I have a horse (BIG 17.2 WB) who always paws when he eats. He bangs his hoof on the side/front of the stall, and I’m afraid he’s going to hurt himself or the stall. His banging is REALLY loud. He’s not grumpy at all, just paws for the first 2 or 3 minutes. He does have sidebone, so I’m concerned he may hurt himself. Has anyone had this problem and been able to solve it? I’m thinking maybe getting some rubber matting and attach it in a way that it sits off the wall a bit for some buffer. I’m really looking for some ideas on how to soften the blow. I can feed him from a bucket more in the middle of the stall, but that’s not always easy and he is quite large so I don’t want to cramp him by putting the bucket in the middle of the stall. Any ideas?
Ogilvy (the company that makes the awesome saddle pads) was selling a padded mat specifically made to hang in stalls to protect horses that kick - it would probably be perfect. I don’t see it on their website but it might be something they make by request. I’ve definitely seen it in person before at the Royal, so it would be worth contacting them to see if they still make them.
Otherwise you could hang a stall mat on a board so that it sits a little away from the wall, so he’s pawing the mat only. That would also reduce the sound and maybe it wouldn’t be so satisfying for him any more to paw? 
You could also try putting his feed tub in a tire. That’s usually for horses that flip the feed pan, but it would also soften the pawing so he’s hitting rubber (and also reducing noise). You could still put it near the wall, but the tire would put some space between the feed tub and the wall.
Hanging a stall mat a little away from the wall is probably the “best” choice from a easy/available/cost perspective. But if you need something that’s less permanent, or are thinking padding might be better, a lot of different companies make covered padded products:
etc (Searching “kick pads” will pop up more for you)
You might be able to find a local company to whip you something up, too, which might be less $$$.
I empathize–I have one like this, and it’s annoying. Thankfully she’s gotten a lot better about it as she’s aged, so maybe there is a light at the end of the tunnel for you, too!
Thank you so much SolarFlare and Simkie. I will check all these options out! 
daughter’s dressage horse bangs on the stall door to get attention that the mare believes she deserves
we have to ignore her rather than respond since a response would encourage her as she would believe she won.
Very true. This guy only does it when the feed is in his feeder. He doesn’t do it as he’s waiting, just while he’s actually eating. 
And he settles after a few minutes as he finishes his grain.
we know this mare knows just what she is doing as she only bangs on her stall door when she has shoes on, I guess she does not want to mess up her dainty hoofs
A ‘pet rock’ in the feed pan can distract them enough to reduce pawing
If you buy a small Tractor Supply stall mat, they’re easy to attach to a stall wall or door directly because they’re fairly thin and light- one of those instances where a cheap/lower quality product is actually useful. 
I have one hung on the stall door with basic wood screws that are sunk just below the surface of the rubber so that nothing sticks out; they shouldn’t be a safety concern for the horse. I really only use my stalls for vet/farrier appointments (horses live out 24/7), so I’m not sure how well my setup would hold up to daily abuse. But it has been perfectly good solution for my young mare who had never been stalled before I got her, and initially had a lot of anxiety about being stalled (manifested by banging on the door) for her first few farrier visits.
Someone else suggested kicking rings for the problem I was having with my mare, and I did end up buying a pair. But to be honest, I never took them out of the box as it didn’t really sit right with me to “punish” her for what was clearly inexperience and anxiety with a new situation. I can see how there is a time and place for them, this just didn’t seem like it. But hey, if you want them to try PM me and I’ll send to you for the cost of shipping!
Do you feed him in a bucket hung on the wall or in a feed pan on the ground? Maybe switching would cause less pawing.
I feed him on with a bucket on the wall. I did take him to a show this weekend, and in his stall I put a pan on the ground so he couldn’t paw at the rental stall. He still pawed a bit, but it was on the ground, so not as bad. And I can do that, but it takes away a bit of the streamlining of feeding. 
Plus, I’d have to wait till he’s done eating to pull the bucket back out, and oftentimes I feed and go. But yes, that’s certainly an option I will reconsider. Thanks!
Whoops - I didn’t realize that when I suggested a tire around the feed pan. But…
You know how we see suggestions for horses that dump or poop in their water buckets, and they say to put the bucket in the corner and then put a piece of wood diagonally across the corner so the horse can’t get close enough to do that? Maybe it would work for this too? If he’s back enough that when he lifts his leg to paw it’s just in the air, it would at least be quieter.
A good idea, but I think he would still make a ruckus. He uses his left front leg, and the bucket is on the left front side of his stall. Se he also hits the side wall. I think a board would still leave him close enough on the edge to hit the side wall if not the front. (I have a pooper, too, so I want to use this method for him! :)) Thanks.
I tried various feed bucket setups, and a parallax gradual feeder which helped a little.
What stopped it completely was dumping his feed straight onto the floor. Now eats calmly and not a single bit of leg flailing.
I would try a big rubber feed pan and put it well away from the wall.
What about a feed bag? Then he can munch on the move if he wants to.
I didn’t realize those were still a thing. Hmm. But, I think I’m trying to make it less work (usually in a hurry in the morning to get chores done before work). So, I may just try the tub on the ground and go get the tub at lunchtime and hope he doesn’t step all over it. I’ll have to get one of those rubber ones, I think. If that doesn’t work out well, I’ll put the mats on the wall with the “buffer” area between the mat and the wall.
Thanks, all!
Those things are the best thing since sliced bread for my group - took grain time from being a beautiful disaster to being super easy. I throw the nose bags on and pick the paddock while they eat, once they’re done fly masks on and open into the pasture. Done!
Fwiw, I use feed tubs, and leave them in the stalls when horses are in. Never a problem. Very rarely a horse will wind up pooping in one (I think it’s happened once or twice in a year with three horses.) It’s kind of interesting how the horses move them around the stall, tbh. I learned that my gelding likes to eat looking out his rear door, so now I just feed him there so he doesn’t have to move his pan over himself 
I use these:
https://www.chewy.com/dp/776438
Which are a stiff plastic rather than rubber. A full rubber feed pan is hard to carry! They’ve held up well. I pull them in the morning when horses go out to prep evening feed.
I like feed bags a lot, too, but don’t work with a lot of volume, and while you can do soaked feed in them, it’s an extra hassle of cleaning. They’re fab for low volume, dry stuff (especially in groups!)
Great point. I do water down my feed for all my horses, too. Thanks for the link.
