Why has my mare started kicking out at other horses?

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Katiedalescob

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My 4 year old mare who normally is a dream hack alone or in company, although she does always prefer to be at back, suddenly decided she wants to be in front and then when I let her take lead, she stops, refuses to go forward and when another horse/rider is close enough, kicks out?

She has done this twice now, to two geldings on seperate hacks, one she knows well, one she only just met. She never kicks people, although she did kick out at our dog once but he went to nip her tail.

Your opinions would be grateful as to why she is doing this and how I can nip it in the bud.
 
Dont really care why,but if she were mine she would have some serious stripes on her bum for behaving like that.I can forgive a horse for resisting me ,but kicking out at other horses , NO.
 
My horse is a kicker - when I feel her starting to threaten I kick her forward or flick with the whip to push her forward and away BUT I am always careful to warn anyone I ride with - I have a red ribbon on her tail at shows and wear a tabard with bold letters stating that she kicks which I wear on distance rides.
 
flamehead said:
Hmm, wow, I wouldnt be beating her.

Is she in season? Has anyone run up behind her and scared her? xxx
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How would you stop her?

It does not matter why she does it, that fact is she does and she needs to stop doing it before someone or something gets hurt. Horses that kick out at other horses when they are being ridden are bloody dangerous!
 
I think it's a personal space thing. Actually I had the same problem myself when I lived in Europe where people have much less personal space than we do in England, so I felt panicky and defensive all the time I perceived my personal space to be invaded. I never actually kicked anyone though ;)
So I guess that translates to your horse as:
- can you circle away when you feel her tensing to kick, or ride forwards determinedly to give her something else to do with her feet? With my horse I would rather give her something else to do (like circling) to replace the undesirable behaviour rather than punishing her, but judging by the responses you already have not everyone will agree with me.
- definitely warn other riders to stay away from her back legs, or put a ribbon in her tail to warn people you don't know
- can you take her back shoes off while you deal with it for safety's sake?
 
I would be hacking alone, working on manners and ensuring the horse actually listens to the rider, I would be putting a ribbon in her tail and I would be keeping at the very back or well away from the rest of the ride if no problems.

If it is that she has been run into and is now scared, I would be practising rubbing thing against her bum (brooms, bags, tarpaulin) and praising excessively when she doesn't kick. Responding with a sharp no if she does.

However she may be coming into or already be in season in which case either hack alone or potentially a calmer or hormone supplement. Xxxx
 
Thanks to all your comments and suggestions, there are other signs that she is coming into season and she is very responsive to me usually. I know i did not respond to her 'Kicking out' quick enough as she took me by suprise and it was so out of character for her but I am ready for it if we are put in that position again and will take into consideration all your advise to correct her behaviour. Thanks.;)
 
This is helpful, my friend's 4 year old mare has done this twice in the past to a gelding we've been hacking with. They were fine together in the field (however, this was before she was ridden) and then on the first hack she would just back into him, not kick, and they were stood together in my friend's driveway, good as gold (though she was fidgety and aimed a cheeky bite!). However, on the second hack she kicked out at him on the road and managed to hit my friend. I, like you, was surprised and she got a good telling off (verbal) and I didn't know what to do so I made her work forwards away from him. It shocked me and I had no idea whether I was doing the right thing. Her dam was there, as we usually hack them both out together, so I don't know if she feels she should be protecting her mom, is coming into season or it's just a general dislike? She would move as though to block her mom from him. I know that she wasn't weaned properly but thats something I don't feel as though I can pass judgement on!

Any ideas for sorting this would be useful. I do feel bad hitting her as she's not mine, but she does have to learn that it's wrong.
 
We hacked out the other day with my friend and her gelding and had a really good long hack, on the return journey, we stopped to talk to a neigbour and they both stood lovely together for a good while and then a tractor came behind us; i moved first into the next lane (we were at a T junction and the lanes are only wide enough for one vehicle) my friend and her gelding were behind us when she looked back at him and started to back up, I was ready and turned her in a circle to move her behind away from him, raised my voice to her and gave her a light smack on the behind before kicking her on in front and leading the way. This seemed to do the trick and she didn't try it again for the short journey home. Hopefully I am on top of it! Thanks again.
 
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