When a horse scrapes the floor with his front hoof what does that mean ?

Question

Also when he just lifts its leg up and hold it in mid air what does that mean

Answer 1

It can also mean he's unsure or struggling with an inner descision. My half-tamed Shetland always does that when she is trying to make up her mind whether or not to come close!

Answer 2

impatience and sometimes when he does not like whats going on...either those two or boredom!

Answer 3

Pawing/scraping the ground with a front foot usually means impatience - I want my feed NOW, etc or he's thinking it would be a nice place to roll.

Lifting a leg up - hmm, I guess you mean a front leg and that would be when he's eating ? - It's a food aggression thing, he thinks whoever is near is a threat to his food and he's showing that he's willing and ready to defend it.

Answer 4

My pony does this because he is very impatient.

My oldest horse does this when he eats.  I think it's because horses used to forage for minerals in the ground and would paw the earth to uncover the minerals.

Answer 5

When he scrapes the ground like that he's probably just being impatient or wants attention. This is bad manners so you shouldn't let him do that. What I usually do is make a distracting noise to make them stop. Like cluck you tongue or whistle or something. And when he stops praise him.

Hope this helps!

God bless!

Answer 6

If he's not sick or anything it just means he's bored or impatient my horse does it all the time. I usually just ignore it, and continue tacking up or whatever, unless it is causing a problem.

Answer 7

It either means you better run, or its just bored.

Answer 8

hes just being honary.  or hes bored. my horse does this alot and i pop him on the nose and he stops.  dont let him get away with it

Answer 9

usually boredom or impatience

Answer 10

My horse does that all the time, it just mean they are being inpatient. I always tel him NO and pop him on the shoulder it is vey annoying especially when they dig holes, or make loud noises in the barn xP

If he seems in pain it could also be a sign of colic...but most likely not...oh and when he does it in mid air it is the same thing just less annoying lol.

Hope that helps.

Answer 11

Hello,

Well, scraping at the ground (pawing) with the front hoofs, is a vice, and sign of impatience.  It is a habit and referred to as a vice.  Some horses will do this only at feeding, some a little when tied, and others (like a palomino we had many years ago) would dig a 3 foot deep hole.

Holding the leg up, I wouldn't consider that a vice.  But, impatient.  We have one horse that always does this when she is getting ready to run on the barrels.  

Horses will paw at the ground before they roll too...and this is NOT a vice when they do it then.

HOPE I helped some!

EDIT----

I forgot to give you an idea on working with the pawing problem.  I find it helpful to toss a small stone at them from some distance away and give them a firm QUIT at the same time.  DON'T hurt them with the stone, just distract them!  Some horses will ALWAYS do this no matter what, others will learn to quit.

Answer 12

It usually means he's bored or he wants attention. But if he's pawing with his head down and spinning, it could be a sign of colic, so always be wary of that. If he's looking at you and holding up his "paw" he's probably begging for attention and/or treats :)

Answer 13

scarping this hoof on the ground might mean that he's going to roll. I dont know what the other one means

Answer 14

hes pawing

hes hungry or impatient Bord

Answer 15

my mare does the same thing and it is just impatience and boredom. there is nothing a matter with except that he is bored. get him a stall toy to play with. they make a toy where there is a jollyball hanging from a round flavored treat that they l**k and you hang it from the ceilling so that it moves and the horse can't bite it.

Answer 16

He's probably begging

Answer 17

When a horse lifts up one of its  legs it means there relaxed not sure it that helps!