A horse that kicks can be dangerous. Even if your horse is just kicking at a stinging fly and you happen to get in the way, you can be injured. Some horses develop a bad habit of kicking and can be a danger on the ground or when being ridden or driven.
Why Horses Kick
Horses kick for a number of reasons. As mentioned earlier, a horse may kick at biting flies on its legs and belly. A horse will kick around its belly when it has colic. They kick or stomp when something like a prickly weed tickles their legs or belly. Usually these aren’t really forceful kicks – after all, they could hurt themselves even more when it comes to getting rid of the discomfort.
You often see horses kicking each other in the pasture. When they are playing, these are not powerful kicks and they rarely hit another horse. It can simply be a sign of exuberance, which is often seen when the horse gallops and bucks to expend energy.
Defense
Horses also kick to defend themselves, and these kicks are often powerful and well aimed. Horses can defend themselves by kicking if they feel that another horse is getting too close to their food, their foal or a particular herd member, or if another horse is acting aggressively towards them. In the wild, horses use powerful kicks, often with both hind legs at the same time, to fend off predators. A mare may kick at a stallion if she is not ready to be mated.
This defensive instinct may explain why some horses kick when alarmed, e.g. when a human, dog or other animal “appears” behind the horse. Or if an item of equipment comes loose and drags behind or next to the horse, it may react by kicking. A horse that is trained to pull may kick the team if it is not slowly introduced to the team and allowed to get used to the sight and sound of a vehicle being pulled by a horse.
When Kicking Becomes a Problem
Kicking while handling, riding or driving can become a dangerous habit or vice. At some point, the horse has learned that kicking is the best strategy to get rid of something it doesn’t like. This then becomes a habit that the rider, handler or driver must always keep in mind. Some horses become agitated when another horse is ridden too close behind them and kick to scare the other horse away. This is problematic if the horse is ridden in a group or in a crowded arena, e.g. at a horse show. Both the horse and the rider (and spectators) are then at risk of injury. I know of cases where one horse has kicked at another and the rider has borne the brunt of the blow.
Some horses have an aversion to dogs, cats or ponies and offer to kick them if they get too close. Horses that have injured themselves when being saddled up or when the girth is put on quickly often kick at the cow because they are afraid of being pinched. My daughter’s nose was broken in one such incident. When she bent down to reach under the horse to put on the girth, the young horse reacted with a cow kick that hit her in the face.
Some horses kick out of defiance. This is a sign of disrespect. These kicks are aimed at you, but the horse knows that it is not in range to hit you. This often happens when lunging or working in the round pen. Some horses kick the walls of their stalls when they are bored or impatient.
How to Deal with a Problem Kicker
If your horse seems to be a habitual offender, there are a few things you can do. When you are out and about, tie a red ribbon to its tail to warn other people that the horse is known to kick. If you are riding in a group, ride at the back of the group and make the others aware of the horse’s habit. Teach your horse to respond to leg aids. A horse that moves forward will kick less often. If another horse comes too close, you can swing your horse’s hindquarters to one side or the other so that even if your horse kicks out, it cannot hit its target.
Handling a horse that kicks requires special care. If your horse is in public, it should wear a red ribbon. Anyone who has to work near the horse should be aware of the horse’s habit. You and anyone else who needs to approach the horse should stay out of reach of the horse’s hind legs. If you are in a public place, such as a horse show or fair, you must keep your horse away from pedestrians and other horses.
Learn to Watch Body Language
Most horses warn you through their body language before they kick. So not only do you need to know what situations can trigger a kick, you also need to know the horse’s ears, head and body posture that can occur before a kick. Regardless of whether the horse is cautious or defiant with its kick, you need to recognize the signs of an impending kick and give the horse something else to think about.
You may be able to mitigate the vice by desensitizing the horse. If it seems anxious and kicks at a particular object, you need to gradually accustom the horse to that object. If it kicks at cow pats when saddling, you need to be consistently gentle and slow. If the horse habitually attacks others in the pasture, it may need to be separated if it hurts others.
Kicking Chains
One way to deal with a kicker is to use “kicker chains”. A short piece of chain is attached to each hind leg. The theory behind this is that the horse feels the chain on its own legs when kicking and is therefore deterred from kicking. A few things can go wrong with shackles. If the horse is spooking, the problem can get worse, and putting on a boot or bandage can become an ordeal. Certainly the horse may react violently when you first put it on. Some horses get used to the restraints and they may even become ineffective. Or the horse may not kick when the chains are on, but kicking may remain a problem when they are removed. The chains could get caught in the horse’s hoof or in a wire fence (unlikely, but possible). Do not use chains with kicks when riding. If you decide to use chains with kicks, proceed with extreme caution.