Breaking a horse from cowkicking??

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Permalink Reply by Reinersue on February 1, 2010 at 7:12pm

Hi Jessica,
These are just my thoughts. Perhaps they may help.

The cowkicking can mean a few things depending on how slight or how forceful it is. With all of them, I'm sure you know to keep your distance from the kick. She is trying to communicate to you something? a physical problem?(a sore back). an emotional problem (lack of trust)? an attitude problem?(i'm the boss & I don't want ot do this).

A slight cowkick and with hesitation could mean that she is trying to tell you that she doesn't understand what you're doing and she's scared. She may not be used to it or you. Alot of problems, small ones, will just go away with time - the ones that are intermittent or small. I usually try that for small problems. A horse cow kicking because they are unsure of what you are doing or unsure that you're not going to harm them will go away through repetition of you giving them pleasant brushing. They will come to trust you and enjoy it. Of course the brushing has to be pleasant.
I had a horse cowkick me once because she had never been brushed before. I just went gently and kept going until she liked it.

A definite cowkick but not harsh could be that she is sore or has a belly ache. You can watch for her telling your in other ways. Showing signs of soreness. Is her sides sore or butt? Her girth could be sore. You would know from the situation.

It could also mean the 1st small threatening kick. Is she testing you for dominance? Maybe she knows the brushing leads to riding and she's had unpleasant experiences. Do you know her history?
Maybe she doesn't like to be cinched up (doesn't know what that is?)
If it's just that she doesn't like it and knows what it means then I would answer back plainly that you are the boss but will not harm her. She has to have pleasant experiences of being brushed and tack up. You have to tell her to trust you and then follow through with trusting behaviour. Certainly don't let her get away with bad behaviour. It's communication but she could be swearing at you (if she were human).

A semi-harsh cowkick could mean that she is letting you now AGAIN that she is boss and to back away or she will really kick you. Especially if this is after a few non harsh cowkicks in a row. She is really trying to tell you something here. Again, you have to rule out physical or lack of trust or lack of trainability.

If she gets to the point of really trying to kick you hard to tell you GET THE HECK AWAY FROM ME OR ELSE! Then there's a communication breakdown before this. She's telling you that she's been trying to tell you something and the two of you are not communicating. I would find the problem and fix it.

Good luck.
Susan

Permalink Reply by Jessica Parker on February 1, 2010 at 9:21pm

hey susan, thanks for the advice. When i cinch her up she usually just does it when i first tighten it. When i brush her sometimes she will flick her tail b4 cowkicking and when she does kick its not real easy but not trying to kill me either, like i said i havent had her long and she might not trust me fully yet or might be testing me for dominace cause when i lunge her she will pin her ears back and act like she is going to come in on me. Do you have any advice as to how i can show her i am the boss?