kicking in pasture

Question
Hi. I have a 4 and a half year old mare standardbred who raced about 7 times. I have had her for about 3 months because she was not fast enough for the gentleman who owned her. I understand she is a baby still at this time. She has about a month of training and is doing wonderful, and I am going to continue the training. She was just turned out in the pasture for the first time last week, and since then we are having some problems. Of course we knew it would but some adjusting out in the pasture, but everyone is worried she is going to hurt another horse because of all the kicking she is doing to them. She has had wonderful ground manners, and still does, other then just the other day when grooming her she is swing out her back foot to the side like trying to kick me.  This is so much not like her and just started since being in the pasture. It is like she has this little attitude now. She is a real people horse and everyone at the stable said you can tell she was spoiled by her first owner. My trainer sa id she is doing great other then this problem, and is very smart and has never seen a 4 yr. old so calm. The owner of the stable told me she may have ovarian cyst and I should have that checked out and if not it is just a behavior problem that just started since trying to find her place in herd. She is definately the dominent one out there. We think it may also just be alot of stress since she was raced, then sat for a few months with previous older gentleman, then came to stable and sat for a few weeks to get adjusted, then started a 4-5 day training program, now was just turned out in pasture. She is doing so well with training and want to stay on the right track. I failed to mention when trainer had her in canter the other day when this all seemed to be starting she bucked quit a bit for a while. The next day she was much better. Trainer said she could just be protesting and will get over it, but also thought we should have ovaries checked just in case because of the kicking in pasture and the unlike her kicking she did when grooming. That only happened the last two days so I am curious about today. Deep inside I think this is a big adjustment for her and that could be the problem. I would truly appreciate your input.. Thanks so much...Kim

Answer
Hi Kim, sounds like you have a good grasp on this.  I would say don't get in the habit of making excuses for your horse.  There are many reason these things could be happening, but it does matter why, it matters that your horse does not kick, bite or buck.  Grooming is a way to inspect your horse.  If she is trying to kick when you groom a certain area, she could have been kicked and is sore when you touch her.  Watch her ears and touch around the same area to see if you can maker her try and kick when you touch a certain area.  

This could explain the bucking, it could be a new trainer, the saddle may be hurting her, she could be in better shape and feeling her oats since she is getting much better exercise in the pasture.  Pasture is the best place for your horse.  It is good for her feet, for her mental health, good for diet, and good for her social skills.  The last thing I would do is consider removing her from pasture.

Now, if she is the lead mare in pasture, she may want to continue that position with you.  That is unacceptable.  Once you rule out pain for the cause of these behaviors, then you can address the issues.  If you are sure it is not pain and a horse raises his leg to kick, make sure it is an attempted kick and not raising it so you can pick her feet, then you must act fast and quick.  If the horse is on a lead rope, yank the head to it's butt and make his butt spin away from you.  This should be uncomfortable to the horse and she should not want this to happen.  

If the horse is tied, have a lead rope ready to pop the horse on the butt and move it away from you.  You have to get aggressive and act as if the horse just tired to kill you.  The more you scare the horse and freak it out, the less likely she will do it again. Do it fast and move on don't keep going after and attacking her.  As for the bucking, if a horse bucks when I canter, I canter faster and longer.  I stop and canter again until he starts to canter 3 times without bucking, then we move on.  

Hope this helps, let me know if I was not clear on something I and try and clear it up, good luck.

Rick