How To Handle A Horse That Has A Kicking Habit?

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How To Handle A Horse That Has A Kicking Habit?
How To Handle A Horse That Has A Kicking Habit?

Video: How To Handle A Horse That Has A Kicking Habit?

Video: How To Handle A Horse That Has A Kicking Habit?
Video: Clinton Anderson Presents: Kicking A Bad Habit 2024, March
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This habit is not good and should not be encouraged, as sooner or later it can lead to serious trouble. This behavior can result in an injured rider.

Why does the horse kick?

The answer is obvious - she doesn't want anyone to sit on her back. You've probably seen the unbridled mustang at the rodeo, but this is just a show. But if your own horse turns into such a mustang, that's a completely different story.

Kicking horse, photo photography
Kicking horse, photo photography

Horses usually kick for one reason - they don't want to be galloped and try to throw the rider off their back. They also don't like being saddled: a badly fitted saddle presses on the horse's spine, rubs the back. Is your horse kicking due to the discomfort of a leather saddle resting on an unheated back? Perhaps the horse had never been saddled before, or the riders were inexperienced or cruel. If once in the past a horse has experienced negative feelings, it will never want to endure a rider on itself. And it happens that the horse just has too much energy. If your horse has been in the stall for 3 weeks, the chances are high that he will start kicking with excess feeling.

Whatever the reason, kicking is a habit that should be stopped. Here are a few steps you should take to do this.

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Warm the saddle before placing it on the horse's back. If your back is not warmed up, place a lambswool sweatshirt under the saddle. You can also place the saddle on the horse's back 15-20 minutes before boarding to keep it warm.

Make sure the saddle fits well. It should not chafe the withers or press on the spine.

Don't let the horse lower its head. As long as its head is up, the horse cannot kick at full strength. She may suddenly jump forward or to the side, but she will not be able to kick with the force that would knock a confident rider out of the saddle. If the horse is trying to lower his head and kick, pull firmly on the reins with a sharp upward motion to raise his head.

Kicking horse, photo photography
Kicking horse, photo photography

Correct the horse's behavior in hot pursuit. Don't punish her after she has stopped kicking. She may think she was being punished for exactly what she stopped doing.

In general, you should not apply physical punishment to horses. Use positive reinforcement to correct her behavior. It will take a lot of patience from you, but it will be rewarding. Physical punishment ultimately only reinforces the horse's misbehavior.

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How to fix a horse's behavior without hurting it?

- The movement that you are trying to teach the horse should be as painless as possible, - Obedience should be rewarded, - Some instances of resistance should not force you to deviate from the intended plan, - Working with a kicking horse will require a lot of patience from you. You may need to seek professional help.

At first, kicking may look like an innocent sin, but then it will develop into a serious vice. If you are unable to deal with this problem on your own, seek the help of a professional trainer or horse behavior specialist. Don't let your horse turn into a wild mustang.

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