Horse Sense
This page is for asking advice on a behavior or medical issue. Please email us at stormcreekhorseco@yahoo.com with your questions.
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Hello, I have an aggressive kicker. Buster is a year old now, a QH stud colt, and he is showing a lot of aggression when asked to do something. He will kick around feed, he will kick when being groomed, ect. We have owned him for six months and this just started. How can we get him to stop?
Jesse
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Jesse,
Your colt has had six months to learn what you will tolerate and what you will not. My first advice would be gelding him. Second, he needs to understand that he is not the boss. In a herd situation, the other horses would make their displeasure of his behavior known by nipping or kicking, laid back ears, and general butt-kicking until he got the hint. I would advise you to do the same - figuratively, of course.
Get a small riding crop to carry, the kind with the wrist loop is best. Start by teaching him the word "no". When he give a sign that he is going to kick - tension, laid back ears, lifting a hind foot, ect - give a very firm, fairly loud "No!". Do this a few times and then follow up the behavior by backing him up at a quick step 15 feet or so. He will begin to learn that "no" is associated with work and that will make him reluctant to repeat the behavior. If he persists, use the crop to strike the offending leg at the same time you say no, and then back him. He will soon learn that you will not tolerate this behavior.
A warning here - this must be consistent training. If you just go out with a crop and whack him when he kicks he will begin to look out for the crop and will be ready to kick when you don't have it. Also this is a good way to start his training that he will need as an adult. If he knows that you will reprimand bad behavior he is less likely to do it. Make sure you reward his good behavior with a scratch and a "good boy".
Best of luck! It is ALWAYS easier to correct these problems with a youngster than with an adult horse. You are doing the right thing to ask for assistance rather than ignore the problem until someone gets hurt.
Lisa Loyd
Storm Creek,
How can I tell if my horse has worms? Thanks!
Stephanie
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Dear Stephanie,
The most obvious way to tell is by a decline in the overall appearance of your horse. Look for sharp hips accompanied by a pot belly, a dull coat, or a rubbed out tail. Many horses will itch the base of their tail giving it a short, rubbed out look. The best way to fight worms is to prevent them. Depending on you horse's housing situation, you should worm a horse every 6-8 weeks. Horses that are kept mostly alone and has manure removed regularly from the area has a less likely chance of having worms than a horse that shares a small pasture with three others. Best of luck!
Lisa Loyd
Storm Creek,
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I recently had my pony's hooves trimmed, about 4 weeks ago, and now she is going lame in one of her front feet. It had been a while since she had been trimmed and her hooves were fairly long but now I am thinking that the farrier cut them too short. On the underside of the hoof, the hoof wall is separating from the rest, right at the toe. There is a very visible space between the hoof wall and the rest of the hoof. Will this grow back out? Should I call the vet? Thanks.
Brandon
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Brandon,
It doesn't sound like this is the fault of your farrier. To me, the separation at the toe combined with your admission that the pony's hooves were a bit too long, it sounds like White Line Disease, also known as Seedy Toe. The most obvious indicator of Seedy Toe is when the hoof wall separates from the soft laminae of the hoof. Lameness can accompany Seedy Toe at times. I would suggest a vet or farrier visit is in order, although I would suggest a different farrier than the one you previously used, simply to get a second opinion. Usually Seedy Toe can be corrected with fairly minor treatment, such as paring back the affected area and packing the cavity. The hoof needs to be kept completely clean. In severe cases, the hoof must be completely debrided . I urge you to get your pony checked as soon as possible and make sure that it receives good hoof care in the future. Best of luck!
Lisa Loyd
Storm Creek,
I have a six year old gelding that chews wood constantly. He's practically chewed down his entire stall and turnout corral! Why does he do this and what should I do? Thanks!
Chelsea
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Chelsea,
Cribbing is often a result of boredom or frustration. Because horses spend an average of 11 to 13 hours a day grazing, when they are kept in a stall or turnout corral they get bored easily. If you can't give him pasture time, try increasing the number of times he is fed per day and decrease the amount of hay he is fed at each time. I have also seen products that hold a treat inside of it an requires the horse to lift or move a section to access the treat. This keeps the horse entertained and less likely to chew from boredom. If neither of these help, it may be that the cribbing has become habit and therefore needs to be stopped by other methods. There are cribbing collars and repellent sprays to stop cribbing. You can also make your own with vegetable oil and lots of red pepper. Good Luck!
Lisa Loyd
Please be advised: This service is provided for educational purposes only. The advice given is simply opinion and is not a substitute for veterinary care. If your horse has been in an accident or is in medical crisis, please seek the help of a veterinary professional immediately.