How to Train a Horse Not to Kick - www.thinklikeahorse.org - Rick Gore Horsemanship

[Lesleygrace101]

My horse kicks when ever i brush his hips can u help?

[petrodvoretz]

Rick I know you don't give a f*** but we miss you FB page ! :)

[LyndaW21]

I want your horse, Rick!



[countrybabe561]

One of my friends horses is a total brat. I take care of this horse for them, meaning brushing, feeding, etc. I don't ride her because she has been broke, but they didn't ride her for years and shes pretty much forgotten everything. She kicks at me when I do anything to her belly. Also when I turn her out in the pasture after brushing, as soon as I unbuckle the halter she starts jerking her head around and won't even let me get it off her nose before she takes off, then she runs and kicks at me.

[DaisukiLucy]

When my friend and I ride, my horse pins her ears at my friend's gelding (who is my horse's only herdmate) and often kicks out at him if he gets too close. The other night she nearly threw me trying to kick my friend's gelding. I don't know if it's relevant, but he's definitely the dominant one on the ground. What can I do to curb her kicking under saddle?

[Dojocho]

this mare bitchy stuff is crap..its the owners that are lazy...if you put a stop to it and let the horse know it will be a long tiring day whenever it acts that way it will lose the attitude..knowing its not worth all the sweat and work for that behavoir..but people just dont want to set out to win the fight even if it takes hours..they just let the horse win and it becomes a learned response...for most people are lazy asses.

[Peanut7602]

My horse likes to buck when i turn him loose in the arena...but when he's not there he is fine. Help?

[DieselEquestrian]

@Peanut7602 What is wrong with your horse bucking when he is loose? He's a horse!

[pyschogambitable]

@Peanut7602 horses sometimes will buck when turned loose due to excitement. I'm not a horse trainer, though I have worked and volunteered at stables, so I have seen this numerous times. The only time you should really be worried is if he deliberately does it when you, or someone else, get close to him. Otherwise he's just having a bit of fun.

[StyleMisser]

So, Rick. Say that a retired Hunter jumper/reiner is on lease to a riding school. He's ridden by beginners, some who move on to canter with him, then other riders who don't yet and he is taught bad manners by all but one of his riders. What would you do? Non of the riders know each other.

[JasperIsaLittleHorse]

I have a 12yr QH, when i have to clean his scratches, it hurts a bit (he can be sorta a sissi) and he often cracks his leg up when i touch the spots that need to be cleaned. For awhile I excepted it, i though it was just b/c it was pretty bad scratches they just really hurt him he'll get over it. Then it got worse and I relised that I can no longer make an excuse for him. Ever since I started smackin his ass everytime he does it, he's reliseing, he wont get away with it and it's going away. :)

[Cottontail6969]

My gelding is 10 years old and was gelded late. All his young life he was pushed around and beaten. Now he is very head shy, but if I try to pet him, most of the time he tries to bite me. When I walk him, he pushes me around and tries to bite and kick me. I've tried numerous times to make him back up and give me my space Nothing seems to be working.. He is also very ill-tempered with other horses. He can only be turned out with one other horse because he will hurt, and get hurt. by other horses.

[HighlySwift]

That horse really loves you. In every video he's been in, he's always licking on you or biting at your hat or something. You've got a great bond with him:)

[bethluvshorses]

Hi, i have got a pony on loan, she is 4 and when my friend bought her she couldnt get no ware near her without being kicked or bitten, now shes being ridden and doesnt bite no more, but she still does kick. we can now pick the front feet up no problem but we cant get any ware near her back end to pick them up. we have tried lots of handling and touching the back leg and working our way down but there has been no change. can you advise us on what to do next? she has had her since January time.

[bethluvshorses]

@bethluvshorses could be due to the fact that she has had a bad past, or were doing it wrong but we have done everything your vid said here since she came

[justinbiebergirl161]

But he wont let me pick up his huff when I try he toys to bite me

[justinbiebergirl161]

My horse let's me do that

[vladdrac88]

Don't get behind it ?

