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Breaking a horse from cowkicking
I have a 3yr old 4 in april qh mare, she cowkicks when u brush her sides and her butt. What can i do to get her to let me brush her whole body and her be fine with it? This is the first horse i have ever had that was a green horse so any help would be greatly appreciated!
Jessica
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by A_Sassy_Temptation on
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I would first get her checked out for any pain (chiropracter, massage therpaist, vet), she may not want you brushing there because it hurts. Next I would establish a relationship, she needs to see you with respect, not always the leader (I don't believe that in every aspect we (owners) should be the leaders), but with respect so get a natural horsemanship trainer to help you with creating a bond through ground work. Next once you both establish a relationship, if the cow kicking has not stopped through all the above, but hobbles on, and with suppervision of you trainer, teach her what you want..
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Permalink Reply by Geoffrey Pannell on
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Hi Jessica, the best thing to do is to desensitized the area. With a long stick or a dressage whip rub the horse over the chest to start with , working your way down the horses front legs . then over the back , the belly , over the rump. slowly all the time keeping the stick on the horse . If he gets upset stop moving the stick but keep it in place. Remember 'slowly,slowly, catchy monkey' You can pad the stick with leg bandages ( broom stick works well) When he kicks at it just start at the top of the rump again and slowly come back down the outside of the leg. Eventually you will be able to rub the horses leg inside out . When that happens ,slowly again, you can start to use your hand over the rump. If you get any reaction go back to the stick ( stay safe, don't be a hero, this is work the breaker should have done) Do you have any trouble picking up the back legs at all? What type of brush are you using ? Can you post a pic of it? Cheers Geoffrey
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Permalink Reply by Jessica Parker on
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hi Geoffrey, thanks for ur advice i will def. try it on her. The brush i have been using is just a soft bristle brush on her. My fiancee has picked her back feet up a couple of times, i was to nervous too, and as for a pic what kind of pic are you wanting me to post?
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just wanted to see what type of brush you are useing.
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Permalink Reply by Debra McDaid on
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Hi
I have 3 year old standardbred colt that acts more like a mare than a colt in this same respect! He is as light as any horse I have ever had behind... and I have purposely searched out mares since I get along well them them! I find that the slow, and patient method works, you can't get it done all in one day. Any method that you take your time with and don't get in a hurry, a method that like the one with the whip/stick, that builds confidence is the right one. But if you are scared than you are not the best candidate for the early work. You need to be sure of yourself and like Geoffry (I believe said) not necessarily the boss, but sure of yourself, and relaxed... attitude will play a bigger role than any particular method. My colt has been a challenge, but each day brings us closer to less kicking, and patients has won out... along with a lot of Che... no... don't -- on a lighter note... the no, don't are his two most hated words... yes he knows what we are saying... and he actually will throw a temper tantrum on occassion... I have caught it on film to the ammusment of a couple of good (long horse trainer/owner/riders) friends of mine. Cheers deb
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Permalink Reply by marthaG on
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Grooming should be a connecting and listening interaction. A cowkicking young horse that has no visible signs of pain, might be suggesting a more internal issue. Hate to mention how many horses have ulcers. I do not know anything about hubbles, cannot even spell it, but I think restraining a horse trying to voice their opinion if they seem otherwise manageable and agreeable might create bigger issues. I agree with Geoffrey, go on a slow and explorative journey with her, and let her know that you are trying to understand her discomfort and trying to comfort her pain, not increase it. Sounds like soft stupid words, but go and be quiet and watch and see if maybe she is trying to explain what is the issue. THey are sometimes merely trying to explain to us mere humans what we do not see...and when we do, then they are so grateful and so malleable. If you choose a young horse, then expect to have great chances for real understanding and connection...and yes, along the way, complications. Cowkicking is not acceptable, but it is a very strong single from the horse that something is not right...and they are asking for our cooperation so we can fairly ask for theirs. I do agree, that sometimes their answers can be inappropriate, when dangerous, and it is fair for us to tell them that their response is not ok....but voice tone or a body gesture, but it must be followed by an assurance that you are willing to explore with them and find a better way to make them more comfortable.
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I still want to know if this horse is in pain before the owner does anything else, both to hurt herself and the horse, I had a horse that wouldn't let me brush her back because it was misaligned.. I mean its a really weird thing for a horse to do, if nothing is triggering it to do so.. Was it born and did this, or is it something this horse has newly acquired doing? How about its past training? I know my first horse was a cowkicker, to fence posts, but even as her prone to cowkicking she never when I was grooming would she block me from grooming her..lunging maybe, saddling maybe, farrier maybe, but brushing..nope. Yes, we worked on the cowkicking issue, and with a Chris Irwin/her own thing ground work I sold her without that issue.
I would get a trainer/coach, but more importantly I would be checking her body character, I bet she has signs of discomfort because grooming should be the "fun" part for horses, even in the wild it is part of their social "fun/good feeling" time.
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Hi sassy, i def. want to make sure she is in no pain, i dont know why i didnt think of this b4 but when i got her she has like dry scabs or dry skin? not really sure but the person i got her from said when he got her she was covered in flies. I dont know if that would make her skin sore or not?
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In a one word answer... yes, I had a horse Keltic Doc that had this happen (he lived in Sudbury area -- bad fly zone) and he was a mess even as far into December... and we worked hard on him to get his right... he was VERY skin sore... he didn't kick at us, but he never stood still either for brushing until the scabs and sores and dry skin went away.
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Is there something i can put on her skin that would help with the scabs and dry skin?
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Hi
We used iodine soap on Doc, and a special lanoline/tea leaf oil conditioner... he was allergic to any other soap... but he was a race horse and they get washed all the time, so I'm not sure if in winter this would be the best solution for you, since regular riding horses don't sweat enough (get warm enough) to warrent a bath. We then put cortizone cream (from the vet) on the worst spots, and either lanolin, or vitamine E cream, or hibitane, or udderbalm (the medicated kind) on the lesser areas-- whatever was in the barn that was going on their heel scrtaches at the time-- you have to remember that in a racing barn there are always creams for this and that... lol lol). It was a lot of work, but we depended on Doc for our living, and besides he was a pet and worth it to us... take care and good luck... ps hibitane works really well for a lot problems it might work in this case. deb
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Thanks for the info! It seems her skin isnt as bad as it was when i first got her. I have put her on a really good feed and i think that may be helping her.
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