pawing

candy3HK · 03-08-2009, 02:02 PM

Each one of my horses that I have (they came from the same stallion) came to me as 'pawers' at feed pans and when tied. I know they are very impatient and a that some pawing is attributed to natural equine behavior, but it is very annoying and damaging to fences, pans, and stall floors. They are all Arabs, 2 fillies are under 3 years of age and the gelding is 5 and being ridden. I wanted to ask this question to horse riders before I sought out professional help to see if anyone else had been plagued with this type of behavior and either found help or figured it out themselves. I have seen quite a few riding horses do this and stopped by a noise from their owners, but never seen what actions were applied at the time of the noise. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks, Candy

Zanerkin177 · 03-08-2009, 02:08 PM

well my horses rarly paw and when they do I yell "hey" and they stop.

but if that doesn't do it for me I get their feet moving

RowdyRio1324 · 03-08-2009, 02:13 PM

My filly sometimes paws, I just yell at her and tell her to knock it off. But she's not an 'intense' pawer.

One of them here paws like crazy, drives me nuts. But she's not my horse to 'fix' or disciple her, she's my moms.

If they're digging a hole in their stalls, try putting mats in. Won't stop the pawing of corse, but won't be ruining your stalls.

harp918 · 03-08-2009, 02:16 PM

When I first got my appendix, the previous owners told me he pawed alot. First trip home from picking him up, he pawed the entire time (two hour drive) home in the trailer. He did it with his food bowl for about the first week and has only done it once in a blue moon since then. I wish I could tell you what stopped it. I do know he was stall kept before, on sweet feed, and very spoiled. When he got here it was major dose of reality. He's on 24/7 turnout here with a herd of horses and mules and he's not top man on the totem pole either. I have some mares that would chew him up and spit him out if he got pushy.

Maybe it was the drastic change in environment that contributed to it? That and not being able to get away with any ill behavior...

Zanerkin177 · 03-08-2009, 04:30 PM

I've also trained my horse to paw, lol

EVOO · 03-08-2009, 04:35 PM

This is a good thread for it: Stamping her foot...Help?

redhorseridge · 03-08-2009, 04:42 PM

We bought a mountain gelding that pawed when he was tied at the previous owner's place and he pawed all the way home in the trailer (I've never had a horse paw that long in a trailer). He was on pasture 24/7 there (and here too). Part of his problem was insecurity. We've worked with him (lots of ground work -- we had to as he was also a "nibbler") and he's doing better. He will still paw from time to time, but a quick underhand tossed pebble to his rump (when he can't see us) has pretty much stopped it.

My mare, on the other hand, who never has pawed aggressively, gets impatient and lifts her leg to paw -- I "shhh" her and she just stands there with her leg fairly high up in the air... waiting. I really need to get a picture of that sometime. She just watches us out of the corner of her eye....

Nickers2002 · 03-08-2009, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redhorseridge

My mare, on the other hand, who never has pawed aggressively, gets impatient and lifts her leg to paw -- I "shhh" her and she just stands there with her leg fairly high up in the air... waiting. I really need to get a picture of that sometime. She just watches us out of the corner of her eye....

My mare does this too! I call it her "carousel pony"

As to the pawing, my gelding likes to dig to China at the pasture gate waiting to come in, he paws on the trailer, crossties, and under saddle if we stand too long. His sire also did it all the time. I actually think part of it may be hereditary. I get him to stop by using my correction stick (a small crop with a hand shape on the end) and at the same time I go "Anh anh". It makes him think he just got yelled at and "bit" by the alpha horse. It has cut down his pawing by a least 80%.

Sara

03-08-2009, 02:02 PM	#1
candy3HK Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1	pawing Each one of my horses that I have (they came from the same stallion) came to me as 'pawers' at feed pans and when tied. I know they are very impatient and a that some pawing is attributed to natural equine behavior, but it is very annoying and damaging to fences, pans, and stall floors. They are all Arabs, 2 fillies are under 3 years of age and the gelding is 5 and being ridden. I wanted to ask this question to horse riders before I sought out professional help to see if anyone else had been plagued with this type of behavior and either found help or figured it out themselves. I have seen quite a few riding horses do this and stopped by a noise from their owners, but never seen what actions were applied at the time of the noise. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks, Candy

03-08-2009, 02:08 PM	#2
Zanerkin177 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Army :D Posts: 1,293 Images: 7	well my horses rarly paw and when they do I yell "hey" and they stop. but if that doesn't do it for me I get their feet moving __________________ A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent.

03-08-2009, 04:30 PM	#5
Zanerkin177 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Army :D Posts: 1,293 Images: 7	I've also trained my horse to paw, lol __________________ A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent.

03-08-2009, 04:35 PM	#6
EVOO Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 2,603 Images: 8	This is a good thread for it: Stamping her foot...Help? __________________ Sexy by Christmas Challenge-r!! Start: Sz 14 / Current: Sz 14 / Goal: Sz 10 / lbs Lost: 5.0 ___________________ I was Gobbled by a Turkey And "Blessed" by a Snow Fairy ___________________ Note to Self: It is illegal to stab people for being stupid.

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03-08-2009, 02:13 PM	#3
RowdyRio1324 Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 4,259	My filly sometimes paws, I just yell at her and tell her to knock it off. But she's not an 'intense' pawer. One of them here paws like crazy, drives me nuts. But she's not my horse to 'fix' or disciple her, she's my moms. If they're digging a hole in their stalls, try putting mats in. Won't stop the pawing of corse, but won't be ruining your stalls.

03-08-2009, 02:16 PM	#4
harp918 Senior Member+ Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Moving to GA! Posts: 1,022	When I first got my appendix, the previous owners told me he pawed alot. First trip home from picking him up, he pawed the entire time (two hour drive) home in the trailer. He did it with his food bowl for about the first week and has only done it once in a blue moon since then. I wish I could tell you what stopped it. I do know he was stall kept before, on sweet feed, and very spoiled. When he got here it was major dose of reality. He's on 24/7 turnout here with a herd of horses and mules and he's not top man on the totem pole either. I have some mares that would chew him up and spit him out if he got pushy. Maybe it was the drastic change in environment that contributed to it? That and not being able to get away with any ill behavior...

03-08-2009, 04:42 PM	#7
redhorseridge Senior Member+ Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 798	We bought a mountain gelding that pawed when he was tied at the previous owner's place and he pawed all the way home in the trailer (I've never had a horse paw that long in a trailer). He was on pasture 24/7 there (and here too). Part of his problem was insecurity. We've worked with him (lots of ground work -- we had to as he was also a "nibbler") and he's doing better. He will still paw from time to time, but a quick underhand tossed pebble to his rump (when he can't see us) has pretty much stopped it. My mare, on the other hand, who never has pawed aggressively, gets impatient and lifts her leg to paw -- I "shhh" her and she just stands there with her leg fairly high up in the air... waiting. I really need to get a picture of that sometime. She just watches us out of the corner of her eye....