[lulubelleish]

thanks for this rick

paula

[beautifulmandc]

also is there any way you can get them to stop kicking other horses? when your own them? my mare does it, but only when she is in season?

[beautifulmandc]

just wondering my horse is fine with me doing her feet but kicks out at the farrier, but not in a mean way she gets scared, as was badly treated before we got her. if she gets told off she gets really tense and starts quivering and her body kind of collapses so nearly falls over when you pick up her feet, any advice to get her calmer round the farrier? anyone?

[SNCD2011]

Hey i was wondering if you or anybody else that sees this comment would know how to get my horse to take a bit. Last time someone tried he reared on them and kicked them so any advice?? PLEASE and thank you :)

[peosfo]

I do have one question about the rope bridle and the other bridles and bits. In one of your videos I saw, you said you don't like bits. I can see to me that it would hurt the horse somehow, so I do understand that. How can you train a horse to use a rope bridle and rope without the bit and reins? Just start them on it and go from there or is there another way? I didn't see a video on that one. I love your videos! You are the best!

[meg11a]

I just read the comments... to those of you asking Rick for advice, go and watch his other videos first. He explains everything very well. Also, if you're having a problem with your horse, it's probably something you're doing, rather than the horse's fault. You might try some introspection before you start running your mouth.

[Racehorselover1]

How do you teach your horse not to kick other horses?

[MadameRuusu]

But you forgot about horses that are just plain bitchy! Like mares! Handling won't fix a bad tempered horse.

[horseawareness]

@MadameRuusu : You better get your big girl britches on talking that crap on this channel. There are no horse problems only people problems. If you think mares are bitchy then you don't get it and obviously have not watched my videos enough to learn anything. If I was horse handled by most idiots in the horse world today I would be bitchy too.

[Horsepassion4life]

@horseawareness there are horses that kick... handling them won't change anything sometimes... they mostly do it because they've experience things they didn't like or because they don't like that... I've seen a stallion doing that.. we start handling him when he was a foal... he was still kicking at 3 years old. Some horse trainers tried to help, but it did nothing... he stopped doing that don't know how or why, but he gradually stopped doing it... he then was 5 years old XD

[DarkNinjaXD]

@horseawareness I agree, and i agree with handling your horse stops or prevents bad behaviors. I have only ever been around mares. and because they have been well handled, not once have they raised a hoof to me other then to pick it up for me to pick their feet.

[horzelver17]

@MadameRuusu if ur consistent it might

[Ipodmoeilijk]

I love western because:

Dressage: I ride a horse

Western: I ride with the horse

But I have got a question: which breed is the horse in the video?

[jluispereira]

Great. Thanks.  But if he still kicks you, how do I disciplin him??

[DedicatedRider216]

My new mare tends to kick the rest of the herd (3 other horses; 2 geldings and a stud) She doesn't do it under saddle, but how do I show her it is NOT okay to kick the rest of the herd, because they are in your way?

[jessep500]

I have a horse that has been trying to kick me and bite me in the pasture but once he gets inside hes perfect, when i take him out hes fine its just bringing him up... is it because he doesn't want to come in? or something else??

[jumpoffcontends]

@jessep500 , He probably holds a dominant position in his herd. Get after him, and show he cannot do that or else he may get a smack on the but on a quick smack to the nose will do. NOT HARD just enough to prove a point.

[horseawareness]

@jumpoffcontends : you have been blocked for giving advice and passing yourself off as a 15 year old horse trainer.

@jessep500 , He probably holds a dominant position in his herd. Get after him, and show he cannot do that or else he may get a smack on the but on a quick smack to the nose will do. NOT HARD just enough to prove a point.

jumpoffcontends 7 minutes ago 

[horseawareness]

@jessep500 :Be careful of asking for advice, lots of people that don't know crap will give it and it will get you and your horse in trouble. the girl that gave you an answer is 15 years old and has no business telling people she is a horse trainer and should not be giving advice. I have blocked her, but if you listen to anybody that tells you they know you set yourself and your horse up to fail.

[jessep500]

@horseawareness thank you!

