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| Author |
Message |
    
Kim Weber (Kimi)
| | Posted on Tuesday, Nov 14, 2000 - 1:50 pm: |   |
I am having a problem with my mare pawing. Sense I put shoes on her she has gotten her foot caught on the fence twice. Luckily I was there both times to cut the fence. It's getting caught between her hoof and the shoe. Any ways the problem is pawing she does this also in the trailer. And mainly at feeding time. Any suggestions. Please help!! |
Joe A. Dale (Jodog1)
| | Posted on Tuesday, Nov 14, 2000 - 3:57 pm: | |
Can speak only to the trailer issue. My barefoot horse paws in the trailer. I figure it's just a reaction to confinement in a small, noisy area. |
Christine C. Mills (Chrism)
| | Posted on Tuesday, Nov 14, 2000 - 6:32 pm: | |
Watch that you don't reward her pawing inadvertantly by feeding her while she is pawing.
Wait until she is standing quietly to give her grain/hay. If she continues to paw, say uh-uhh and walk away. Return when she isn't pawing and feed her.
Try not to give her any attention or food while she is pawing. You don't want to reward that behavior.
When you don't reward a behavior, it may extinguish itself. |
Zoe English (Nonie)
| | Posted on Wednesday, Nov 15, 2000 - 7:21 pm: | |
When I first bought Molly, she used to paw with anger or frustration when she couldn't get her own way or didn't want to behave. It drove me nuts. It's one of the few behaviors, like kicking and biting, that I consider dangerous and can't tolerate, because it can lead to striking if it's not corrected. What I did was whenever she started pawing I'd tell her a firm NO and smack her on the shoulder. It broke her of the habit pretty quickly. Now of course since I've started clicker training her she picks up her front hoof and holds it in the air when she gets her food--a replacement (benign at least) activity, I guess. GRIN. |
Sandy Noseworthy
New Member
Username: Wanttobe
Post Number: 2
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Friday, Jan 3, 2003 - 8:50 pm: | |
I've also had horses that pawed during feeding and as well as tacking up time. I started placing a old horseshoe above the corenet band of the pawing foot or feet. This will bang the foot as they paw and this is very irritating to them, so they may think twice about continuing.
You may want to weld a short piece of chain to the old shoe which will give a bit of a smack as he kicks or paws.
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Kim Fotter
Member
Username: Fpony
Post Number: 234
Registered: 9-1999
| | Posted on Saturday, Jan 4, 2003 - 9:22 am: | |
Ouch!
Couldn't that damage the pastern area? I think a smack on the shoulder sounds a bit more humane. I, also agree with Chris. Make sure you aren't reinforcing the behavior,accidentlly.
Zoe, isn't the clicker great! |
Sandy Noseworthy
Member
Username: Wanttobe
Post Number: 3
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, Jan 19, 2003 - 7:22 pm: | |
This is not painful when you use the rounded side of the shoe. It is more annoying then painful. A smack works if your able to stand at her side, while she eats, but when have a barn of horses to feed i use this method and it works.
As to your horse getting caught up in the fence, try wrapping a small piece of duck tape around the back of her heel to close the gap between shoe and hoof.
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Stephany Asta-Ferrero
Member
Username: Luvmyqh
Post Number: 3
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, Jan 18, 2005 - 8:53 am: | |
I have a similar problem with a horse where I work. I've pretty much taken him under my wing. He's been what I guess you could call a problem child since I started there.
Anyway he was moved to a stall with ametal gate and whenever someone is around he persistently bangs it with one of his front feet.I understand some of the reasons he does this but I'd like to help him become more patient and not be so noisey . Any suggestions?Help please |
Christos Axis
Member
Username: Christos
Post Number: 583
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, Jan 18, 2005 - 3:28 pm: | |
Hi, Stephany,
First thing is that you pad the door. A stall mat works well. This way you minimise injuries and he doesn't get a kick out of the noise.
Next, you completely ignore him for as long as possible. It is important not to even look at him. |
cp
Member
Username: Cpacer
Post Number: 4
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, Jan 18, 2005 - 3:57 pm: | |
I wonder if it was luck or that she knew you were watching? My horse went through a short pawing phase but it went away almost unnoticed when he realized it didn't get him any attention of any kind.
Considering there's possible danger to the horse though, maybe a firm "STOP" would help? |
Kim Glaza
Member
Username: Kckohles
Post Number: 46
Registered: 7-2000
| | Posted on Tuesday, Jan 18, 2005 - 5:58 pm: | |
I use the pebble method. This works wonders because the horse doesn't know the discouragement is coming from you, which is why the shoe idea works because the horse is doing it to themselves so they will quit. I pick up a small handfull of little pebbles and stand around the area pretending that I doing something else and when the horse starts to paw I lob a pebble over at them. I don't want them to know that I threw the pebble, it should be like it dropped out of the sky. It will startle them and they will quit. They will resume then you toss another rock. After being startled by the pebble a couple of times they quit. A couple of things, they can't know that you did it, it should just drop on them, no major league fast pitches, it isn't necessary, and only do it while they are pawing.
The pawing is about getting attention so either negative, (the smacking, the scolding) or positive (the food, or petting) will do.
If you hit your thumb while hammering a nail you just stop hammering, if I was hitting you with a hammer you would do what it takes to get me to stop.
KIM |
