Behaviour

Why does a horse kick? How to recognise the cause of the behaviour

A kick is rarely an unprovoked attack.
A horse kicks when it is afraid, when something hurts, because of relationships in the herd, or because it has learned that kicking works.
We explain how to recognise the cause and how to protect yourself.

Equivo Team · 6 min read19 scientific sources
Silhouette of a woman and a horse in a meadow at sunset
In brief
  • A kick is usually preceded by a warning: a hind leg slightly raised and tensed. Watch the whole horse, not just its head.
  • Kicking that starts suddenly, under saddle or towards the belly is a signal to rule out pain. Kicking at the belly may mean colic.
  • Some kicks between horses are linked to a change in the group. Introducing horses gradually reduces aggression.
  • Don't punish a horse for kicking. Wear a helmet when working from the ground, too.

A horse's kick can be dangerous to people and to other horses. Even so, a horse rarely kicks “for no reason”. It is usually a reaction to a specific situation: fear, pain, tension in the herd or a habit the horse has learned.

Below we describe the most common causes, each with a reference to the research, and suggest how to recognise which one you are dealing with.

A kick is usually the last warning

Researchers who catalogued horses' behaviour in conflicts describe the kick threat separately: a hind leg slightly raised and drawn under the body, tense and ready, without contact with the other animal[1]. This is the moment when you can still move away or change the situation.

Reading a horse's signals carefully is one of the simplest ways to have fewer accidents[2]. This matters because, for people who are not in the saddle at the time, a kick is the most common cause of injury[3].

22%

of injuries in patients admitted to a trauma centre after horse-related accidents were caused by a kick. Two of the three deaths in this study were head injuries from a kick[4].Carmichael et al., Injury, 2014

The most common causes of kicking

Fear and surprise

A horse that is afraid and cannot flee defends itself. The strength of this reaction also depends on temperament: fearfulness proved to be a stable trait in horses, consistent across situations and over time[5].

Pain and discomfort

Kicking out behind and unusual aggression towards people or horses are among the behaviours described as signs of discomfort[6]. Horses with serious spinal problems were more likely to react aggressively towards people[7].

Under saddle

Bucking or kicking out behind is one of the 24 behaviours in the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram[8]. At least 8 of these behaviours during a ride probably indicate musculoskeletal pain[9].

Abdominal pain

Kicking at the belly is one of the clear signs of pain, alongside rolling and looking round at the belly[6, 10]. It may mean colic.

Herd relationships

In a study of almost 3,000 horses in Switzerland, one in five injuries (50 of 231) was caused by a bite or kick from another horse. 18% of these were linked to a change in the way the horses were kept[11].

Mares and the oestrous cycle

A mare that is not in season avoids the stallion. If he persists, she squeals, strikes out with a foreleg and kicks[12].

Frustration in the stable

Restless behaviour before feeding is common. In a survey covering 1,324 horses, it was linked to the feeding regime, exercise and stabling, among other factors[13]. Being stabled also encourages aggression towards people[14].

A habit learned around people

A horse can learn that a kick makes the farrier back off. When a kick ends an unpleasant situation, the horse is more likely to repeat it[15].

Worth knowing

When a new horse joins the herd, let the horses get to know each other over a fence or from neighbouring stables first. In a study of young horses, just 5 minutes of this kind of introduction before meeting in the paddock reduced the number of bites and tended to reduce contact aggression, including kicks[16]. Most injuries after horses were put together in groups were minor[17].

When does it kick? A table to help you find the cause

The situation in which the horse kicks tells you the most. Note down when it happens and compare it with the table.

When it kicksWhat may be behind itWhere to start
When you approach from behind or suddenlyFear and surprise[5]Speak before you approach, and come in from the shoulder
When saddling or under the riderMusculoskeletal pain, poorly fitting tack[9]The vet, and a saddle fit check
Towards its own bellyAbdominal pain, e.g. colic[10]Call the vet straight away
Other horses in the paddockTension in the group, a change in the herd[11]A settled group, gradual introduction of new horses[16]
A mare, when a stallion approachesA mare not in season drives the stallion away[12]Watch whether the behaviour comes back in line with her cycle
In the stable, especially before feedingFrustration, the feeding regime, too little exercise[13, 14]More exercise and hay, regular feeding times
With the farrier or when picking out feetA learned habit, sometimes pain[6, 15]Rule out pain, practise picking up feet in short, calm sessions

How to respond and how to protect yourself

  1. Stay out of range of the hind legsNear the horse's hindquarters, stand close to its side with a hand on the horse, or out of reach of its legs. Don't walk right behind a horse you don't know.
  2. Announce yourselfSpeak before you approach, and come in from the shoulder. A startled horse is more likely to react defensively.
  3. Don't punishPunishing kicking is common on yards, but it has well-documented side effects: fear, which a horse can remember after a single incident, and negative associations with the person who punishes it[15]. The way a horse is handled can make dangerous behaviours worse[18].
  4. Rule out painEspecially if the kicking started suddenly. Remember that a horse hides discomfort around people: in a study of horses after surgery, behaviours indicating discomfort decreased by an average of 77% during a carer's visit[19].
  5. Teach calmlyPractise picking up feet in short, calm sessions before the farrier comes. Reward the horse for calmly giving its foot, and give it a break when it stands quietly, not when it kicks[15].
  6. Look after the group and the daily routineA settled group, enough space, exercise and forage reduce tension in the herd and frustration in the stable[11, 13, 14].
  7. Wear a helmet on the ground tooIn a study from Kentucky, only 6% of those injured were wearing a helmet, and the authors recommend one when working with horses from the ground as well[4].

