Horse kicks are a powerful way to ward off predators and to get emotions across loud and clear. Sometimes it’s easy to tell what message a horse is trying to convey through a kick, but that’s not always the case. Horses generally have 6 messages they can try to communicate through this single action. Identifying the emotion behind the kick let’s you better understand how your horse is feeling at the moment. Here are 6 meanings behind kicks that can help you connect with your horse on a deeper level.
1. “Stay Back”
This kick usually happens when there’s a rider on a horse and another horse gets too close. Some horses have stronger boundaries than others, so the distance where a horse may start to kick varies. If you’re riding and your horse begins to kick when seeing another horse approach, it’s best to correct the behavior immediately. Keep a safe distance from other horses when riding, as even a “warning” kick can be enough to cause damage to the rider.
2. “Let’s Play”
This sort of kick typically occurs when a horse is in a comfortable environment. When a horse is feeling good, he may express this in a form of gallops and kicks. This type of kick can be dangerous if you’re not taking proper precautions. So always steer clear of a playful horse to avoid getting kicked yourself. When you’re taking him to the pasture, turn to face him as you take off his halter or lead shank and take a step backward out of the gate as you release him. If your horse is play kicking around others, monitor to make sure the situation doesn’t escalate or get too rough.
3. “I’m In Pain”
Most horse owners are aware that kicking at the belly can signify gut pain, but that’s not the only area where they may be affected. When your horse’s kicks appear to be caused from pain, remove any stimuli and see how he acts then. Once you’ve relieve his pain, the kicking should stop immediately. If kicking continues, there may be something else going on. If kicking occurs during grooming, your horse may just be saying he finds it to be unpleasant. But don’t let that stop you, as horses sometimes have to endure unpleasant situations, just like humans.
4. “I’m Frustrated”
If you notice a horse kicking his stall wall or trailer, it’s probably because he’s a little frustrated. The most common cause of frustration is hunger, so try feeding your horse to see if that calms him down. Consider installing kicking boards if you’re looking to limit your horse’s ability to kick in his stall. Other body language that may accompany frustration are pinned ears, head flipping, and lunging forward. If it doesn’t appear to be causing damage to your horse or others, you can ignore frustration kicks all together.
5. “I’m In Charge”
Wild horses use kicking as a last ditch effort to assert dominance in their herd hierarchy, and this can sometimes happen with horses who are resisting training. If your horse is trying to gain dominance over you or its handler, you’ve got trouble. Somewhere down the line these horses learned that kicking was a way to get what they want, but that just isn’t the case. It’s important to consider if taking on a bossy horse is really for you.
Most older horses with kicking habits would be very difficult to train otherwise, which can lead to an unfulfilling life for you both. If you are willing to put in the time and work to train an aggressive kicker, be sure to take necessary precautions to warn others about his tendencies.
Horses may not be very vocal about their wants and needs, but their body language can certainly get the point across. Check in with your horse daily to notice the first signs of discomfort. Typically, horses are trying to communicate something they believe needs addressed. Pay attention to your horse’s behavior and environments and you will be able to clearly see when something isn’t right.