ! X
 
Front leg strikes are a natural defence horses can use to get the ’opponent’ to back-off. Im surprised how few times in domestication they use this tactic, and tend to pull head high or go backwards themselves when feeling frontally challenged. Maybe a pony would be more likely to do this with adults, than horses, as he cant lift head outside of adults reach, and cant usually go backwards because he’s held strongly by an adult, so his only ‘tool’ for defence left is front foot striking.
He sounds idea in every other way, and its good youve warned your daughter of it so she’s aware not to challenge his head standing in front of him. As its a rare thing he does, i wouldnt consider it a deal-breaker. It would be different if anyone standing in front of him , doing nothing, he struck out to get others out of his space.
 
When I had a pony that did this, it was an insecurity self defence thing. So not an 'awful habit' but him trying to say in the only way he could that he was afraid and to keep away. The pony in question had been feral, and what resolved it was just careful and sensitive handling so he no longer felt threatened. Young children often are not good at reading a horse's body language, but this can be taught. The pony will be showing lots of signs of being stressed before he kicks out. I would be looking for the gentlest ways possible to do worming etc (such as putting in feed), and anyway an 8 year old shouldnt be handling a pony for the vet or dentist. I suspect the pony isn't being mean or naughty, he's asking for more sensitive handling, so rather than expecting the pony to change, perhaps ask yourself if there are ways you can do things that are not so scary for him.
 
JackFrost said:
When I had a pony that did this, it was an insecurity self defence thing. So not an 'awful habit' but him trying to say in the only way he could that he was afraid and to keep away. The pony in question had been feral, and what resolved it was just careful and sensitive handling so he no longer felt threatened. Young children often are not good at reading a horse's body language, but this can be taught. The pony will be showing lots of signs of being stressed before he kicks out. I would be looking for the gentlest ways possible to do worming etc (such as putting in feed), and anyway an 8 year old shouldnt be handling a pony for the vet or dentist. I suspect the pony isn't being mean or naughty, he's asking for more sensitive handling, so rather than expecting the pony to change, perhaps ask yourself if there are ways you can do things that are not so scary for him.
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I actually totally agree with all of this. And i think it is like him saying get away i dont like this Yes my daughter is not allowed near my other horse when she has dentist even though she is great and doesn't react at all. You just never know.
He has actually got loads better in the last year we have had him I got him a nose covered fly mask so don't have to apply suncream to his nose and will definitely be giving him a wormer in his feed. He hates water down his face so we are very gentle when bathing.
Thankyou you have actually made me feel good I what we have been doing. It just on my yard when another lady saw him react like this for dentist I could hear her saying he's dangerous. But he really isn't and my daughter won't be ever there or near whe the dentist comes.
Thankyou 🙂
 
PurBee said:
Front leg strikes are a natural defence horses can use to get the ’opponent’ to back-off. Im surprised how few times in domestication they use this tactic, and tend to pull head high or go backwards themselves when feeling frontally challenged. Maybe a pony would be more likely to do this with adults, than horses, as he cant lift head outside of adults reach, and cant usually go backwards because he’s held strongly by an adult, so his only ‘tool’ for defence left is front foot striking.
He sounds idea in every other way, and its good youve warned your daughter of it so she’s aware not to challenge his head standing in front of him. As its a rare thing he does, i wouldnt consider it a deal-breaker. It would be different if anyone standing in front of him , doing nothing, he struck out to get others out of his space.
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Thankyou so much for this reply I agree with everything said. I do believe that's why he does it xx
 
He's not dangerous he's a pony just protesting about something, if that's all he does you are lucky, you are obviously being careful and safe because you know the triggers.
He/you are also teaching your child to respect them as individuals which can be unpredictable at times.
I honestly wouldn't worry too much.
 
nagblagger said:
He's not dangerous he's a pony just protesting about something, if that's all he does you are lucky, you are obviously being careful and safe because you know the triggers.
He/you are also teaching your child to respect them as individuals which can be unpredictable at times.
I honestly wouldn't worry too much.
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Thankyou so much xx
 
:0) said:
I actually totally agree with all of this. And i think it is like him saying get away i dont like this Yes my daughter is not allowed near my other horse when she has dentist even though she is great and doesn't react at all. You just never know.
He has actually got loads better in the last year we have had him I got him a nose covered fly mask so don't have to apply suncream to his nose and will definitely be giving him a wormer in his feed. He hates water down his face so we are very gentle when bathing.
Thankyou you have actually made me feel good I what we have been doing. It just on my yard when another lady saw him react like this for dentist I could hear her saying he's dangerous. But he really isn't and my daughter won't be ever there or near whe the dentist comes.
Thankyou 🙂
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The pony I had was a real sweetheart once tamed, just always a bit sensitive. It can be a good lesson to make your daughter think about how things look from the pony's point of view.
@PurBee 's point about domesticated horses not doing this much is interesting - I agree I've seen it more in feral ponies or those that have not had a good start with people.
 
Both of my RSPCA rescue foster fillies did this on occasion when they first came here. They grew out of it as they settled in and became more confident. I never remonstrated with them, I made sure that I stood to the side out of the way of forelegs, and gradually the habit died down. It was all about anxiety, not aggression.

He sounds like a great pony in other respects, I'd stick with him as you are doing 🙂.
 
I used to loan a pony like this when I was a teenager he would fire his front leg at you to say he displeased. It definitely not a dangerous and I have been hit by the loan pony leg before and it’s didn’t even hurt. I really think they do it to be dramatic 😂 .
 
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Honestly if he really hates water on his face leave him. It won’t kill him not to get his face washed! Just brush off any dirt or sweat when it dries (assuming he’s ok with the brush- I once groomed a show jumper who you literally couldn’t take a brush to at all. Not anywhere. He’d kill you! But he was a sweetheart in many other ways so he just had lots of baths which he loved!).

Horses eh?

He sounds fine to me and you’re doing all the right things. Enjoy.
 
I'm a very risk averse person and even I think this pony sounds fine, and perfectly suitable for your child. You are being careful to ensure she doesn't do the things that set him off, and she is learning that horses are not machines and have quirks. It's not like she's a little tot, she's old enough to understand the best ways to handle him and where she should stand. She'll be a better horse woman because of it.
 
The other livery needs to mind her own business and perhaps learn something from watching how you handle the pony, who is anxious rather than aggressive. He won't be dangerous if you don't stand in front of him when handling him. I wouldn't wash his face either.
 
Hope you manage to sort something out (soz can't quote snakes still free lol that's nothing here will appear when feels like it lol whats normal elsewhere is normal here with the reptiles lol )
 
That made no sense lol should say hope you manage to sort some thing out (soz can't quote snakes still free lol that's nothing unusual here he will appear when he feels like it what's not normal elsewhere is normal here with the reptiles lol )
 
ycbm said:
Sedate him for the dentist and avoid the other triggers (which seem pretty easy to avoid), and enjoy the pony.
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Be aware though that dosing with something like Sedalin or relaqine can be more dangerous….horses can snap at lightning speed with no prior warning signs.
 
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