Someone tried to do that, when I first started riding, with a school horse.

He managed to break the beam he was tied on, ran away with it, spooked some more and was finally caught before he injured himself.

DVD + hobbles for me.

I don't really like the idea of putting hobbles on my horse. It just doesn't seem right. He's only 5, and hobbling would probably spook him or make him upset. I want to make him my friend. How much are the clinican vidoes? I don't have alot of money to spend. I like the idea of the kick chains because he's aloud to still move freely. Yesterday when I went to ride him he never pawed when I went to get grooming stuff or grain. He's a good tier, doesn't pull back, stands very good when i'm there doing stuff. It's just when i'm doing something else out of sight I think he gets bored or angry and paws.

Edit: I practice showmanship and longe line excersises with him everytime I ride (1-4 times a week), so he DOES have good groudwork practice.

Hey QRTRHRSR, I just replied to Lukey D about the pawing issue, but I have the same problem as you with one of my geldings, even though his feed bucket is above ground, he paws. He paws at feed pans on the ground too. It's just annoying and doesn't really cause damage to anything so I let it go unless I am with him while he is doing it and I tell him to stop-he usually does. I just wanted to let you know that I'm in the same boat I've only had him since March and I really don't know his history since he was a BOGO deal-- which happens to be what I named him!!!

My mom owns a horse that, if you try to look at her face, she'll paw your leg...if u get any good tips tell me

I have two OTTBs myself and the thought of putting hobbles on them at their ages scares me. (One is 7, one is 22.) They're calm for TBs, but I wouldn't try hobbles unless they had been trained from babies to accept them.

Here's another training idea for you:
My 7 year old has a bad habit of pawing in the trailer. To correct this I tie her in the trailer, step back a few feet, and wait. As soon as she paws I tap her on the leg with a dressage whip. When she stops, I click my clicker. Eventually I back all the way out of the trailer. When she stands patiently for however many seconds (or minutes), I reward her with the clicker until eventually she doesn't do it anymore.

If you haven't tried clicker training with your OTTB, I highly recommend it. :-) Send me a PM if you have any questions about getting started with one.

Yes, that sounds far more appealing to me than any hobble or chain. Your actually training them that it's good to not do it, not putting something on to stop them from doing it. I think i'll buy a clicker and see what happens. He loves treats.

Pawing can be caused by a number of things:
1. Pain
2. Boredom (excess energy, too much feed)
3. Dominance ("This is MY grain! Stay away!")
4. Anxiety (herd bound or restriction of movement)
5. Anticipation of work, exercise or REWARD
6. Instinctive behavior (digging for grass roots or softening ground before rolling)

Other than pain and instinctive behavior, the pawing usually persists because the horse has received some sort of reward for that behavior in the past: it got what it wanted. It's the equine version of a child's temper tantrum. The previous posts by Dmmalpert and Bluefilly contain excellent ways to approach the problem. I have no problem with properly teaching a horse to hobble, either. It pays great dividends when the eventual emergency of getting legs tangled in wire or rope occurs. The horse learns to stand still until help arrives. Also, tying the horse in a safe shaded area and letting them paw until they stop without any release (reward) is effective and not cruel.

How many people get to the barn on riding day and take their horse straight from the confinement of a stall to the cross-ties for grooming and tacking up? It's just about all I ever see happen at most commercial barns. And plenty of jiggy, pawing horses along with it. Even if they're brought in from a paddock or pasture where they've been resting and lazing with their friends, they go straight to the cross-ties.

In Lukey's case, I suspect #'s 2, 4 or 5 as the cause of his pawing in cross-ties. A rubber mat will not stop it. Just reduce the damage to the floor. Try taking him directly to the round pen or longeing area for a workout BEFORE grooming and tacking and the pawing should subside or go away. Aside from taking some of his freshness off, it'll vary his routine and affect his subsequent behavior. I'm just guessing here, but I'll bet the pawing problem is not as pronounced when stripping tack and grooming AFTER a ride or workout. UNLESS... he gets treats or grain immediately afterward. That should be a no-no.

All of the good suggestions posted will not work immediately. Patience & persistence will. ~FH

One other note: those kicking rings or chains DO work. I prefer the solid U-shaped rings because they don't get tangled on weeds and bushes as easily as the chains can. Another side benefit of the rings or chains is they massage the coronet band and make for a healthier hoof!

You don't usually just strap on the hobbles and see how it goes. There is a way of training your horse to accept pressure on the foot, and having restriction. I read it in one of the magazines I just bought... I look it up for ya.

I just let him do it to it's not destructive at all? I think the kick chains *might* work but with him it's hard to tell he's not the flighty type and he just takes everything in stride he'd prob pick his foot up and jingle it around to listen to it lol

I stop him if I'm in there but they get suppliments at late night around 9pm so I go in the house right after feeding so it doesn't bother me? but I DO NOT let him paw if he's tied or I'm working with him.

Great suggestions.  One thing I haven't heard anyone mention is that pawing can be dangerous.  Why?

I have a three year old pinto (cross mustang/AQH-APH).  Iife had him since birth and he knows me very well.  In fact, he knows me so well that he's sort of got my number. Last week, I was giving him a shower and he started pawing and before I could give him a correction, his front right paw with show grazed my left leg and landed on my left foot.  Fortunately, my left was turned so he caught the muscle but he could have easily hit the shin and possible broke it.  At that point, I decided that since I'm not a trainer, I hired one.  Pawing isn't cute and it shouldn't be tolerated.  In my horses case, he's got a large paddock so his behavior isn't caused by confinement:  I'm convinced its from lack of respect for me.  Even if a horse is bored, pawing is often a sign of disrespect and a horse that doesn't respect its rider is a danger.  I may not be a trainer but I've been around horses long enough to understand this.  The trainer I hired recommend immediate end to all treats.