horse kicking the wall

mattlove · 10-26-2009, 10:44 AM

i have a 4 year old tb that only kicks the wall when she eats her morning grain. she is smart about it too, she will kick the wall when you are doing something else. so what do i do to stop her from kicking.... i also have a 5 year old quarab who gets really bord in her stall...she moves her mats around chews on the wood and she circles alot....she loves being out side but with me going to school and my parents working its hard to get her out...she goes outside everyday at 3 and doesnt come in till 9...so its not like she doesnt get out....i tried the horse ball and those treat things and even putting a salt block in her stall. she still gets bord. does anyone have any suggestions on what i can do?

rageandglory · 10-26-2009, 02:08 PM

what is it with your turn-out that does not allow them to go out without someone there?

is it possible to modify your turn-out for generally unsupervised use? (add electric fencing, strengthen it, another strand of tape/wire/wood, etc...)

as for the kicking, a larger piece of carpetting or rubber matts can reduce the concussion/impact, also minimizing the noise and the effect but the cause has to be determined, if it is NOT boredom, and solved before any real longterm improvements will be acheived.

is there a horse next to her, can this be re-arranged? can't think of anything else right now...

diet definitely can effect behaviour and an idle, higher energy breed such as TB can easily be stressed without a proper outlet for that energy. i might suggest evaluating the diet and perhaps consider one that is lower energy- inspiring. this is not to say starve the horse, just feed suitable low key products. i am nnot the feed guru here by any means but there are others that can help you.

mattlove · 10-26-2009, 04:54 PM

my horses are used to going out all night and all day but with the colder weather they only go out durning the day... it was easier in the summer cause i had no school and i could keep them out all night and let then in to eat there grain and then send them back out....but now thats winter is coming, they go out all day and stay in all night....but you see my mother works nights and i have school so either they dont get out until about 11am or they dont get out until 3pm when i get home from school...i trust my horses its just there is noone to let them out durning the day....thanks for the tips about the tb..oh and she is really calm for a tb too...

rageandglory · 10-26-2009, 05:26 PM

how cold does it get there in winter? i am curious since i am in southern new england and i leave mine out year 'round except in precipitous weather. i understand safety and containment so please don't take this as an arguement, just trying to troubleshoot with you. i hope you can find a good solution for all involved : )

mattlove · 10-26-2009, 07:30 PM

i live in northern part of ohio and its gotten to be -5 with a windshield of -20 so it can get pretty cold..... i am plaining on moving down south after i graduate from high school and college.

rageandglory · 10-26-2009, 07:45 PM

yeah, that's cold!

MissHopesMom · 10-26-2009, 07:53 PM

I'm from Canada

We get some pretty wicked lake effect weather too.

Our guys stay out 24/7 - and love it. With adequate shelter/windbreak and hay, they should be fine ( aside from any pre-existing ailment that may warrant stalling ).

I must admit that some get blanketed, but that's more my preference than theirs - they are also fed free choice hay.

holyguacamole · 10-26-2009, 07:56 PM

Get her some toys! Hang an empty milk jug from the rafters and poke some holes in it. Add in some grain and she'll have fun

There are also jolly balls.

rageandglory · 10-27-2009, 05:47 AM

might be a comfort thing, too, physical or mental.. stressed in some way, for some reason, pending ulcer? feels the need to defend food? other horse(s) too close?

maybe feed more hay, less grain? this is a better dietline for the lightworking, stall- bound or short turn-outed anyway....jmo : )

hay serves several purposes at least here in my yard. it keeps all from chewing on each other, from chewing on the barn, keeps the gut going, generates heat for the colder temps, -5..to -20 windchill is a workable and turnoutable cold when properly managed-jmo, maintains an established weight and most of all, keeps them in the yard : ).free hay or even a roundbale will keep them happy if not immobile. will keep them home while you are away, too. purely up to you, of course... i prefer that someone be home overnight here. during the day, sorry gotta go make the cash for the hay that keeps them there. good fencing , compatable groups and sufficiently met needs are really all you need.

can you string your fence to include the barn or stall doors? even just one end so they can have some indoor space if they need/want it. that, and a light rainsheet for a windbreaker in windy, blustery weather should do.

overall, tho, it is up to you to do whatever allows you peace of mind while you are not there, when their safety is concerned.

