Cow kicking when mounting
- Thread starter jodiana
- Start date
If it were my horse, I would be getting someone out to give her a good MOT ( back/teeth etc) Has she any sores where her girth is? When was her tack last checked? She may of lost/gained weight since. For her to cow kick I would say she is sore !
Why does she not do it when someone is stood holding her? Ive rubbed and touched her all over no signs of discomfort I removed saddle put it back on in case Id maybe had something caught or maybe not sat It in on correctly it's as soon as I stand on mounting block?? Which is strange because up until a few days ago she was fine nothing's happened when mounting im not sure if she's trying to show dominance here or not looks like a week of retraining to stand at the mounting block!
Coming into season sounds likely to me. Cow-kicking is usually a sign of discomfort or irritation, and if you can't find a source in the saddle or her back, then it's likely to be insider her. What exactly happens when you try and mount? Is it when you put your foot in the stirrup, or put weight in the stirrup, or is it when you just stand on the block?
Ah if she's due to come into season it could possibly be - an old mare I shared used to be very sensitive and would be very very touchy around the saddle area.
Having said that though, OH's horse could do a super cow kick if someone was getting on that wasn't my OH ! He was very much a one man horse !
Having said that though, OH's horse could do a super cow kick if someone was getting on that wasn't my OH ! He was very much a one man horse !
I stand on mounting block she moves backwards I circle her round until she stands quiet, i pick up the reins ears flat back grunt it squeal I circle her back round and start again then she gives me the cow kick, however if I have someone standing beside her when I mount and don't pick up the reins she doesn't react at all ive tried keeping rein loose and holding some mane for security but she moves off argh im her only rider, she used to stand perfectly fine, then kicked up a fuss so I had to mount from the ground, then she kicked up a fuss about that, so she went back to standing to be mounted at block, and now she's acting up again I will investigate her underbelly see if there's anything under there causing discomfort other than that fit & well
When one of our mares started doing this totally out of character, the vet found arthritic changes in her stifles. In the end we retired her. She was obviously in some discomfort and not a moody , hormonal mare.
She's certainly telling you that something is bothering her, the hard part is working out what and why.
Unfortunately yes. I knew a couple of horses in and around that age on our last yard that were.
I remember a friend of mine when I was a teenager had a 13.2hh chestnut mare called Becky that cow kicked when you mounted her. Fab when ridden but just a pain to mount. I can remember them getting the vet and saddler out to her about it but as the pony never changed I'm presuming it was behaviour in Becky's case.
I have a mare that is cow kicking. I got a bare back saddle and a new blanket. She won't stand still by the mounting block. She keeps backing up..I don't know what else to do.
This is a really old thread, you’ll get more responses if you start a new one of your own.
Have you had teeth and back checked on your mare? Generally they start these things due to discomfort.
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