why would a horse do this??

[chilworth23]

my mare has recently started to paw at the ground, kinda like a dog digging, never when being ridden, but only when tied up.....

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Impatience. She wants you to untie her and get on with whatever it is that she knows comes next. Food, perhaps?

 

[chilworth23]

She only ever does it before we ride out, she eats after we come back, so maybe she is saying come on woman lets get this over with so i can eat?

 

[SKY]

impatience, letting you know she isnt happy waitng. she is trying to boss you

 

[Tickles]

Tied up, presumably facing a blank wall, doing nothing. It isn't a natural state for a horse. They are designed to wander around, eating, socializing etc. She is just bored. I've got things down to quite a fine art in my catching & tacking up routine so there is minimal standing around for the horse. Nicer way to start the ride than with him/her bored and me annoyed/hassled/telling off. I don't want a brain-dead animal who just stares at walls Enjoy your live-wire too!

 

[comet&joe]

it means there bored i think

 

[chilworth23]

we tie up in middle of yard, so theres stables in front and behind, so she was facing another horse, but she only seem's to do this when im grooming and tacking up, i guessed it was probably impatience and a bit of come on lets go about it, but was checking to see incase someone said maybe its this or that....

 

[Sparkles]

On a different thought [I'm sure it's just flies and impatience] but has her tack been checked lately?

 

[Echo Bravo]

Give her a small haynet when grooming and tacking up and see if that changes things, something to keep her occupied.