[ockstaar]

hes beautiful!

[katiebabebieber]

i love how the horse is licking him like half the time :D 

[cheshirelizzy]

Thank you for the video and advice. I'll be trying it with a yearling (unless you advise otherwise).

I like how your horse licked your hand like a dog would -- very cute!

[ChloeRosie14]

i have watch like all your vids and there amazing but i just have to ask why does this horse have his penis out in all of them? Is he a stallion

[Yazora]

Your horse horse is like, "You has a flavor."

[taylorfan38]

you sure like that shirt dont you :)

[GainingBananas]

Gees, that is the dirtiest horse I've ever seen! You stroked his belly and tons of dust came off him!

[sharna1forever]

my horse kicks other horses but nothing else what might her problem be she getts bullied in the field when i turn her out by any horse i turn her out with

[greatbigbubby]

@sharna1forever i notice the same thing, if my horse has been fussing with the other horses, he'll translate that to me as if i were a horse irritating him.

[Blackoutx86]

I like the video, but it would have been better if the horse kicked him.

[kezzaFIDDY]

I have a kicking donkey, an already established behaviour.. the more time i spend with her the better she gets, i can now brush her back legs without a kick, but im not confidant to walk behind her or pick up her legs as every time i have tried, she has given a good boot... could it be just a case of more time, and taking it very slowly? When i brush her back legs im still standing at her shoulder and leaning forward lol.. not easy to step in the kicking zone when you know she kicks!

[NamihaTaiga]

haha your horse is like...LET ME LICK YOU! XD my horse nibbles on me too

[BeKKaASKUH]

Good horsemanship makes me smile. I miss working with those amazing animals. 

[horseygrl911]

We have a horse named cookie and he has cancer in his eyes and he bites. I dont think its possible to train him not to bite.

[horseawareness]

@horseygrl911 : sure there is, he will stop biting if he gets pressure when he bites, if he just has people running away and feeling sorry or him or making excuses for him since he has cancer then he will keep biting since it works and it gets people to leave him alone. This is not a horse or cancer issue, it is a PEOPLE issue.

[212lele]

@horseawareness Hey Rick I got a quistion. I remember i was on your site the other day and i saw a page that had quistions then answers for like test or something. I tryed looking for it again but cant find it. Its nit in the quistions&answers page i think cause everytime i click there its blank. So do you have it on your site or i might be talking about somewhere else..? (plz answer back)

[DarkHorseDream]

@mudder22k girth her up 20x a day every day. start gentle but not timid. read her body language and progress at her pace not yours

[briesque]

I love the way you view horses. So many people forget about herd dynamics and how that comes into play during your training. I've seen lots of your videos, and just love how sweet your horse is, it's easy to see how much he respects and loves you.

[ImDrummerZ]

Buddy is hilarious!

[heirihunziker]

that is good advice. i wonder if this works on woman, too.

[Firebird894]

@mudder22k Id bet money its due to pain past memory of or present. Have a closer look at how you girth her, her girth area, the girth itself how fast you do it, how tight, how hard you pull are you one of those people who wrenches it up as hard and tight as you can in one go so the skin pinches and you cut off her air? You will probably say no no no and get pissed at me nothing personal but I see it a lot could have been something caught under girth once and person ignored the her telling em.

[moodysoup]

He's a beautiful boy!!!! LOVE that babydoll face. Very nice video!

[sexypisces101]

I was wondering what do you do about a 2 yr old filly that will back up quickly to try to kick you when you enter her paddock? She has never done this before. She has been raised since she was 4 months old and has never threatened to kick someone. Now she means business to hurt someone.

[orcas12]

@sexypisces101 is she in heat? because of her age if she's in heat she may become more aggressive.

[iamfaxon84]

pretty good demo & i like the friendly horse..i enjoyed it,thanks

[chelsea25598]

OK..this video is excellent...I'm going to the website...finally going to learn how to show Stormy who the boss is!!!

[Mayuki666]

i love the horse !!!! he's so sweet (^___^)

[AlenaRoseC]

Aw i love the kiss too cute!:)!

