What Does It Mean When a Horse Paws the Ground (Find Out Before It Turns into Kicking)

Horses are studly, powerful and often very calm. But sometimes, even they get restless. That's when you hear it - a rhythmic tapping, a hoof beating a steady tattoo against the ground.

This hoof doesn't tap without reason. It's a message, loud and clear. Maybe it's impatience, a hoof drumming a demand for action. Like a fighter tapping his foot before a big bout, the horse wants something, and he wants it now. Frustration too can make a hoof beat a tattoo. Stuck in a dull stall, looking for wide-open spaces, the horse speaks his discontent with every rhythmic thud.

But the hoof can speak other languages too. Excitement, bubbling over like a pot about to boil, can find its voice in a pawing foot. It's the anticipation of a ride, the thrill of a challenge, a message that says, “Let's go!”

Discomfort has a hoofbeat of its own. Boredom, a slow, steady tap that says, "This isn't enough." Pain, a sharper, more insistent rhythm, a plea for help from a creature who can't speak with words.

So, the next time you see your horse pawing the ground, let's try to understand what it's trying to say.

Why is your horse pawing all of a sudden?

Horses usually do things for a specific reason. They do not think deeply before doing something or do things just to become annoying to others. Pawing is basically one kind of movement of horses where they slightly raise one of their front legs and move in a digging motion. Horses often paw the ground when they feel stressed or want attention.

Curiosity: If you bring your horse to such a place that seems unfamiliar to it, then it may paw to explore the surroundings.
Thirst: Most of you may observe horses have a tendency to paw at the icy ground. Why might a horse do such an activity? This is just because when horses feel thirsty, they want to break the ice by pawing at the ground.
Excitement: When horses want to explore forage under snow, they paw at the snow with excitement. When they eagerly wait for something like a treat, they become excited and start pawing.
Comfort: Horses have a tendency to lie down in a smooth and comfortable place. So, they dig the area by pawing before lying down there, which makes the soil soften.

Can pawing indicate a health issue?

Certain physical abnormalities are closely related to such behavior. If your horse is not feeling good, they want to express their illness through pawing.

Colic or gastric ulcers: Sometimes horses experience abdominal pain which is due to gastrointestinal or digestive issues like gas buildup in their stomach. So, they paw at the ground. It might be due to colic. However, there are some other behaviors or activities closely related to this type of abdominal pain. They often kick their belly, don't want to eat at all, and feel trouble while passing their stools.
Orthopedic pain: Sometimes horses feel stiffness in their leg joints and can not move the legs freely due to pain and muscle ache. Mostly after a heavy training session, they experience orthopedic issues. At that moment, they walk in a digging motion to relieve the pain and stiffness in their legs.

How do mental stresses cause horses to paw?

Mental stress most often leads to behavioral problems. Since horses can not talk and express their feelings like human beings, they use body language or do unusual activities to make you understand that they are not mentally okay.

Frustration: When horses feel restless and want to move, they paw the ground.
Anxiety: They paw at the ground if you do not provide their meals at the exact time. If their feeding clock is irregular or delayed than the usual time, they become anxious.
Nervousness or fear: Some horses feel very uneasy or scared around unfamiliar horses and start pawing to express their nervousness.
Excess energy: Horses have a natural tendency to graze, play, roam, and explore the surroundings. But if you keep your horse in a confined or close environment without adequate exercise, excess amounts of energy become loaded in their body. To release the overloaded energy they paw continuously.
Boredom: When they wait for their food or feel bored, they start pawing. Similarly, when a horse becomes confined to their stalls they feel so bored and want to overcome their boredom through pawing.

Why do horses stomp their feet?

Stomping is basically pawing at the ground heavily with more speed. It is another way to express their impatience when any insect places over their skin and irritates them. Sometimes they do it to relieve their stress. So, if you see your horse stomping, check whether any insect is bothering it or not. Then apply a good quality fly spray to remove the insect or fly from your horse's body. So, if your horse uses any unusual body language or expression, you should try to understand the actual causes of their behavior. Sometimes, you may see your horse paw suddenly which it never did before, there may obviously be some reasons behind such activity.

How can you stop your horse from pawing?

Before searching for a solution, you must understand the actual causes of their pawing because it does not always indicate abnormal things. When any behavior becomes intense or repeated again and again, it's not considered normal. Then, you should find out the root cause of such behavior.

Use a reward-based training approach: You can apply such training approaches that become enjoyable to your horse. In such training, they will get rewarded in response to their good behavior. If your horse has a habit of excessive pawing without any special reason, they will definitely stop this behavior if you give it a treat in a condition showing positive and good behavior.
Have patience: You have to keep patience while teaching your horse any positive behavior because it takes time to acquire any habit. You have to keep your horse practicing regularly to avoid any unpleasant activity.
Observe the leg condition: To identify the root causes of their pawing first check whether their leg condition is good or not. If it is okay, you should check whether they have any digestive issues or mental problems.
Remove disturbances from the surroundings: Horses' behavior is directly related to the environment where they live and the care they receive. Try to keep their living space clean and remove the insects or flies that may disturb your horse.
Ignore them in certain cases: If they paw continuously to seek your attention and take it as fun, then ignore them.
Call a veterinarian: If you find your horse suddenly starts pawing without any reason, then it might be due to a gastric ulcer or colic. In such cases, you should immediately consult a veterinarian to understand the actual causes of their pawing and ensure proper treatment.
Special Tip: Feed your horse more often and give them more exercise. While feeding or untying your horse, train them in such a way that they remain calm and obey your instructions. Never give them food at the time of pawing. And don't forget to use thick rubber mats in their stalls so that they can not paw their legs at the ground.

Concluding thoughts

If pawing becomes a repetitive behavior of your horse, it is truly a thing of concern. You have to take the necessary measures to address this behavior. Sometimes, horse owners, especially those who are new in this equine world, get worried without knowing the actual causes. That is, what their horses are trying to express through pawing. As you can not differentiate the positive and negative signals from the pawing of your horse, you should read this discussion with full concentration.

Here we have tried to explain why horses paw and how to stop this as it's not good for their health. If you find our conversation helpful, please share it with others who can not differentiate the purposeful and non-purposeful pawing of their horses. And if you have any queries, leave a comment below.

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