[SpiritSaddle]

AHH i'm going insane!!! Thunder keeps kicking the gates when he wants out. I don't know what to do!! He's already broken one. The other 2 are just about broken in half. Just a few more weeks and they'll be gone. He's not in a stall, he's in a paddock with another horse. Well i guess it used to be 2 paddocks, but he broke the gate so now it's one big one. He goes out in the pasture almost every day, but when it's pouring out or i'm not home, i don't let them out because of what happened to Willow.
Ahh i can hear him kicking it now. i don't know what to do. He just stands there and kicks kicks kicks kicks kicks. Stops for about 30 seconds, kicks kicks kicks kicks. By the time i get down there, he stops and starts walking over towards me. or just stands there.
I'M ABOUT TO RIP MY HAIR OUT!!!

[Zypheir's Ring]

If they are in a paddock without grass. I would spred out some hay so he has something to munch on....I am in OR too and am looking to buy a horse so if you have one for sale let me know.

[SpiritSaddle]

Yeah, I feed like 5 times a day now because of it, but the moment he eats all his hay, he goes and kicks the gate.

[ArabGirl]

I would say hobble him so he can't kick, but i don't think it would be too safe to do it while he isn't supervised... One thing I do to keep the horses at my sis' place from tearing down gates is to put big plastic or metal barrels in front of them, so they can't reach the gate.

[Gilligan]

What kind of fencing and gate? I like electric fencing. Perhaps a single strand of wire on the inside of the fencing and at the gate bring it out about 4 feet from it on T-posts. He would stop kicking after touching it once. Just a thought. We have single strand for out cattle ,, on inside of wooden fencing areas. Works very well. Thats all I could think of. I will go and think some more.

[Amber.Molly]

I had a friend who's horse did that, and they got this thing - im not sure if they made it, or bought it, but it was like a velcro strap, and then a string attached to a horse shoe, and they put it on the horses leg, so when the horse would paw, the shoe would hit her leg. She learnt very quickly and saved us the headache of her pawing.... and made it easier to disiplie because as you said, as soon as you walk up to them they stop!! sneaky devils... good luck

[Preppy_Ponies]

I had a really bad kicker and we tried everything. The only thing that helped was putting a kick chain on him. They are basically a leather strap covered in fleece with a small length of chain coming out off the back, so that when the horse kicks the chain thumps their leg. I hated the idea of it but he was hurting himself and damaging his corral so it was a last resort. And it did help a lot.

[smitty]

I am not to sure about the kick chain thingy. I have never used one and have never seen one used. I wonder how safe they are to use if the horse is not supervised. Hmmm....I have seen how kickers can ruin property and hurt themselves....all while driving everyone around them nutes.
I like the electric fencing idea the best. Just like anything else, they need to be slowly introduced to the fencing. Once they learn what that "string" is all about they are pretty respectful of it.

[Xiphias]

I'd go with the electric fence idea too...Cathy

[Preppy_Ponies]

Originally Posted by smitty

I am not to sure about the kick chain thingy. I have never used one and have never seen one used. I wonder how safe they are to use if the horse is not supervised. Hmmm....I have seen how kickers can ruin property and hurt themselves....all while driving everyone around them nutes.
I like the electric fencing idea the best. Just like anything else, they need to be slowly introduced to the fencing. Once they learn what that "string" is all about they are pretty respectful of it.

I was worried about the kick chain to but it was really a last resort as he was about to get kicked out of the barn. We all sorts of things including electric fencing and he still kicked. When he was kicking he managed to hurt himself a few time and escape as well. Also I forgot to add that after a few days of wearing it we had another one without the chain (ie just a strap covered with fleece around his pastern) and it seemed to fool him in to thinking it still had a chain. I really still hate the idea of the kick chain but it did work and we only used it after exhausting our options. So I guess the point I'm getting at is if nothing else works there is that as a last resort.