Anyone have any ideas for a kicker?

Lara

New member
I have a TB mare, I have had her for 10 years. For the the first five years she was the least moody mare I have ever been around, and about five years ago she started squealing and kicking. She kicks in her stall for no apparent reason, it has nothing to do with feeding time and the horse beside her is her buddy. I have had every hormonal test done that we can think of, she has been ultra sounded, and has even had a marble implanted. Nothing really has worked. I've tried kick chains, and kick shoes, they help, but they don't stop the kicking completely. She is absolutely horrible in the trailer, loads perfectly fine and will stand there quiet and then starts kicking sometimes just a little and sometimes constantly. I have a 2 horse straight load, but I have tried her in almost everything. She gets turned out for 12 hours a day and is rode 3-5 times a week, I do eventing with her and she is an absolutely wonderful horse to ride and compete, I just need to figure out a way to get her there safe and keep her safe in her stall. Please help!!!
 
Easy diagnosis...she is kicking out of confinement. Have you decreased her turnout time in the past few years? If not confinement is still likely the cause.

I suggest turning her out more and putting a stall guard on her stall when someone is near to keep an eye on her. This way she won't feel so confined. Also put toys in her stall.

When you trailer her keep hay in a hay net so she focuses on that instead of feeling confined.
 
Ok, this may be completly nuts, but I saw them in a catalog once, they use them I think when breeding horses, breeding hobbles. I think they are made so the mare can not kick the stud?? They might help. Sorry. I hope this helps, and you can find a way to stop her kicking, she sounds like she was-is a great horse.
 
Kicking hobbles...the back legs are hobbled together It works for our kicking mare that we have, they have padded cuffs and a chain inbetween. you could also try nobody next to her at all, even if you think its her buddy the other horse could be aggravating her. for the trailer, we also have issues with our mare, she gets 4 way hobbled with quick release bungees and a leadrope from her halter, inbetween her front legs to the back kicking hobbles if she does try to kick up it pulls her head down...then tied normally to the trailer..we also open down the window ...this helps any claustrophobic issues....if she proceeds to destroy the trailer...last resort is to drug her.....she is by far the most difficult horse i have ever transported..and ive hauled a lot of horses in my lifetime. Its a very frustrating problem, I understand. our other help was our vet...had lots of helpful advise.
 
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