Lifting front legs

emsNkeeper · 10-16-2004, 08:11 PM

Alright... went to look at a free lease with a freind of mine. Mostly the horse was good, but it did this weird thing, and I can't decide if it's behavior or pain. When standing for any long amount of time (5 minutes or so) he starts lifting up is front feet... holding them there for a minute, then stretching it out slowly, putting it down and the doing the same with the other front foot. He did this all during grooming and when you would stop and talk when you ride. It was really weird... the owner says it's just something he does... she never bothered to correct it (or a few other things). The background on the horse is he's 10, been off the track a little over a year and he cribs. So is it behavior or pain?

Cyn · 10-16-2004, 08:46 PM

My dad's horse used to do that when he was bored or impatient. I personally don't like when horse do it I think it is rude.

Before determining it is bored behavior, I'd see if he has some pain issues.

tn walker · 10-16-2004, 09:27 PM

I would get a vet to thoroughly look him over just to be sure, but I have seen several horses do this instead of pawing the ground. They just hover their leg. Bad habit.

kddoublink · 10-17-2004, 03:47 AM

DEff. Get a vet check before you buy and make sure nothing is wrong. I agree with Cyn... This is a really bad habbit. I've heard of horses starting this and then begin to strike at people. Isabella will do it and beg for food or something and and give her a strong tap on the leg and say "NO" then she stopps. She does it like twice a year but I've continued the tap and "No" and when she puts her food down I praise her. Good luck!

~ClipClop~ · 10-17-2004, 05:41 AM

My horse does it when he has food as he is trying to eat it so fast and also when he is nervous, he is an ex-racehorse also and i am training him not to, but still it is a bad habit. I haven't had any problems and i have asked my vet and checked it with him and he has checked my horse and says it is a behaviour issue. Sure it is a bad habit but it is just like biting our nails we have to be trained out of it. Good luck

~ClipClop~ · 10-17-2004, 05:42 AM

oh and btw i don't think it is a reason not to get the horse, maybe the cribbing is as i know it can cause problems, but always get a vet check either way. Hope it helps

cassidy · 10-17-2004, 05:42 AM

its just bad manners when he does it give him a slap on the shoulder if you decide to get him he will then learn its not acceptable behaviour!

emsNkeeper · 10-17-2004, 07:14 AM

He doesn't paw... He lifts his leg ,tucking it all the way up in bad jumping position... knee pointing down. And then after a few minutes he'll switch.

I'm trying to talk her out of the horse... she is green, he is green (though I must say an easy and smooth ride). But he tried to dismember me when they lady brushed under his belly (he's girthy too), and the cribbing thing just is no good... I'm renting a farm and will not have cribbers on it. Keeper had started to crib, and we broke him of it, I would not want him around another cribber.

But the habit was just weird... so I thought I'd ask. Thanks guys.

SammyDoodle · 10-17-2004, 12:01 PM

Well if she is a novice and this horse is green then you are doing the right thing by talking her out of it - that is a disasterous combination

emsNkeeper · 10-17-2004, 04:20 PM

Yea... we already went through that. This girl is the person I went in on with Keeper. Even though he's easy and laid back, he was so frustrated with her that he was always pinning his ears around her and turning his back on her. Her greeness isn't so bad, just her unabilty to remember not to clamp up on a horses mouth when it goes to fast.

10-16-2004, 08:11 PM	#1
emsNkeeper Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Pennsylvainia Posts: 666	Lifting front legs Alright... went to look at a free lease with a freind of mine. Mostly the horse was good, but it did this weird thing, and I can't decide if it's behavior or pain. When standing for any long amount of time (5 minutes or so) he starts lifting up is front feet... holding them there for a minute, then stretching it out slowly, putting it down and the doing the same with the other front foot. He did this all during grooming and when you would stop and talk when you ride. It was really weird... the owner says it's just something he does... she never bothered to correct it (or a few other things). The background on the horse is he's 10, been off the track a little over a year and he cribs. So is it behavior or pain?

10-16-2004, 08:46 PM	#2
Cyn Senior Member+ Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 3,696 Images: 847	My dad's horse used to do that when he was bored or impatient. I personally don't like when horse do it I think it is rude. Before determining it is bored behavior, I'd see if he has some pain issues. __________________ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ I've Been Snowballed!And BAMBOOZLED by the monkey gang!

