Feisty 2-week old filly kicking at me -- Help!

[TrinitySporthorses]

The punishment has to fit the crime and has to match intensity for intensity. Additionally, it has to fit their knowledge base. I am more stern with those who know better.

So - called up a friend who regularily foaled out 50-79 mares a season and she said you nip it in the bid now, while she is small or you will be very very sorry if you allow it to continue

I have found that if you over-react the first time they try something really naughty, there typically won’t be a second time. So, while the punishment should fit the crime- remember that some crimes are major felonies, and that includes biting and kicking. It may not hurt (actually they often don’t make contact the first time) but the intent was way out of line- so go after them! I’m not advocating abuse, but I have seen the way horses treat each other when they mean business, so I have no qualms about smacking or “biting” with my fingernails or even using a whip (if that’s what required for my safety) on a young foal.

[starborne]

I had a colt once that made me learn to have eyes in the back of my head. He wasn’t mean, just playful, only very rough kind of playful. His mother was no help as the ONLY times she ever disciplined him was if he tried to interfere with her eating - she was way, way too indulgent! What helped with him was having another mare out in the pasture with them. When he’d try the same stuff with her that he did with his mom, he got his ears boxed!

[Hunter_s_Rest]

Trinity
I agree and all that – but … I missed the ‘first time’ b/c I am a doof and hesitated on reacting when she first tried it. Then I’ve felt a little paralyzed the other couple times that it could be construed as an active defiance move (rather than a nearby-playing thing.) (Though, I’d gamble most of you say that either warrants a sharp reprimand.)
I bet you’ll say - but go on and expand on it, please - that I just do it now, next time. Don’t worry (?) that I missed first-chance. I’ve got plenty of other chances, now!
Right??
Also, I get it that she should be haltered, led, etc. but ya’ll are talking about ‘when we bring them in for the night’. I, errr, leave them out.
Is that a totally separate subject!!! When do ya’ll leave mares/foals out 24/7??? I know the big tb studfarms put 'em out and leave 'em out at 2-3 days or so. I was just following what I thought was standard protocol. !
Help a poor breeding smurf!!!

[Hunter_s_Rest]

You know, I swear, Starborne, that since I put the other broodmare back with the dam and filly that she’s less feisty. May be my imagination as I’ve not spent as much time hanging about since busy week’s end and weekend, but I was thinking that may be all (most) what it’ll take.

[camohn]

I have had a couple of those. I carry a crop. When they kick the offending foot gets smacked with the crop. I am pretty good at smacking a flying foot! Usually it only has to be repeated 2 or 3 times. After that they lift the foot to kick, I lift the crop in warning and they plunk that foot back down…

[Polydor]

Since you are out there feeding them, I have been known to throw the empty feed bucket at them if they turn around and even threaten to kick me. That generally smartens them up very quickly.

Good luck!

Oh and here in Oz, they are foaled out , outside and go back to the herd fairly soon after couple days.

P.

[Hunter_s_Rest]

Happy update – Catty got a dose (two, actually) of CotH wisdom, applied with eyes glared, teeth bared, growling rumbles to her small person last week. Plus, my very excellent farrier took a quick look-see at her and got a chance to ‘take her down’ (not intentionally, of course) when she protested him even touching her hoof. He held. She didn’t back off. He held. She fell. He held. She got up and stood like a little saint. : )
I think we’ve perhaps turned the corner, but seriously, anybody with any further wisdom chime in. Someone pm’ed me a cool blog article from a breeder with tons of experience.
I think I get it, though - blank slate = every moment is a teachable moment.

[pony_grandma]

[QUOTE=ise@ssl;6281619]
Use a metal trash can lid - one of the smaller ones. When she goes to kick - let her kick the lid - just hold it by the handle and use it as a shield.
The noise will scare her a bit and kicking it won’t be very comfortable for her. Worked for us with one that was like that.[/QUOTE]

I used a somewhat similiar technique that worked as well. The first time that they kick at you when you touch their little rumps - I hold a plastic pitchfork low and let them get pricked by that. They don’t seem to connect the low held fork with my hand touch that way. I wouldn’t want them to start any fear issues with a whip in my hand. I do this in the stall right away and then I have never had them try anything more after they’ve had this experience right from the start.

[lolita1]

Foal halter and once the foals head gets bigger pony halter. You might find you will need to put extra holes in each. Good luck

My big girl came into the world a bit like yours she came into a stable on week 2 and as I was admiring my “sweet little foal” gave me the dead eye (think white pointer shark) on a cruise past. I was like WTF she is going to kick me and chucked a brush (had nothing else) at her rump, she hit the corner very fast. I truely don’t believe in flying objects although there was another time I threw a large bottle of water at her yearling (running away) from me butt as she came inches from actually kicking someone in the head, their fault in a way but still not behaviour I tollerate. I will say she never kicked or bit me but did other people so it is good advise to keep other people away from her.

We are now 6 and she has one of the best attitudes just love that mare to death. Her foal has never even thought about kicking or bitting.

[Foxtrot_s]

Good sense here - I’m the most easy person on horses, always quiet, never harsh, and have not had a lot of foals. But when one is cheeky, cheeky becomes dangerous and they get a black and white lesson to ‘fit the crime’ before it escalates.

Foals are too cute and too many visitors and well meaning people want to treat them like puppies.

I just hate that saying - A come to Jesus lesson - it just does not sound horsemanlike, so am glad nobody has used it here. Thanks.

[NOMIOMI1]

Crinkly water bottle with a little bit of water I found works QUITE well. It makes a funky noise and that booty that was once a weapon gets to scootin…

It was an accident once on a turn and burn horse that ran me over and then proceeded to offer the hind end for my view :lol: Wasnt my horse but in reflex I threw the water bottle SUPER hard at that giant buttock and NEVER had a problem again ! Now if I feel like of them is fishy and I dont think a whip will work Ill carry a crinkly water bottle with enough water to make a thunk.