10-26-2009, 10:44 AM	#1
mattlove Full Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: boro ohio Posts: 181 Images: 59	horse kicking the wall i have a 4 year old tb that only kicks the wall when she eats her morning grain. she is smart about it too, she will kick the wall when you are doing something else. so what do i do to stop her from kicking.... i also have a 5 year old quarab who gets really bord in her stall...she moves her mats around chews on the wood and she circles alot....she loves being out side but with me going to school and my parents working its hard to get her out...she goes outside everyday at 3 and doesnt come in till 9...so its not like she doesnt get out....i tried the horse ball and those treat things and even putting a salt block in her stall. she still gets bord. does anyone have any suggestions on what i can do?

10-26-2009, 07:53 PM	#7
MissHopesMom Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 540 Images: 26	I'm from Canada We get some pretty wicked lake effect weather too. Our guys stay out 24/7 - and love it. With adequate shelter/windbreak and hay, they should be fine ( aside from any pre-existing ailment that may warrant stalling ). I must admit that some get blanketed, but that's more my preference than theirs - they are also fed free choice hay. __________________ Hope - 4 yr old QH, Amber - 2 yr old QH Pround Member of the Quarter Horse Club! I've been blessed by the Snow Fairy!

10-26-2009, 07:56 PM	#8
holyguacamole Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Irrelevant Posts: 365	Get her some toys! Hang an empty milk jug from the rafters and poke some holes in it. Add in some grain and she'll have fun There are also jolly balls. __________________ “We also often add to our pain and suffering by being overly sensitive, over-reacting to minor things, and sometimes taking things too personally.” -Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama

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10-26-2009, 02:08 PM	#2
rageandglory Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2,428	what is it with your turn-out that does not allow them to go out without someone there? is it possible to modify your turn-out for generally unsupervised use? (add electric fencing, strengthen it, another strand of tape/wire/wood, etc...) as for the kicking, a larger piece of carpetting or rubber matts can reduce the concussion/impact, also minimizing the noise and the effect but the cause has to be determined, if it is NOT boredom, and solved before any real longterm improvements will be acheived. is there a horse next to her, can this be re-arranged? can't think of anything else right now... diet definitely can effect behaviour and an idle, higher energy breed such as TB can easily be stressed without a proper outlet for that energy. i might suggest evaluating the diet and perhaps consider one that is lower energy- inspiring. this is not to say starve the horse, just feed suitable low key products. i am nnot the feed guru here by any means but there are others that can help you.

10-26-2009, 04:54 PM	#3
mattlove Full Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: boro ohio Posts: 181 Images: 59	my horses are used to going out all night and all day but with the colder weather they only go out durning the day... it was easier in the summer cause i had no school and i could keep them out all night and let then in to eat there grain and then send them back out....but now thats winter is coming, they go out all day and stay in all night....but you see my mother works nights and i have school so either they dont get out until about 11am or they dont get out until 3pm when i get home from school...i trust my horses its just there is noone to let them out durning the day....thanks for the tips about the tb..oh and she is really calm for a tb too...

10-26-2009, 05:26 PM	#4
rageandglory Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2,428	how cold does it get there in winter? i am curious since i am in southern new england and i leave mine out year 'round except in precipitous weather. i understand safety and containment so please don't take this as an arguement, just trying to troubleshoot with you. i hope you can find a good solution for all involved : )

10-26-2009, 07:30 PM	#5
mattlove Full Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: boro ohio Posts: 181 Images: 59	i live in northern part of ohio and its gotten to be -5 with a windshield of -20 so it can get pretty cold..... i am plaining on moving down south after i graduate from high school and college.

10-26-2009, 07:45 PM	#6
rageandglory Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2,428	yeah, that's cold!

10-27-2009, 05:47 AM	#9
rageandglory Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2,428	might be a comfort thing, too, physical or mental.. stressed in some way, for some reason, pending ulcer? feels the need to defend food? other horse(s) too close? maybe feed more hay, less grain? this is a better dietline for the lightworking, stall- bound or short turn-outed anyway....jmo : ) hay serves several purposes at least here in my yard. it keeps all from chewing on each other, from chewing on the barn, keeps the gut going, generates heat for the colder temps, -5..to -20 windchill is a workable and turnoutable cold when properly managed-jmo, maintains an established weight and most of all, keeps them in the yard : ).free hay or even a roundbale will keep them happy if not immobile. will keep them home while you are away, too. purely up to you, of course... i prefer that someone be home overnight here. during the day, sorry gotta go make the cash for the hay that keeps them there. good fencing , compatable groups and sufficiently met needs are really all you need. can you string your fence to include the barn or stall doors? even just one end so they can have some indoor space if they need/want it. that, and a light rainsheet for a windbreaker in windy, blustery weather should do. overall, tho, it is up to you to do whatever allows you peace of mind while you are not there, when their safety is concerned.