This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Training, Behavior, & Conditioning Horses » Behavioral Problems » Behavioral Problems topics not covered by the above »
  Discussion on Paws Like Crazy
Author Message
New Member:
Drillrdr

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 2, 2005 - 11:10 am:

I recently purchased a 3 year old blue roan gelding (Elvis). He is pastured with 4 other geldings and is only stalled at feeding time. Elvis was placed in the first stall of the barn, which is closest to the feed room. Once in his stall Elvis proceeded to paw pretty aggressively at the stall door to the point he broke the welds of the frame! I first thought he sees me getting everyone's buckets ready and can hear me rattling the feed barrels so he is impatient for dinner. I moved Elvis to the very last stall ... furthest from the feed room. Though he hasn't been able to break the welds on the gate, he continually paws the floor. He also paws the floor while he is eating. Is there a remedy to stop this type of behavior? Is it an age issue? I haven't had a young gelding for quite a while. I do have a 5 year old paint gelding (Cosmo)that paws when he's ready to eat but usually quits when food is placed in front of him.
Member:
Chohler

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 2, 2005 - 1:49 pm:

Most of the time it is just an obsessive behavior. I am sure someone here can help you with it. There is an article if you do a search on behavior modification.

The only way I could get it to stop was with a vicebreaker collar.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 3, 2005 - 7:36 am:

Horses pawing as a response to trying to get something they want and being restrained is natural but most horses unlearn the behavior as most of the time it does not yield food in the stall. Either this horse is naturally "impatient" or more probably this behavior was consistently rewarded in the past.

I suggest you have the feed already in the stalls when the horses arrive at the barn. The pawing while eating may improve in time if there is not a period of anticipation. Because the behavior is continuous it is difficult to find a time to reward these horses out of this behavior, but the vicebreaker collar might be a logical step.
DrO
New Member:
Drillrdr

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 3, 2005 - 10:08 am:

Sounds like a logical reason for the behavior and an easy fix (hopefully). I will try the method of having everyone's feed in their stalls to see if it begins to eliminate the problem. If not, I'll invest in a vicebreaker collar. Thanks for the input!!!
Member:
Chohler

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 3, 2005 - 1:47 pm:

I use the vice breaker collar on my stud horse, it just gives a little extra control. I used to use it on my gelding, he would start pawing as hard as he could on the outside of the barn at 2 in the morning everyday, he was never rewarded accidentally, but correcting the behavior was difficult cause as soon as you opened the door he would stop and commence again as soon as you got back into bed. I live in a high density rural area, and this was a big problem, trying to keep neighbors happy. I put the collar on him and he was corrected everytime from the luxury of my house, and I was not associated with the correction.

The part to remember is you have to invest the time to be around to correct the behavior. You can't correct one day and not the next you have to make it a habit thing.

The electical stimulus isn't strong but enough to get their attention, I put it on my wrist and gave my self the highest jolt and I could barely tell kinda like a bug bite, my training collars for my protection dogs have a lot more kick to them.
New Member:
Drillrdr

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 3, 2005 - 2:43 pm:

Thank you for your input Cheryl. Since I am usually the only one that is around at feeding time I can discipline him at that time. If Dr. O's suggestion doesn't work after a week or two, I'll invest in the collar. I assume that would work on a horse that tends to bite when crowded? When we are in some of our drill formations he doesn't like his "personal space" invaded and sometimes he gets pretty aggressive. This is another horse, not the one with the pawing issue.
Member:
Chohler

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 3, 2005 - 6:58 pm:

We never use vicebreaker collars when on the horse. That is something that would be a question to ask the manufacturer.

For those that get mad when working around other horses, I work them near the other horse and then release pressure and let them rest close to the other horse, when they start fusing again, repeat, I do this for a while and they pick it up pretty quick.

The collar does work on biters especial ones that rush the fence. It is also used for cribbing but requires some time investment to correct.

Good luck, if you need a collar in the future I have another brandnew 2 horse set and you can email me at cherylhohler@hotmail.com
Member:
Zoe

Posted on Monday, Aug 15, 2005 - 10:47 pm:

I think a horse paws when they want something naturally since they cant talk to you. But what it is can't really be explained... attention, food, or maby he is just bored.... well I would try to give him more attention (if your not giving him enough which you probably are giving him a lot) or give him something to play around with in his stall like a ball or something.... thats all the advice I have right now!

Z and Andy the bird say good morning, Good afternoon, Good evening, and Good night!
Home Page | Top of Page | Join Us!
Horseadvice.com is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Horse Training in Stokesdale NC