Scraping the ground

[Becky1200]

Hi my horse has started when tied up repetitively scraping the ground even when you go to lead him he does it and then will refuse to walk forward, any ideas of why he has started this ?

 

[Henry02]

Bad manners and impatient

 

[dreamcometrue]

I think this is related to anxiety/stress. I had a newly backed mare who did this frantically when tied up. She had previously spent several years out in a herd and I think the change in environment (yard, stabling, schooling) made her anxious at first. Once she settled down the behaviour disappeared.

 

[MrsMozart]

Titch does the same, except when moving, and has done ever since we've had him... Got him at five months old and he's now eight (years!). Nothing seems to stop him. Still on the hunt for the right training on this one, so good luck! Update if you find something that works ?

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

Mine does it when she knows I’m making her feed so bad manners and being impatient. She then has to wait until she settles down before she gets her feed but she still does do it occasionally.

 

[Pinkvboots]

I find a lot of it is food related, have you tried giving him a hay net when tied up?

 

[twiggy2]

I just used to put a couple of runner mats where the tie ring was, it reduces the noise and Wear and tear of bare feet, it makes it much easier to ignore

 

[Cocorules]

It is frustration on their part at not moving or at waiting for feed. To break the cycle perhaps try putting a haynet up and don't keep him waiting too long. Later it is probably a case of getting attention on you and spending time standing for short periods and building it up. However, once they start to express their frustration like this it is hard to completely stop in all situations.

I had one that did it when stabled and wanting to be fed or let out. She lives out 24/7 now and it has considerably lessened but she will still do it at the field gate sometimes when waiting to be let into a different field with more grass.

 

[Bernster]

Agree - frustration/impatience. It’s my boy’s go to move as well. We have mats in the tie up areas and I try to reduce the times when he might do this (use hay net, do stuff free in the stable). I do tell him off but I’ve never managed to stop him completely.

 

[Branna]

I just used to put a couple of runner mats where the tie ring was, it reduces the noise and Wear and tear of bare feet, it makes it much easier to ignore

This is what I have done too. Had a different horse to the yard tied up there a few days ago who usually always scrapes - he stopped within 30 seconds because he wasn't getting any attention!

I think as soon as you raise your voice to them or approach them to stop, it reinforces that scraping leads to attention. So as I do with door kicking, I will also use a water pistol to discourage it.