Tail swishing

frazzled

frazzled

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In another post someone mentions tail swishing and it as indication of discomfort. Now our pony is a tail swisher in every discipline ,he also carries his tail high. We have no idea of his breeding as he is a true heinz 57. His back has been checked by a number of professionals and the vet and has never had a problem. He is never sick or sorry. His tack is all checked regularly and fits.He is a really good all rounder and is a happy fun loving pony( apart from the blip at Christmas!) He has always done this, with his old owner as well.
Does anyone else have a tail swisher? Do people always view this as an indication that something is wrong or is just that some ponies just enjoy doing it?
 
Lil swishes her tail when she's frustrated or annoyed about something. Daisy didn't swish her tail at all but then it was huge so would have been a huge effort to swish!
 
Tail swishing can also been seen as a good sign, they have fully released their back if they are swishing! Alot of dressage horses swish their tail almost constantly when working.
 
Vizslak said:
Tail swishing can also been seen as a good sign, they have fully released their back if they are swishing! Alot of dressage horses swish their tail almost constantly when working.
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ooh mine does this a lot when my instructor works her. What do you mean by releasing the back?
 
They aren't holding themselves rigid and are soft and supple through their back, they are lifting correctly from behind and using the back end properly.
 
A swinging tail because the horse is working correctly from behind through his back is different to a swishing tail which denotes a tight back, anger, tension, resistance, discomfort, hard work, etc.
 
Sorry to rejuvenate this old post but my horse has been tail swishing a bit recently too. Back checked and all fine. Tack all made to measure she's comfortable I'm sure. She is more forward also as on better grass recently. Any opinions please? :)
 
Yes mine too recently and she does have more buzz about her at the moment. Going to assume it's an excitement/cocky attitude thing unless find otherwise!
 
MummyEms said:
Sorry to rejuvenate this old post but my horse has been tail swishing a bit recently too. Back checked and all fine. Tack all made to measure she's comfortable I'm sure. She is more forward also as on better grass recently. Any opinions please? :)
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Is she in season? My old mare was a tail swisher when she was in season
 
That could be it? Does she swish otherwise?

My mare was often in quite a lot of discomfort when in season, and the swishing got much worse! She was always a bit 'backy' anyway
 
Yes sounds so similar. She had the kissing spine op last year and has come back into work beautifully. Vets and back person all really happy. And she is going really nicely. I do sit lightly on purpose to be extra easy on her back. I hope it's a season thing. Wonder if oestress/something similar or an implant may help...
 
Quite possibly.

Maybe see how she goes over the coming weeks?

If she isn't obviously in huge amounts of discomfort, maybe just be aware of it and then re assess if she gets no better?

A mare on our yard has to have regumate which works wonders but costs the poor owners a fortune!
 
Yes good idea. She does do it at the end of the ride more than at the start and perhaps that's because she lives with 2 geldings who think she's a queen 😂
 
Well I have a gelding who swishes his tail whenever I ask for forwards!

He's currently undergoing treatment for hind gut issues so I'm blaming it on that at the moment :)
 
Mine swishes when he is asked for more effort and when he is tickled with the schooling whip. But he is a bit of a grumpy old man...
 
Isn't this going to be another piece of body language that is multi-functional with subtle differences depending on the message?

Lots of tail swishing messages between my mares and the stallion, some saying "depart hence and multiply elsewhere", others obviously, "hey handsome, how about a date?" with not a lot of difference between them to the casual human observer. :)
 
I schooled her over poles this morning with not a single swish :)
The previous post about various meanings is definitely true ha ha.
I think hers was most likely the season causing attitude. Others sound like annoyance at being asked to work harder.
Don't you love horses 😂
 
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