[GraceandThomas]

So I dont know if this is even the right place, but today I was told by one of the workers at my barn that my horse tried to kick someone when they were trying to get him out of his stall. She told me that i needed to teach him that he shouldnt kick at people. My horse is very protective around his food, and I have warned everyone out there that they shouldnt walk behind him when he is eating because he will kick. I have also told them that if he has hay and is eating it that he needs to approach them and that they just cant go and stick a halter on him. Does anyone have any suggestions because this topic keeps coming up and it is starting to drive me crazy that no one will listen to what I have to say, they just keep telling me that I need to train him to not kick at people.

[GraceandThomas]

buummmpppp

[FarFromOver]

If they don't want to listen to your instruction, they deserve to get kicked.
Seriously, though, my gelding sometimes forgets that kicking is inappropriate when I clean his sheath. However, all he needs it one firm reminder and he won't try to kick again.
Does you horse need to learn that kicking is bad? Sure. But in the meantime, others should heed your warnings, IMO.

[Luvs Phin]

The others need to respect your warnings, but you also have a horse with a serious problem.
IMHO, if it were my horse, he would not get away with that for one minute. That is completely disrespectful and downright dangerous. I wont preach, but what if there was an emergency, and your horse had to be caught, and he was eating? There isn't time to wait for him.

Bottom line, they should respect your warnings, but it is also your responsibility as a horse owner to at least be making attempts to change this behavior.
It doesn't bother me as much that he kicks, but that the behavior isn't being disciplined and it doesn't sound like you have any intention of changing it.
There is ZERO excuse for that kind of behavior.
I'm sorry if I sound preachy, but it is incredibly dangerous what is going on.
I apologize if I sound like I'm jumping all over you, maybe I'm interpreting it all wrong, but if I were the BO, I would not tolerate this issue not being AT LEAST worked on.

[ShenanyAli]

I ride with her and would like to say that Grace does not have any problems with him kicking and nor do I. Grace also disciplines him if he trys to kick out at her. We can not control if the workers discipline him or not.

[Luvs Phin]

It didn't sound like she was working on it, but more just upset that people were upset about a kicking horse. ((isn't that a valid reason to be upset?))
It is not up to the people feeding to have to discipline your horse. A lot of time with the horse, with OTHER PEOPLE, lots of test runs, lots of desensitizing and discipline, to teach him that kicking at people is ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE!
I see the OP's view, but you have to know, as a horse owner, you have a certain responsibility.

[ShenanyAli]

so what do you think are some training ways to fix this?

[GraceandThomas]

Originally Posted by Luvs Phin

It didn't sound like she was working on it, but more just upset that people were upset about a kicking horse. ((isn't that a valid reason to be upset?))
It is not up to the people feeding to have to discipline your horse. A lot of time with the horse, with OTHER PEOPLE, lots of test runs, lots of desensitizing and discipline, to teach him that kicking at people is ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE!
I see the OP's view, but you have to know, as a horse owner, you have a certain responsibility.

I never said I wasn't working on it. I have just warned them that he can be aggressive because he does do it sometimes. I was asking for suggestions on how to fix this problem because it has not been fixed all of the way yet.

[Luvs Phin]

I am assuming he only kicks (and assuming hind legs) around food, more or less??

Does he try to kick anyone who approaches? Does he swing around to kick, or only when you walk around behind him?

I guess explain more about his behavior, and you can go from there...

[MissHopesMom]

Originally Posted by ShenanyAli

I ride with her and would like to say that Grace does not have any problems with him kicking and nor do I. Grace also disciplines him if he trys to kick out at her. We can not control if the workers discipline him or not.

How can there not be problems with this horse kicking, if she's had to discipline him for trying to kick her?

Our trainer has a favourite saying: once a kicker, always a kicker. Let them get away with it, and that's how they're going to deal with situations that they don't deem comfortable.

As someone who is a "worker", I would be very concerned if a horse tried to kick me and would speak to the owner of the horse about it. Saying that you have to approach him in such and such a manner just doesn't work for me (no offense to the OP). I have been in charge of up to 30 horses at one time, and waiting until the horse is ready for me to put a halter on just isn't an option. I'd spend my entire day at it.

I'd just like to point out to the OP as well, that while working at a stable a few years back, I saw someone have to move their horse elsewhere due to aggressive behaviour - the owner didn't attempt to rectify the problem and the BO didn't want the liability of having a horse with a tendency to want to injure others on the property.

As a horse owner, I take complaints about my own horses very seriously - and do everything in my power to ensure that I've minimized as much as I can the risk to the handlers and other horses.