horse paws on cross ties.

JoAnne · 03-09-2007, 06:24 PM

hello. My new horse, a four and a half year old paint, very well mannered, has one issue. When I cross tie him he paws and paws ! If I reprimand him he stops, but then goes back to it a minute later. any suggestions? Other than that he is a good boy. He has been handled only about 4 months, spent his first 3 years on a range in Wyomning, his 4th year in a large open field with other horses, then was shipped to Florida. He is fine in his stall doesn't crib etc. just on cross ties he paws and paws with his front foot ( it is even worn down from it...he does not wear shoes.) sometimes he'll do it on the other foot. it seems like impatience, tho there are flies at the place. I fly spray him but it doesn't seem to matter.

**Range** · 03-09-2007, 06:37 PM

I vote for impatience. A lot of horses do that. I would put a rubber mat down for his hoof protection. Then, as training, you can let him stand and paw and then the second he quits pawing...release him. Go do something with him. Come back and cross tie him again and go through the same ritual. Hopefully, the time between pawing and his release will grow greater and greater until he learns that this behavior will not get him what he wants.

There are other ways that involve hobbles and chains and such, but I would try the above way first.

miss leanne · 03-09-2007, 06:41 PM

My cousin's barrel horse pawed like crazy when he was tied to the trailer. Her solution was hobbles, the kind that you weave into itself and can adjust, not the chain kind. He could paw (kinda) but it prevented him from going all-out and pawing like crazy.

Now, I'm not saying that that was what I would have done... I think I would work on leaving him tied -- aLOT -- to teach him patience. Tie him while you're cleaning his stall, tie him up and LEAVE him tied up for long periods of time -- not enough to be inhumane, of course, but long enough that he gets the idea that pawing does NOT speed up the process.

That's the best I can do. I'm by no means a professional trainer, so I would definantly consider other folks' opinions!

Mule Fool · 03-09-2007, 07:28 PM

Sounds like he just needs more of it. Set yourself up for success by doing it after he's been worked so at least you don't have to fight the fact he's full of energy. I'd tie him as much as you can, in different places, and never untie when he's pawing. I used hobbles on my mule for awhile, but since I don't want to rely on them, I quit. I think by then she had become accustomed to it anyway.

ricoman · 03-09-2007, 09:08 PM

I tend to ignore the behavior.Do everything you would normally do, work him and put him back in the crossties when done working, then walk away. My stallion pawed alot when young, I left him there for several hours, I actually forgot about him. that's not necessarily a good thing to do but it worked, he was standing very quietly when I went back out to the barn. Impatience is the problem, try to leave him be and ignore it.

BornToRide · 03-09-2007, 09:10 PM

I agree with impatience. We solve that at our barn by just leaving them tied for about five hours. We always leave them ties fora long time until they learn to stand.

JoAnne · 03-09-2007, 09:41 PM

all posts are good. I might start by ignoring it. I have been reprimanding him, but it is so mild, I think he actually just likes the attention he gets. Will try to ignore it a while and see if that helps, unless something else inspires me.

Mule Fool · 03-09-2007, 11:37 PM

Yeah, I think it's best to ignore them, but it's hard for me to do. I'm always peeking around corners trying to not be noticed to see what's going on.

A friend of mine has his "thinking tree" that he ties his mules to and he made sure he can't see it from the house so they don't bug him.

Lady_MCSE · 03-09-2007, 11:50 PM

Don't forget that in addition to ignoring the bad behavior, reward the good! When my guy is being good, he gets "good boy"s and rubs on the neck right near the withers.

03-09-2007, 06:24 PM
JoAnne Started Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 2,442	horse paws on cross ties. hello. My new horse, a four and a half year old paint, very well mannered, has one issue. When I cross tie him he paws and paws ! If I reprimand him he stops, but then goes back to it a minute later. any suggestions? Other than that he is a good boy. He has been handled only about 4 months, spent his first 3 years on a range in Wyomning, his 4th year in a large open field with other horses, then was shipped to Florida. He is fine in his stall doesn't crib etc. just on cross ties he paws and paws with his front foot ( it is even worn down from it...he does not wear shoes.) sometimes he'll do it on the other foot. it seems like impatience, tho there are flies at the place. I fly spray him but it doesn't seem to matter.

03-09-2007, 06:37 PM
Range Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Back of Beyond Posts: 5,893	pawing I vote for impatience. A lot of horses do that. I would put a rubber mat down for his hoof protection. Then, as training, you can let him stand and paw and then the second he quits pawing...release him. Go do something with him. Come back and cross tie him again and go through the same ritual. Hopefully, the time between pawing and his release will grow greater and greater until he learns that this behavior will not get him what he wants. There are other ways that involve hobbles and chains and such, but I would try the above way first. __________________ If it harms none, do what you will.

03-09-2007, 06:41 PM
miss leanne Seasoned Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 4,532	My cousin's barrel horse pawed like crazy when he was tied to the trailer. Her solution was hobbles, the kind that you weave into itself and can adjust, not the chain kind. He could paw (kinda) but it prevented him from going all-out and pawing like crazy. Now, I'm not saying that that was what I would have done... I think I would work on leaving him tied -- aLOT -- to teach him patience. Tie him while you're cleaning his stall, tie him up and LEAVE him tied up for long periods of time -- not enough to be inhumane, of course, but long enough that he gets the idea that pawing does NOT speed up the process. That's the best I can do. I'm by no means a professional trainer, so I would definantly consider other folks' opinions!

03-09-2007, 07:28 PM
Mule Fool Started Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Washington State Posts: 2,283	Sounds like he just needs more of it. Set yourself up for success by doing it after he's been worked so at least you don't have to fight the fact he's full of energy. I'd tie him as much as you can, in different places, and never untie when he's pawing. I used hobbles on my mule for awhile, but since I don't want to rely on them, I quit. I think by then she had become accustomed to it anyway.

03-09-2007, 09:08 PM
ricoman Weanling Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 440	I tend to ignore the behavior.Do everything you would normally do, work him and put him back in the crossties when done working, then walk away. My stallion pawed alot when young, I left him there for several hours, I actually forgot about him. that's not necessarily a good thing to do but it worked, he was standing very quietly when I went back out to the barn. Impatience is the problem, try to leave him be and ignore it. __________________ Resistance is Futile

03-09-2007, 09:10 PM
BornToRide Long Yearling Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,470	I agree with impatience. We solve that at our barn by just leaving them tied for about five hours. We always leave them ties fora long time until they learn to stand. __________________ There's something about the outside of a horse that's good for the inside of a man.-Winston Churchill

03-09-2007, 09:41 PM
JoAnne Started Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 2,442	all posts are good. I might start by ignoring it. I have been reprimanding him, but it is so mild, I think he actually just likes the attention he gets. Will try to ignore it a while and see if that helps, unless something else inspires me.

03-09-2007, 11:37 PM
Mule Fool Started Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Washington State Posts: 2,283	Yeah, I think it's best to ignore them, but it's hard for me to do. I'm always peeking around corners trying to not be noticed to see what's going on. A friend of mine has his "thinking tree" that he ties his mules to and he made sure he can't see it from the house so they don't bug him.

03-09-2007, 11:50 PM
Lady_MCSE Greenbroke Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Shytown, IL Posts: 3,642	Don't forget that in addition to ignoring the bad behavior, reward the good! When my guy is being good, he gets "good boy"s and rubs on the neck right near the withers. __________________ A little self-deprecating humor from time to time can be healthy. Just be cautious -- make sure it doesn't turn to self-defecating humor. --LadyM