When to call the vet

  • the horse kicks at its belly, rolls or looks round at its belly[10],
  • the kicking started suddenly or has clearly got worse,
  • the horse kicks when being saddled or bucks under the rider[9],
  • after a kick from another horse you see a wound, swelling or lameness.

Frequently asked questions

Why does a horse kick in the stable?

Kicking in the stable is often linked to the daily routine. In a large survey, restless behaviour before feeding was associated with the feeding regime, exercise and stabling[13]. Free movement, the company of other horses and frequent access to forage help[14].

Do mares in season kick more often?

Towards a stallion, it is the opposite of what is often said. A mare in season approaches the stallion and stands quietly, and avoids him when she is not in season. If the stallion persists, she squeals, strikes out with a foreleg and kicks[12].

One horse has kicked another. What should I do?

Check both horses. If there is a wound, swelling or lameness, call the vet. To prevent it in future, keep a settled group with enough space[11] and introduce new horses gradually[16].

Is kicking at the belly always colic?

Not always, but it is one of the clear signs of abdominal pain[10]. Horses also kick towards their belly when straining to pass urine or droppings, and even when bothered by insects[6]. Even so, don't wait: call the vet.

Scientific sources

We checked every publication in the Crossref and PubMed databases. The numbers in the text link to the list, and the DOI links lead to the original articles.

  1. McDonnell SM, Haviland JCS. Agonistic ethogram of the equid bachelor band. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 1995;43(3):147-188. doi.org/10.1016/0168-1591(94)00550-x
  2. Hausberger M, Roche H, Henry S, Visser EK. A review of the human–horse relationship. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 2008;109(1):1-24. doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2007.04.015
  3. Thomas KE, Annest JL, Gilchrist J, Bixby-Hammett DM. Non-fatal horse related injuries treated in emergency departments in the United States, 2001–2003. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2006;40(7):619-626. doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.2006.025858
  4. Carmichael SP, Davenport DL, Kearney PA, Bernard AC. On and off the horse: Mechanisms and patterns of injury in mounted and unmounted equestrians. Injury. 2014;45(9):1479-1483. doi.org/10.1016/j.injury.2014.03.016
  5. Lansade L, Bouissou MF, Erhard HW. Fearfulness in horses: A temperament trait stable across time and situations. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 2008;115(3-4):182-200. doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2008.06.011
  6. Torcivia C, McDonnell S. Equine Discomfort Ethogram. Animals. 2021;11(2):580. doi.org/10.3390/ani11020580
  7. Fureix C, Menguy H, Hausberger M. Partners with Bad Temper: Reject or Cure? A Study of Chronic Pain and Aggression in Horses. PLoS ONE. 2010;5(8):e12434. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0012434
  8. Dyson S, Pollard D. Application of a Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram and Its Relationship with Gait in a Convenience Sample of 60 Riding Horses. Animals. 2020;10(6):1044. doi.org/10.3390/ani10061044
  9. Dyson S. The Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram. Equine Veterinary Education. 2021;34(7):372-380. doi.org/10.1111/eve.13468
  10. Sanchez LC, Robertson SA. Pain control in horses: What do we really know? Equine Veterinary Journal. 2014;46(4):517-523. doi.org/10.1111/evj.12265
  11. Knubben JM, Fürst A, Gygax L, Stauffacher M. Bite and kick injuries in horses: Prevalence, risk factors and prevention. Equine Veterinary Journal. 2008;40(3):219-223. doi.org/10.2746/042516408x253118
  12. Crowell-Davis SL. Sexual behavior of mares. Hormones and Behavior. 2007;52(1):12-17. doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2007.03.020
  13. Hockenhull J, Creighton E. Pre-feeding behaviour in UK leisure horses and associated feeding routine risk factors. Animal Welfare. 2014;23(3):297-308. doi.org/10.7120/09627286.23.3.297
  14. Ruet A, Lemarchand J, Parias C, Mach N, Moisan MP, Foury A et al. Housing Horses in Individual Boxes Is a Challenge with Regard to Welfare. Animals. 2019;9(9):621. doi.org/10.3390/ani9090621
  15. McLean AN, Christensen JW. The application of learning theory in horse training. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 2017;190:18-27. doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2017.02.020
  16. Hartmann E, Christensen JW, Keeling LJ. Social interactions of unfamiliar horses during paired encounters: Effect of pre-exposure on aggression level and so risk of injury. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 2009;121(3-4):214-221. doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2009.10.004
  17. Keeling LJ, Bøe KE, Christensen JW, Hyyppä S, Jansson H, Jørgensen GHM et al. Injury incidence, reactivity and ease of handling of horses kept in groups: A matched case control study in four Nordic countries. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 2016;185:59-65. doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2016.10.006
  18. Starling M, McLean A, McGreevy P. The Contribution of Equitation Science to Minimising Horse-Related Risks to Humans. Animals. 2016;6(3):15. doi.org/10.3390/ani6030015
  19. Torcivia C, McDonnell S. In-Person Caretaker Visits Disrupt Ongoing Discomfort Behavior in Hospitalized Equine Orthopedic Surgical Patients. Animals. 2020;10(2):210. doi.org/10.3390/ani10020210
Equivo Team The app for everyday horse care

Published . This article is for educational purposes and does not replace an examination by a vet.

Read next

Behaviour

Why does a horse bite? Causes and how to respond

· 5 min13 sources