[Anelac]

i like the the way that you treat your horse.

[bballrocks6]

Hi Rick,

I have a Question I have been riding For years, and doing some training, and i have a Question..

I'm Training a Horse that crow hopes when hes in a lope, Know he was Trained before i Got to him, And I have been doing my Usual training, if he Dose i Stop him, Back him up and Lope him again, intill he gets it right BUT this horse Continoues to Crow hope, buck, Rear And wont Stop, and i cant Seem to get this horse to Stop, Hes Great when hes in a Trot, or a Walk, Dosent Budge

[RodeoHorsey]

@bballrocks6 if he crow hops dont stop him that teaches him that he get the pressure released when he acts up. try to do a one rein stop. then go back into a canter

[kotek420]

I absolutely agree!

[pix4434]

What would you do about a horse that bites and has been biting before you purchased it?

[horseawareness]

@pix4434 : You do the same thing to you do to any horse, you treat that horse like a lower horse, you act like a higher horse. Read my horsemanship on my site.

[DeathByPurpleUnicorn]

How do you fix a horse that spooked and kicked you in the face(obviously I couldn't get up and correct him) - so now he thinks he can just turn his rear end to me and threaten to kick so I'll leave him alone? I can lift up his feet fine and everything, handle him, etc. but sometimes when he is loose or at liberty he will threaten.

[horseawareness]

@DeathByPurpleUnicorn : I would bet you are not scared of this horse since you got kicked and the horse knows it. When you fix yourself, your horse follows. Read my site so you understand horses and what is going here.

[reconteske]

@horseawareness--mine would get the lead rope snapped on his backside as I stepped well away just in the event he did let fly. More often than not, horses Ive worked with are surprised by this--it's as if they'd done it to a horse higher in the pecking order and got their backside bit-- and kinda tuck the leg under him to jump away forward instead.

[fotkic]

show me how to train an older horse that already kicks ?

[fotkic]

It is easy to talk to touch the horse, when the horse is already kicking is not so easy.

Make a video what to do when the horse is already kicking. Show us what to do then.

[horseawareness]

Bring your horse to me and I will be happy to help.

[fotkic]

I am from Slovenia transport a horse to you would cost me more than a new horse and probably more than two horse.

[xAhnemesisx]

He's such a sweet horse. You've done a great job with him.

[horseawareness]

@xAhnemesisx : my point is that it is not the horse, it is you. Read my web site and it will help understand horses better. Your horse is being a normal horse doing normal horse things.

[christinaedmunds]

You really do put yourself in bad positions if the horse spooked at something, any horse can kick no matter how much you work with them.

[horseawareness]

True, any horse can flip over on you when you ride, should you not ride? Any horse can run away with you when you get on, should you not get on? Horses are dangerous and you take risk by being around them. Confidence and experience, knowledge and understanding keeps you safer.

[crownpatriot]

what kind of breed is that horse?

[horseawareness]

Quarter Horse

[215jami]

A horse kicking is a natural defensive trait not a learned trait associated with humans. The horse has to be conditoned as far as dominance in the initial training otherwise you wind up with a problem horse. A water hose is the best cure for a kicking horse.The process instills dominance in relation to a human, it doesn't do any good to kick at water. While at the same time telling the horse that it wasnt a threat that he needed to respond too.

[melissainnovascotia]

Awe, Buddy sure does love you, you lucky guy. Of course, spending time is key. I love sooky horses who like to kiss and cuddle!

[stasber]

"When he does try to kick you... you have to give him some good, quick discipline" - what examples could you give? I'm just trying to learn some new ways. Thanks. Good site & a good set of vids btw.

[horseawareness]

I say attack him, get big, get aggressive, move his feet aggressively, back him up and show big dominance. Make him uncomfortable and make him move away, yield to your higher position. This is what a higher horse would do if a lower horse kicks at him. If you done your prep and relationship right, just the threat of you doing this is enough, but you may have to put a rope mark on his butt to drive home the point.

[DarkHorseDream]

@horseawareness i still dont get "get big" r there details about thison your site?