10-16-2004, 09:27 PM	#3
tn walker Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: NC Posts: 1,332 Images: 36	I would get a vet to thoroughly look him over just to be sure, but I have seen several horses do this instead of pawing the ground. They just hover their leg. Bad habit. __________________ My horse is SPOTTED. Paint comes in cans and Pintos are beans Shady Oaks Farm Specializing in the sound and versatile TWH and SSH www.freewebs.com/shadyoaksfarm

10-17-2004, 03:47 AM	#4
kddoublink Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 950 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 2	DEff. Get a vet check before you buy and make sure nothing is wrong. I agree with Cyn... This is a really bad habbit. I've heard of horses starting this and then begin to strike at people. Isabella will do it and beg for food or something and and give her a strong tap on the leg and say "NO" then she stopps. She does it like twice a year but I've continued the tap and "No" and when she puts her food down I praise her. Good luck! __________________ You dream of it & in your dreams is has a mane & tail flying hooves covered in feathers that whisper to the grass as it gallops past. A language that speaks to your soul.

10-17-2004, 05:41 AM	#5
~ClipClop~ Full Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Australia Posts: 176	My horse does it when he has food as he is trying to eat it so fast and also when he is nervous, he is an ex-racehorse also and i am training him not to, but still it is a bad habit. I haven't had any problems and i have asked my vet and checked it with him and he has checked my horse and says it is a behaviour issue. Sure it is a bad habit but it is just like biting our nails we have to be trained out of it. Good luck __________________ You are a great champion. When you ran the ground shook. The sky opened and mere mortals parted. Parted the way to victory. Where you will meet me in the winner's circle. Where I will lay a blanket of flowers on your back.

10-17-2004, 05:42 AM	#6
~ClipClop~ Full Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Australia Posts: 176	oh and btw i don't think it is a reason not to get the horse, maybe the cribbing is as i know it can cause problems, but always get a vet check either way. Hope it helps __________________ You are a great champion. When you ran the ground shook. The sky opened and mere mortals parted. Parted the way to victory. Where you will meet me in the winner's circle. Where I will lay a blanket of flowers on your back.

10-17-2004, 05:42 AM	#7
cassidy Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2004 Location: england - its sunny sometimes honest! Posts: 21,789 Images: 843	its just bad manners when he does it give him a slap on the shoulder if you decide to get him he will then learn its not acceptable behaviour! __________________ bluebell , haribo , william & lil bill May your life be like toilet paper - Long and useful A horse doesn't care how much you know until he knows how much you care. - Pat Parelli http://www.freewebs.com/linz88055/myprofile.htm

10-17-2004, 07:14 AM	#8
emsNkeeper Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Pennsylvainia Posts: 666	He doesn't paw... He lifts his leg ,tucking it all the way up in bad jumping position... knee pointing down. And then after a few minutes he'll switch. I'm trying to talk her out of the horse... she is green, he is green (though I must say an easy and smooth ride). But he tried to dismember me when they lady brushed under his belly (he's girthy too), and the cribbing thing just is no good... I'm renting a farm and will not have cribbers on it. Keeper had started to crib, and we broke him of it, I would not want him around another cribber. But the habit was just weird... so I thought I'd ask. Thanks guys.

10-17-2004, 12:01 PM	#9
SammyDoodle Senior Member+ Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Scotland Posts: 4,284 Images: 68 Blog Entries: 1	Well if she is a novice and this horse is green then you are doing the right thing by talking her out of it - that is a disasterous combination

10-17-2004, 04:20 PM	#10
emsNkeeper Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Pennsylvainia Posts: 666	Yea... we already went through that. This girl is the person I went in on with Keeper. Even though he's easy and laid back, he was so frustrated with her that he was always pinning his ears around her and turning his back on her. Her greeness isn't so bad, just her unabilty to remember not to clamp up on a horses mouth when it goes to fast.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Worried!! DRASTIC differences in height front and rear	horseshowjunkie	Horse Health	23	11-06-2004 08:05 AM
Half Pass Help	Paintlover	Horse Training	4	11-01-2004 04:56 PM
lifting her legs	castana4	Horse Chat	8	10-15-2004 09:55 AM
Polo wraps	Dawn	Horse Chat	16	10-06-2004 05:12 PM
front legs prevent her from eating	saraa	Horse Health	5	05-16-2004 06:18 PM