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boon
Posts: 4
| My gelding has all the sudden began to kick out. We've warmed up with horses before in smaller pens and it hasn't been an issue until recently. He will literally stop what we're doing (walking, trotting, loping) and intentionally kick out to someone behind us. What's odd is, I don't notice so much of him pinning his ears when he does it. Could this be an attitude problem or a health problem (back, hocks, etc.)? TIA! |
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 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
 
| When I got my gelding, this is one of the things they said he did. Ended up being a few hind ribs being out. That and an attitude adjustment. He's only done it once since we had him after we got the chiro issue fixed and it was on a very hot day and he was giving his statement of editorial opinion.
I would have a chiro check him out, check your saddle fit, and then have a much trusted horse person ride a horse near his rear and see if he does it. We spent an entire summer desensitising a mare we had who pinned her ears at everything that moved behind her. She never kicked out behind unless she had a horsefly, but we didn't want to take the chance. So we rode my pony in proximity to her getting closer and closer, finally running into her rear all summer. By the end she didn't even bother to pin her ears. It's nice when you are in close quarters at a barrel race and you get some who'll run into you, she never batted an eyelash at them. But this isn't something to do with inexperienced riders in case the horse does indeed kick. You need to have the person aware of the situation and both horses and how to handle them in case of danger. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| I have heard this can be a sign of stifles locking. I have heard firing out is one way they unlock the stifles |
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| Mine does lightly kick out when someone rides up on his butt in the warm up pen! He's not sore or disrespectful just spicy lol I feel like doing the same thing when a rider has no respect for other riders and their space ! My horse just beats me to it lol |
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Can I help a kicker?