[Beeks]

I can just see it now. I get out my remote control car.....fire it up...send it out to her only to find that my dogs find it irresistible and chase it right up her butt.

I know, the obvious answer is lock the dogs up first, but I had that picture come straight into my mind, knowing my dogs.

[lbhugg]

Ya you may want to lock em up you could even put a little doggy outfit on the car though

[caity and billy]

it could be the dogs have hassled and caused a bit of a stir in the original scenario...still odd about the other horses tho...is she ok is she goes last in a trail?

As gluey mentioned disengaging the hindquarters is a fantastic (if you can predict it) but yu will have to learn how to read the behaviour and get ahead of the situation. Its not easy but in time youll get it. Even disengaing IMMEDIATLY after the event has occured, so she realised it gets her no satisfaction and make her work!!

[Beeks]

If she is the last horse, she is fine, ears forward, good attidtude, but then again, like I said, I have only had her out once in the company of other horses and once my herself. With some time, she may come around and I do plan, once I get more comfortable with her, to work her after a kicking episode, but right now, we are "newlyweds" so still trying to just understand each other. I hope, once she is a bit more seasoned that the kicking stops, but it is so discerning right now, and I don't know if it is a permanent habit or one that will fade with time. Let's hope it is the later.

[aussie jack]

I knew a standardbrd like this he would line up anything.The only solution we managed to find was to wenever he kicked to crack his hind with the whip he had to learn this behavior WILL NOT be tolerated.If yu think thats cruel think how cruel it is on the poor others who get booted.Promise that hurts more and they didnt deserve it.

[Blistering Winds]

What I've done, is disengage the situation before it occurs. You know there is a problem. So lets fix things before it happens.

it is one thing to react when it occurs, but it is honestly better to be proactive in getting it taken care of.

if the dog comes up, as soon as you see the horse begin to react (usually ear pinning), then immediately get that horse turning, backing, etc. Disengage the horse from its destructive path.

Once it happens, it happens. And you can respond in one of two ways. You can crack the whip on its butt, which can lead to even WORSE issues.....so you have to remember there may be bad before good.....because the horse will associate that they kicked, something kicked back, and it is now all out war.

or they may correct and be fine with it.


I find disengaging them to work better for the long run. That and less people get hurt if you can stop it first. Works for me on multiple things I dislike the horse doing. From bucking to kicking, to biting (especially if I set it up).

If I can set it up into a training session, where I can control some of the outcomes, then I can get further with fixing it.

i've had others crack the horse on the bum after they go to kick their horse....that just usually ends up with me half way out of the saddle. And for me to hit, I've got a horse that is already afraid of the dog, or ticked at the dog, and now something just kicked back.....

so that will depend on the horse's personality you are dealing with. Sage probably would kick Holly's butt if she did that. Blister would probably drop dead with OMG MOMMY's TICKED......

[Beeks]

It happens so fast that catching it ahead of time is tough. It would be easier if she did it everytime, but sometimes whe will allow the dogs to wander around her back legs without paying them any mind, and I will think she is getting over it, then BAM.

I would love to be able to head it off at the pass and put her to work, and that is exactly what I will do as soon as I can catch it ahead of time.

[Blistering Winds]

that is why you set the horse up in a training session. have someone ride with you, get to a certain "set off spot" and work it.

Like working a barn sour horse. You go so far, you go back, make the hores be "ok" with it.

Same with the kicking. bring the horse near to help set off the reaction, and work the reaction on YOUR terms, when you are ready.

[Beeks]

Since she has only been ridden around other horses twice, I don't suppose there is any chance that once she is a bit more seasoned this habit will go away?

Is it, "Once a kicker, always a kicker?" This is also my first mare.

[Blistering Winds]

Originally Posted by Beeks

Since she has only been ridden around other horses twice, I don't suppose there is any chance that once she is a bit more seasoned this habit will go away?

Is it, "Once a kicker, always a kicker?" This is also my first mare.

if you ignore it, then yes, once a kicker, always a kicker can and probably will be true.

However, work with her, as she gets seasoned, she may grow out of it. May not....