Ridecamp: [RC] horses that kick

Kat says  "Having a horse that kicks is not a license to put a red ribbon in 
the horse's tail and count on everybody to stay out of my horse's
way.  Having a horse that kicks is a responsibility to watch out for
everybody else and stay well away from them."

So true, but that doesn't require staying in the back, although as an owner 
of a horse with body space issues, and a red ribbon in her tail I definitely 
prefer to start out in back.  My mare only seems to kick when a) a horse is 
passing her  or b) she's not getting to go as fast as she wants and she's 
convinced that the nearest horse is the cause of that.  I have been working 
with her all along, and have fired back with my spanker whenever I could do 
it quickly enough to be a consequence.  I also growl at her if she even lays 
her ears back at another horse, or sometimes slap her on the shoulder if it's 
a second offense.  Like, "No, you can't do it at that horse EITHER."  She's 
getting the point, but it's slow work, as she is one of those horses that has 
to try you every time.

I am very vigilant about horses approaching from behind, and often point out 
the ribbon like they are from Mars and have never seen one before.  I 
surrender the trail, and do all those other polite things.  My horse hasn't 
kicked in quite a while, but I will always consider her a kicker.  She will 
always wear a red ribbon at rides, even if it's been ten years since the last 
time she kicked, because it only takes one time.  

Should I just not ride her endurance?  Maybe you think so.  I think I have 
done, and continue to do a good job of making her a safe horse by training 
and being a safe and observant rider.  I refuse to give up a sport I love 
because my horse doesn't meet someone else's idea of a good endurance horse.  
I have seen many other horses with worse manners, and their owners don't even 
seem to be aware that their horse is behaving badly.   jeri

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