Pawing—when a horse drags a forefoot along the ground, back toward their body—is a common equine behavior. It’s also a common source of frustration for horse owners when it occurs repeatedly in the crossties, trailer, or barn aisle. You’ve probably experienced this behavior or wondered, “Why does my horse paw?”
Pawing doesn’t always directly impact humans, however. For example, horses paw to reveal foodstuffs buried under matted vegetation. Or pawing can occur when horses need to break ice to access drinkable water. Stallions might paw as a threat to other stallions, or they might sniff and paw the ground before defecating. Pawing also happens when horses investigate objects, prior to rolling, or during play.
Why Does My Horse Paw?
Pawing that concerns owners is usually the variety that happens when we are with them. For example, while in the trailer or the barn, in the crossties or when stalled.
Pawing can occur when horses are in pain or physical discomfort. Colicky horses will often paw, as will horses that are unable to alleviate other causes of physical discomfort. When pawing occurs along with behaviors such as looking at the girth or flank area, kicking at the belly, rolling, restlessness, or changes in manure, call your veterinarian as soon as possible. Horses fed set meals that they consume quickly often endure long periods of imposed fasting, leading to discomfort and psychological distress. A horse fed this way might paw when caretakers start to deliver food to the other horses first.
If pain is not the trigger, common causes of pawing include anxiety or fear, conflict, or other types of stress and psychological discomfort. Pawing that occurs for these reasons often happens in situations where the horse is prohibited from moving to the area in which they would rather be or thwarted from performing a behavior they would rather be doing. For example, a freshly bathed horse that’s itchy might paw out of frustration if prevented from rolling. A young horse that has not yet been taught to accept an increased duration of restraint while tied alone in the barn might paw due to anxiety.
Assess the Situation
To address pawing in your horse, first look at the situations in which he paws. Is pawing accompanied by signs of colic? If yes, call your veterinarian right away.
Think about pawing as a symptom of an underlying issue, rather than an issue unto itself. Is your horse being restrained or in a situation otherwise preventing him from performing behaviors freely, such as when cross-tied or tied or in a stall or paddock? If yes, gather more information about the situation in that moment. For example, is the horse alone, are others leaving, is food being delivered? Does the horse have the skills yet to cope with what is being asked of him? What other behavioral signs are you seeing that will give you clues to the horse’s emotional state? These types of questions can help you determine how your horse feels in the situation, leading to greater ability to address the problem.
Don’t Punish
Sometimes horse owners make a quick noise, like a sharp clap, to interrupt pawing and create a moment to address the underlying reason for the behavior. However, it’s important to avoid correcting or punishing a horse for pawing. This is because emotions such as fear or physical or psychological distress might be causing this behavioral sign to appear. You don’t want to use corrections or punishments to address such issues.
Additionally, avoid making the horse submit to the experience that triggers pawing until they stop. This is a common approach with tying-related pawing, but it fails to address why the horse is pawing. If the reason for pawing is stress, fear, or anxiety, fully exposing the horse to the situation is a risky, unethical practice called flooding, which horse behavior professionals advise against. Such extended tying often just leads to a state of behavioral despair, where the horse gives up pawing because he has become despondent. This does not reflect true calmness and acceptance of tying.
Take-Home Message
When we don’t understand why a horse is pawing, it might seem like just another annoying behavior. But pawing is often an indicator that the horse is struggling to cope emotionally with what is happening in that moment. Taking the time to determine the root cause will pay dividends as we build a relationship with our horse.
Related Reading: How to Find Help if Your Horse Is Misbehaving
Lauren Fraser, MSc, FFCP, has helped people understand horse behavior problems since 2006. With a background working as a horse trainer, an MSc in clinical animal behavior, and more than a decade working as an equine behavior consultant, Lauren’s approach gets to the heart of why horses behave the way they do and addresses issues using low-stress methods. Lauren also guest lectures at universities, presents at conferences, and creates educational programs for horse owners and equine professionals.
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